Brighouse Town went a long way towards steering their way from the relegation area with a 2-1 away win at Shildon on Tuesday night in a twice re-arranged game owing to the weather across January and then early March.

Town came from a goal down after seven minutes to steadily grow into the game and then equalise with a minute to half-time and then take a deserved lead on 62 minutes.

Early play was end-to-end and the home side won the first corner out on their right. Joe Posthill swung in a challenging corner and it was met by the head of centre-half Alex White. A minute after the goal the referee blew for a water break on sunset for the Muslim players on the field observing Ramadan.

Town’s heads didn’t go down and they started to play some good football led by Javelle Clarke, Sam Reed, Jack Boyle and Aiden Walker.

They started pinning the home side back and Reon Benjamin Potts just fired over from inside the box, with Mo Qasim and Boyle having shots on target blocked.

On 35 minutes Town had a sustained spell on attack and Shildon’s defenders were well stretched to keep the ball out, which at one stage was like on a pinball machine.

They deserved their goal on half-time when from the left Qasim played in a ball which caused panic in the six yard box and centre-back Josh Dacre managed to force the ball home.

Town on the restart were keen to find the net and press on for the all important victory but Shildon were having none of it and wing-back Aidan Heywood and strikers Jon Weirs and Billy Greulich-Smith were intent on restoring their lead.

On 56 minutes Posthill was put clear of the Town back four and went one-on-one with Jamie Hassall who did a great job in spreading himself and denying their best player a goal.

Midfielders Corey Gregory and Joshua Grant were working their socks off and encouraging their teammates to work for every ball and this came off when Sheffield Wednesday trialist wing-back Reed broke once more down the left and saw the Shildon goalkeeper Harrison Bond off his line. Reed aimed for an empty goal from 35 yards out and it went over Bond, who is currently training with Derby County, and into the net. Reed was swamped by his teammates but there was still 28 minutes left on the clock.

Town had chances to increase the lead as they brought on Bradford City loanee Cole Roberts for Benjamin-Potts and then Sam Drake for Boyle. Shildon held out, and encouraged by their crowd, began to press forward on both flanks and get the ball into the Town box. Matthew Nebard, a rock all night, stood firm alongside Dacre and made sure with Walker and Clarke that they hoofed the ball clear from danger.

Hassall also stood firm in his goal and after five minutes of added time very competent referee Thomas Wilson from Newcastle blew the all-important whistle to send Town fans home very happy indeed.

Town have a busy Easter with a home game on Saturday against Grimsby Borough (3.0pm) and away on Easter Monday to Ossett United (3.0pm).

Back in August Town beat Grimsby 5-3 and on the festive weekend beat Ossett 2-1.

Both of those sides are now looking down on Town, Grimsby are in seventh place on 47 points, some 10 points off the play-off places, and Ossett in thirteenth place on 39 points and three ahead of Town.

It really is a battle now for Vill Powell’s men to stay out of the relegation places, including the play-off places two places above those doomed, and each point gained will be vital.

Town will have their skipper Tom Haigh back in contention for selection on Saturday after a three match ban. He would have cleared it and been included in the squad at Shildon on Tuesday night but the away game at Cleethorpes Town last Saturday was called off on the Saturday morning owing to a waterlogged pitch. That game will now be played on Tuesday, April 18 (7.45) ahead of the last game of the league season at Long Eaton United on Saturday, April 22.

Town officials and supporters have sent their congratulations to FC Halifax Town manager Chris Millington, his staff, players and the chairman and directors plus supporters following their FA Trophy semi-final win at Altrincham last Saturday.

Vice-chairman and director Charlie Tolley commented:” We have always had a close affinity with the Shaymen and being a fellow non-league club in Calderdale are delighted they have once again made Wembley and we will be cheering them all the way on May 21 in their final with Gateshead.”

Brighouse Town pulled off a very comprehensive 2-1 victory away to third in the table Stockton Town last Saturday.

Town, minus four senior players through suspension and injury, completely ran the show and, as manager Vill Powell said in his after match interview, the scoreline could have been 4-1 or even 5-1 but for the goalkeeping of Stockton’s Callum Roberts. The home custodian was making his first appearance back after several weeks out through injury.

