Brighouse Echo Sport – All the latest news from the Heffernan Utilities Stadium by Dave Parker

Brighouse Town stopped the rot of four straight defeats with a 1-1 home draw against Newton Aycliffe last Saturday.

When on top in the first half after curbing the Durham side’s early excursions, they failed to put the game to bed and paid the price of losing two valuable points as the visitors clawed back an equaliser.

Thanks to some excellent goalkeeping from Michael Acquah who made two great saves in three minutes in the early stages Town kept in the game.
He saved a shot from Thomas Henson and then he saved a penalty from Andrew Nelson. Jason Davis had slid into a tackle just in the box and referee Jamie Howe from Lichfield pointed to the spot. Seven minutes later and Town were in the lead as experienced Nathan Curtis went one on one with visiting custodian Kyle Seymour and made no mistake in finding the back of the net.

Town then continued to press forward and Youssef Chentouf was looking lively and was denied twice by Seymour.
Romario Dunne and Finlay Tunstall,on loan from Accrington Stanley, also had chances to send Town in at the break by a greater margin than 1-0.
Newton Aycliffe cane out strong again in the second half and had much more possession and at times the home goal was under siege but skipper Harvey Booth and George Grumley dealt with matters arising ahead of Acquah mopping up. That was until the 77th minute when Jake Orrell came in from the left and fired across goal to beat Acquah.

Town fans were dismayed but they saw Curtis and subs Rhys Plater and Jordan Preston try their utmost to try snatch a goal for the winner but it just eluded them and even into five minutes of added time.
In the first half Town’s consistent fullback Ferdinand Annor was injured with a bad cut in a kneecap but he played on into the second half until replaced by Plater.

He is Town’s only doubt ahead of Boxing Day’s away game at Silsden (1pm). Silsden lost 3-0 at Pontefract Colls on Saturday and remain two points lower than Town in 17th place.

Town’s other festive fixture is at home on New Year’s Day to Bradford Park Avenue (3pm).