A six points haul over the festive period has seen Brighouse Town head to within four points of the play-offs and into eighth position in the NPL Division One East table.
Town followed up from their 2-1 home win over Ossett United on Boxing Day with a 3-0 away win on Bank Holiday Monday at bottom of the table Tadcaster Albion to replicate the scoreline back in August at the Yorkshire Payments Stadium.
They did this with two goals from Bradford City loanee winger Jack Wilson and a sublime free kick from Jack Boyle.
Vill Powell’s men suffered a big blow after just ten minutes when last season’s leading goalscorer Laurence Sorhaindo jarred a knee on the tacky surface and had to be replaced by Jack Normanton.
Town took a little while after to settle as the home side, desperate for points, were chasing the ball and thwarting whatever Town were trying to create. However, on 37 minutes Boyle down the left delivered a superb ball to Wilson who then met it sweetly and chipped advancing keeper Max Culverwill for the first goal.
Town’s healthy following in the 250 crowd let their presence be known and then five minutes later there was another big cheer as Boyle whipped in a free kick from 22 yards out to completely leave Culverwill grasping fresh air.
Town came out for the second half and immediately once more took up the cudgel and in the 51st minute it was man of the match Wilson who beat his man Tnique Fishley to come into the box and then send a bullet of shot across the face of goal and into the far corner of Culverwill’s net for 3-0.
Five minutes later Wilson once more had the beating of the former Town player and he was a good yard inside the box when Fishley pulled him down by his shirt and screams went up from the Town faithful for a penalty but referee Matthew Langdon waved away the claims.
There were no more goals in the remainder of the game but Town did go close on occasions and keeper Jamie Hassall, standing in for the injured Brett Souter (hip and thigh from the Ossett game) had very little to collect behind a solid wall of the returning from long term injury of Aiden Walker, Joshua Dacre and both wing-backs Sam Reed and Mohammed Ibrahim.
Town now entertain on Saturday the third-placed club Stocksbridge Park Steels (3.0) from south Yorkshire. The clubs drew 1-1 at the former home of Jamie Vardy back in August, shipping in a goal in the dying minutes on a rain-soaked night.
Stocksbridge warmed to the game with a 1-0 win over Sheffield FC in their festive derby on Monday.
Its questionable if Sorhaindo will be fit to resume after his early injury at Tadcaster but back in contention for the defence after a four week absence will centre back Matty Nebard. The Leeds-based schoolteacher has been staying away from the squad after contacting scarlet fever at his school.
Winger Alex King has left his dual registration run with Hallam FC and gone to Eccleshill United where he made his debut for them on Monday against high flying Emley.
Neither Zeph Thomas (Achilles) or Elliott Harrison (knee) were fit for inclusion on Monday. Veteran Thomas is also looking at taking coaching badgers.
Town have arranged their home West Riding County FA Senior Cup third round tie with Campion for Tuesday, January 17th 7.45 and the postponed away game with Hebburn Town on Saturday, December 17 will now be played on Tuesday, January 31 (7.45).