With no recognised right back, Powell placed Javelle Clarke in a wing-back role and the Sheffield-based starlet never put a foot wrong, while man of the match Josh Grant in midfield was all over the all weather pitch along with striker Jack Boyle, Sam Drake and Mohammad Qasim.

In fact it was Qasim, who kept on switching flanks the entire game, who scored the first goal on 19 minutes when he picked up a loose ball on the right, beat his man, Daniel McWilliams, and then headed just in to the box and unleashed a rising thunderbolt of a shot which did beat Roberts and one of his defenders on the line.

There was just a hint of a Stockton response, but with acting skipper Corey Gregory, who had his best game in weeks, playing a holding role at the centre of defence, with Josh Dacre and the resolutue Matty Nebard alongside, all was snuffed out. What did get through was kept out with comfort by young keeper Jamie Hassall who was standing in for the experienced Brett Souter who was on the bench.

Two minutes before half-time Town made it 2-0 when Qasim, now down the left, beat two defenders with skill and pace and then fired a ball into the path of Jack Boyle, who appeared to have an eternity before drilling beyond the reach of Roberts from 16 yards out.

A minute into injury time, as the heavens really opened, Clarke had a great chance with an open goal to make it 3-0 but he just couldn’t get his feet in a good position on the greasy surface and scuffed the ball wide.

There was a tremendous round of applause from Town’s travelling supporters as the team went in at the break.

Town did not let up in the second half as Grant, Drake and Sam Reed pushed forward and with 55 minutes on the clock, Roberts denied Qasim making it 3-0 at his near post.

Stockton, roared on by their nigh on 500 crowd, did fight back and forced three corners on the trot and from the third one, Matty Tymon sent in a low hard drive which Hassell did very well with.

Town did not sit back on their lead and continued to look for a third and match-winning goal, but were denied once more by Roberts in the 83rd minute as he just got an outstretched hand to a shot from substitute Bradford City loanee striker Cole Roberts.

Town gave a debut towards the end of the game to the club’s U23 player Ali Hussain and he was on in time to see Stockton pull a goal back in the 89th minute when Stephen Thompson headed home from a Cameron Painter corner.

The home crowd tried to lift their players for an equaliser but Town game managed the added on time well and were over the proverbial moon at the final whistle.

Just as with the 4-1 away win at Consett back in November on a 3/4G pitch, Town, who train on one, did really look comfortable and played some very tidy football on the same surface on the Teeside coast at Stockton.

This Saturday they entertain the NPL Division One East champions Worksop Town (3pm) who took the title last Saturday with a 4-1 home win over relegated Tadcaster Albion and in front of a 901 crowd.

Town will have centre-back Aiden Walker back in contention for the game after his one match ban.

Without doubt the experienced Worksop Town team have been the best team Town have come up against this term and have lost 2-0 in the FA Trophy to them, and 4-0 away.

The match is being sponsored by Heckmondwike-based outdoor clothing company Tog 24 and the match ball by Lightcliffe Cricket Club’s Junior section.

With it being an international break weekend Town are hoping along with substantial travelling support for their biggest crowd of the season.

There will be a 9:30am pitch inspection tomorrow ahead of the game against Sheffield Football Club

Ensure to follow all social media handles for news on tomorrows game. We will provide an update as soon as we are able to.

#OneTownOneTeam

The rearranged Pontefract Collieries game will take place on Monday 14th November; 7:45pm KO at The Yorkshire Payments Stadium.

The original game which took place on Tuesday 4th October was abandoned after 11 minutes when Pontefract goalkeeper Lloyd Allinson sustained a deep gash above his eye and was transported to hospital by ambulance.

The rearranged game will be FREE of charge to supporters with collection buckets by the turnstile for Lloyd who is self-employed and unable to return to work or to football as a result of the injury for the moment in time.

#OneTownOneTeam

We are delighted to hear that Pontefract Collieries goalkeeper Lloyd Allinson is recovering well and the injury first sustained is not as serious as first thought. We hope he’s back on the pitch in the near future.

We’d like to give a special mention to Emily Harnden, the club physio, and Pontefract’s physio for their speedy reactions to the situation and supporting Lloyd whilst he waited for the ambulance to arrive. 

With last night’s game being abandoned after 11 minutes of play, we have decided that the rearranged fixture will be a FREE of charge entrance for all supporters.

