Brighouse Town outplayed Consett last Saturday to earn another valuable away win in their battle to pull away from the relegation area. Their 2-1 victory took them to 41 points and 14th in the table but there is still a long way to go yet.
Consett in12th position had been on a good run but it was Town who, for the most part, bossed the show and with more clinical finishing could well have sewn up the game by the 60th minute in the second half.
Playing on a 3G pitch and with rain for most of the game, Town adapted well and could have been a goal up after 7 minutes when, from a Rhys Plater free kick, Danny Edwards headed straight at the home keeper when either side would have done the trick! However Edwards five minutes later did make it 1-0 when he charged down keeper Harry Moss’s attempted clearance on the edge of the box and the ball looped into an empty net.
Town were playing some good football and splitting the home defence and Plater, Niah Payne and Romario Dunne all went close to adding to the score. At the back stand-in skipper Matty Nebard was in commanding form along side Harvey Coates, Matty Tootle and Josh Egginton.
Derry Robson and Josh Waldram were also putting in a shift in midfield and the home side were becoming more and more frustrated. Consett found an equaliser two minutes before half-time when Isaac Walker fired home via a deflection from a free kick on the edge of the box.
Town regained their lead two minutes into the second half when leading goalscorer Plater fired home from a cross into the box. The same player five minutes later should have had a penalty awarded as he was tripped just inside the box but the referee from 25 metres away waved all claims away. Plater was giving the home side grief and was reckoned to be offside twice as he was about to burst into the box from the flanks but they were controversial decisions by the assistant referee.
Then Edwards was put clear and only the keeper to beat but he hit the ball straight at Moss and the danger was cleared.
Manager Grant Black made some good substitutions to keep the side fresh as Curtis Peters came on for Tootle and then proceeded to make some superb tackles while Isaac Acquah used his body strength to rock the home side in midfield. Myron Gibbons also came on to give Edwards a rest and he used his pace across the front line.
With minutes to go referee Jamie Cann on the say-so of his assistant awarded Consett a penalty for an alleged shirt pull by Town keeper Shea Callister as the players line up for a corner. However Callister ensured Town kept the three points as he dived to his right and saved Calvin Smith’s spot-kick.
Town’s good following gave their heroes a big cheer as they went down the tunnel.
On Saturday at the Heffernan Utilities Stadium (3pm) they will be looking for a double over Sherwood Colliery after beating them 4-1 in Mansfield three weeks ago. The match is being being sponsored by Chris Pickles’ Brighouse company Christal-Clear and for the second season running former teammates and relatives of the late Peter Gill will be along to remember him in what is now termed `Gilly’s Game’.
On Tuesday night at the ground Town are hosting the first of three West Yorkshire Amateur League semi-finals when Carlton Athletic Reserves take on Wyke Wanderers Reserves (7.30) in the League’s Trophy competition. Admission is £3 and £2 for concessions.
BRIGHOUSe
TOWN AFC
BRIGHOUSE TOWN AFC
