Progress was made in the Isuzu FA Trophy last Saturday but after the euphoria of that game it was a second league defeat on the trot for Brighouse Town on the Monday night.

Town came back from a goal down in the second qualifying round tie at home to Clitheroe to be leading 2-1 as the final whistle approached and then in added on time they succumbed to an equalising goal from a corner and the game then went to penalties.

Clitheroe went a goal up after 12 minutes when new signing Jack Dando was ruled to have fouled Domaine Rouse in the penalty box. Richard Baker made no mistake from the spot.

Town equalised through Jack Normanton on 36 minutes and six minutes later he should have been awarded a penalty after being blatantly pushed over in the box.

The second half was a frantic affair with Town’s centre forward Mohammed Qasim pulled to the ground by his shirt in the box but denied a penalty to the home crowd’s annoyance with the referee from Salford, Joe Cunningham. Clitheroe hit both a post and a crossbar and keeper Harry Garman also made two superb saves. Town were awarded a penalty in the 81st minute and Normanton made no mistake in beating Danny Taberner for a second time.

Town now had to just play out the tie and then in the 88th minute the referee went down injured and had to leave the field, Town’s former media manager and qualified referee Damian Wales taking over on one line while the senior assistant Ian Claridge took over in the middle.

Four minutes into added time Clitheroe equalised through Rouse and following a further five minutes of time the tie ended 2-2.

Town, thanks to keeper Garman with two great saves, won the penalty shoot out 4-1, along with the goals from Normanton, Ash Butterworth, Darius Smith and skipper Josh Grant.

Town will now travel over the `hill’ to Ashton United on Saturday week, October 7 for the third qualifying round, thus postponing their away league game that day at Bridlington Town.

Town could have been two goals up inside the first five minutes at home to Dunston with steadier finishing but it was the Tynesiders who took the lead on 12 minutes through Jack Maskell, who looked a trifle offside and keeper Michael Roxburgh just failed to get his hands on the through ball.

Town did have more chances in that first half against a very strong and skilful side and also had the ball in the net but the referee ruled a foul on the keeper Dan Staples. Town lost Jack Crook on 32 minutes with a leg injury and Mackenzie Warne took over. Also in the 58th minute Town also lost experienced full back Bramdon Webster (leg) and a minute later they went 2-0 down as Maskell headed in his second goal.

Myron Gibbons and Qasim did have late chances to score for Town who had been outplayed by a more experienced and stronger side.

On Saturday Town entertain promoted County Durham club Newton Aycliffe (3pm) who they last played on September 15, 2015 at home in the FA Cup 1st qualifying round and on the day lost 2-0.

Town’s West Riding County FA Senior Cup first round tie away to Thackley will be played on Wednesday, October 11 (7.45).

Brighouse Town, with four changes to the side from the previous week’s FA Trophy win over leaders Hebburn Town, gave a poor showing in south Yorkshire against fellow mid-table side Stocksbridge Park Steels and lost 3-0.

They had no answer to the creativity and skill of the home side’s left winger Jack Watson and it was he who ensured they were on the scoreboard after only five minutes with a cross into the six yard box for Tomas Poole to tap the ball home. The assistant referee’s flag had gone up for offside but the referee went across to him and then overruled his decision.

Play then became end-to-end and Town did see some chances created by Myron Gibbon up the left but there was little coming out of midfield for leading goalscorer Mo Qasim to latch on to.

After 37 minutes the Steels doubled their lead when Ross Goodwin hammered the ball home from some 12 yards out. Former Huddersfield Town and Spennymoor custodian Roxburgh did pull off two good saves to keep his side in the game.

Right wing debutant Nario Baptista looked a pacy and lively customer on in the first half for Brighouse but they went in 2-0 down.

At the break, Jack Normanton, back at the club for a third time from Silsden, replaced Gibbons.

In the 65th minute Stocksbridge wrapped up the game when former Town, Chesterfield and Bradford Park Avenue centre forward Luke Rawson flicked on a header for man of the match Watson to control and then curl beyond the reach of Roxburgh.

In the last 15 minutes of the game Town played with 10 men as centre-back Alexander Phillipson had to come off with a head injury and they had also substituted ahead of this Qasim.

Town gave a debut to centre-back Jorge Sikora on loan from Marske United and on the bench they had another new centre back in Jack Dando signed on the Friday from Shirebrook Town.

Two Town players have gone on dual registrations to Maltby Main, namely Malachi Bailey and Mackenzie Warne and another defender, Luca Grant has gone on duel registration terms to Shirebrook.

Town have a busy weekend coming up with a FA Trophy 2nd Qualifying round home time on Saturday with Clitheroe (3pm) and then on the Monday, September 25 a re-arranged home league game with Dunston (7.45).

There will be no extra time on Saturday should the sides be level after the final whistle, the tie going to penalties.