Please note that if you purchased a Golden Goal ticket or a Half-Time Draw ticket, the tickets will be honoured so please bring them to the replayed game.

We will update supporters of the rearranged date on social media and the website as and when it has been finalised.

James Howard/Charlie Tolley – Chairman and Vice Chairman

The club can confirm that Mohammad Qasim has reached an agreement with NPL Premier Division Guiseley to join with immediate effect.

Mo Qas joined the club from NCEL side Yorkshire Amateur and was previously at Silsden.

In his time at the club, Mohammad made 6 appearances scoring 2 goals.

We wish Mo all the best for the future and thank him for his services in his short spell at the club.

Brighouse Town Football Club can confirm that James Hurtley has left the club.

James has been around the club for the last 9 years and has been an influential figure under each
management team showing his leadership, desire, and hard work to want to win football matches.

Manager Vill Powell commented “Any team is going to be disappointed to lose someone of James
Hurtley’s quality and presence around the place. James rejoined the club halfway through my first
season and he’s been top drawer ever since. I can’t fault what he has brought to the place, he’s a
positive character and has the experience in his locker and he’s been a class act. His quality on the
pitch is undeniable and it’s a shame to see him move on but I spoke to James in detail, and he has
had an approach this summer which he turned down but due to their situation they came in again
for him and to be honest when he said what the new club was offering, it’s in his interest to want to
take it.

He’s at a stage in his career and that sort of package he’s been offered you can’t refuse it. It was a
tough decision for James in the conversations that we had but from his point of view it was a no-
brainer with the financial package that was on offer, and we can’t compete with that. Good luck to
James, he will be missed in the changing room and I’m sure this won’t be the last time you see him
in a Brighouse shirt as you never know.”

Everyone at the club wants to wish James Hurtley all the best for the rest of his career and we send
our best wishes to him and his family. He will be welcome back at the Yorkshire Payments Stadium
any time.

The lads are back in pre season and play their opening pre season fixture on Saturday 2nd July against Huddersfield Town B Team. The game kicks off at 3pm at The Yorkshire Payments Stadium with admission prices set at £7 Adults/ £4 concessions / U12s free with an accompanying adult.

The tea bar will be open serving hot and cold food/drinks and Jimmy’s Bar will be open in the clubhouse serving beer, wine and many other alcoholic drinks. Turnstiles are open from 1:30pm and we can’t wait to see all the Brighouse fans and many Huddersfield fans back at the stadium again! See you Saturday!

We are delighted to announce the signing of Myron Gibbons from Doncaster based club Rossington Main.

The forward joins the club after scoring 14 goals in 24 games for the NCEL Division One club after previous spells at Staveley Miners Welfare, Doncaster Rovers and Bradford Park Avenue.

Assistant Manager Stacy Reed is delighted to have secured one of the clubs targets for the new campaign. “We are over the moon to get this one over the line. We have watched Myron a few times and he’s got great potential. He’ll bring pace, power and goals to the team which is an area we need to improve on.”

Myron spoke to Brighouse Town Media Manager Damian Wales following the move to the Orange Army and he is pleased the move is finally complete.

” I’m buzzing to sign for the club. I met with Stacy and Vill last week and we had a chat about things and it really made my mind up about what to do so I’m excited to get started. From speaking to the gaffer, the play style will really suit me in terms of how I want to play being direct using my pace to get beyond defenders and hopefully I can contribute a lot this season.”

” I really want to step up and challenge myself, I feel I had a really good season last season so I believe this move is a reward for that so I’m really excited to kick on. I want to challenge for a starting shirt every week and make sure I’m staying in the team and more importantly making sure the team is winning. I’ve played with Zeph Thomas who is here at Rossington and he’s helped improve my game. He’s a proper leader and at the time he was always talking to me and helping me out on the pitch so I’m excited to be playing with him again. I need to adapt my game for this division and react to playing against more experienced non league players and then keep improving myself and my performances.”

Brighouse Town FC ask that vehicle drivers who visit the Yorkshire Payments Stadium, park in a considerate manner towards other road users, pedestrians and occupants of local housing.
There have been complaints about irresponsible parking and the police will issue fixed penalty notices to any drivers who park illegally or cause an unnecessary obstruction on the road or adjacent footpaths.