Clitheroe are currently fourth in the West Division of the NPL after drawing 2-2 with promoted Oldham side Avro on Saturday.

Brighouse Town saw off the challenge of NPL East Division League leaders Hebburn Town in the Isuzu FA Trophy first qualifying round following a penalty shoot out.

However they had led 1-0 from the 67th minute when hot shot striker Mo Qasim slotted home after pressure on the Hebburn goalmouth until five minutes into added time when Aiden Heywood struck home for a deserved equaliser.

The cup tie had everything from the 15th minute when Town cleared their line and then went up the other end and a free Qasim was left one-on-one with keeper Shaun Newbrook, but he failed to lift the ball over him and the visitors survived.

Moments later Town’s left full back Brandon Webster had an opportunity to put his side one goal up but the ball rattled against an upright with Newbrook beaten.

Hebburn on the stroke of half-time then hit a post when it would have been easier to score and the sides went in at the break level 0-0.

It was frenetic end-to-end stuff in the early stages of the second half as substitute Jayden Major, Josh Grant and Ashley Butterworth cranked up the Town attacking machine.

Town did survive a huge scare ahead of their goal when keeper Harry Garman made a great save from Amar Purewal. Play went to the other end and after some blocking the ball fell to Qasim to score his ninth goal in eight games. Newbrook was injured in the attempt to save when he hit his head hard against the post and he needed lengthy treatment.

In the ensuing time Town tried their utmost to close the game out but with just two minutes of added time left Garman was beaten.

On the whistle the game went to penalties which Town won 6-5 thanks to goals from Qasim, Butterworth, Darius Smith, Grant, Ben Tweed and Sam Bentley.

They will now entertain Clitheroe at the Heffernan Utilities Stadium on Saturday, September 23 in the 2nd qualifying round after they beat Widnes 1-0. The mid-table NPL West Division side have just made their well travelled star striker Sefton Gonzales available for transfer.

On Saturday Town travel to south Yorkshire to take on Stocksbridge Park Steels (3pm). The former home of England striker Jamie Vardy had a 3-1 away win the Trophy at Newton Aycliffe last Saturday but they have only won one game in the league.

Town rested star full back Curtis Peters (ankle) last Saturday and he could be available this weekend but former Bradford City midfielder Jack Wilson could be out for up to three months with a leg injury.

No2 Keeper Isaac Khan has gone back to Eccleshill United on dual registration for some game time and in his wake has come former Huddersfield Town academy goalkeeper Michael Roxburgh who is on loan from Spennymoor United for his second spell with Town.

Defender Mackenzie Warne has gone to Maltby Main on a dual registration for some more game time.

Town’s Saturday, December 9 home game with Sheffield FC has been moved back to the preceding Friday night, December 8 (7.45). . Brighouse Town’s new women’s team have got their season underway with an 18-1 away win at Shadwell in the Fourth Division of the West Riding County FA.

Brighouse Town bowed out of the 2023-24 Emirates FA Cup with a 4-2 home defeat to unbeaten Northern Counties East Premier Division side Albion Sports.

Town after 12 minutes thought they had taken the lead through leading goalscorer Mo Qasim but the assistant referee ruled the ball had gone over the dead ball line to the verbal frustration of the home support. Others seeking clarification also thought he had been given offside and it ended up being a major turning point so early in the game.

While heads went down Albion Sports went down the other end and Robbie Fox belted home the first of his three goals on the afternoon.

Town’s response was limited by a tall line of centre backs and on the stroke of half-time Bradford-based Albion doubled their lead when Thomas Ponter converted a corner.

Town resumed with the experienced Sam Drake replacing Harrogate Town teenager Ben Tweed, but it was Albion who struck again in the 53rd minute as Fox bagged his second.

Qasim did hit the side netting after he strode into the box, but it was the wily Fox who settled the tie in the 67th minute with his hat-trick goal making 4-0.

Town did manage to pull two goals back through an Alex Phillipson header four minutes later and and then Qasim finally got the goal he deserved in the 74th minute.

Town now fought to get an all important third goal and set up a grandstand finish but it was not to be even with Albion reduced to 10 men as substitute Ellis Wade saw a second yellow card and then a red one.

This was not a performance manager Vill Powell will have been pleased with after the previous weekend’s two league successes.

Former Bradford PA and Morecambe striker Sebastian Bolton made his home debut for Town after coming on as a substitute at Liversedge.

In Monday’s draw Albion Sports were drawn away to Hyde United, the tie to be played on Saturday week.

This Saturday, Town are at home to Hebburn Town from Newcastle in the preliminary round of the FA Trophy (3pm). There will be no extra time if the sides are level on the final whistle, the result being determined by penalties.

England’s Euro qualifier with Ukraine will be on both the big screens in the clubhouse following the game.

Tonight (Thursday) Town’s U-18 side will be at Ossett Town (7.30) in the preliminary round of the FA Youth Cup.