BRIGHOUSE TOWN, in front of their biggest crowd of the season, lost in the 96th minute of a very exciting and challenging derby game with NPL East Division One League leaders Liversedge from just five miles down the road.

With no opposition in the immediate area 827 football enthusiasts turned out on a very grey, misty and damp afternoon and they were not short changed.

Play in the first half was virtually end-to-end with Town definitely having the upper hand and they were unlucky when their former FC Halifax Town goalkeeper Jordan Porter was only saved by the crossbar from a Jack Boyle strike.

Boyle, energetic Elliot Harrison, Shiraz Khan and Javelle Clarke took the game to the visitors who were well held in check by Matty Nebard, Harrison Beeden and fullbacks Darius Smith and Josh Grant.

There was an incident in the first half when five players were booked in the 24th minute after Town’s on loan keeper from Huddersfield Town Giosue Bellagambi was alleged to have brought down Oliver Fearon on the edge of the box. Liversedge fans were vociferous in wanting Bellagambi sent off along with the visiting players but referee Ian Johnston waved them all away. He booked Bellagambi and Nebard and for Liversedge Porter, Ross Daly and Kevy Tarangadzo.

The game got underway again after a three minute break and it always had an edge to it after that with the crowd and players fired up but the well qualified Wakefield official kept the lid on things until the half time whistle.

During the half-time break Mr Johnston felt unwell and Huddersfield official Steve Rushworth was called for over the PA system. However the appointed official opted to carry on with Mr Rushworth available on the touchline.

Both sides had chances in the first 20 minutes of the second half with Khan coming down the centre of the pitch from his own half, evading tackles and then just thwarted in the six yard box by Porter. James Hurtley was also on target and and Harrison was inches wide of Porter’s near post.

Joe Walton, Fearon , Paul Walker and then his substitute Lewis Whitham were busy in the Town box but the defence held firm until the ball was played in from their left and Halifax-based former Town and Farsley Celtic forward Ben Atkinson found the back of the net in the 74th minute to send his fans wild.

Ten minutes later and there was a melee in the centre circle with both management teams coming off the bench to separate the players. Liversedge had five former Town players in their ranks for the fixture, which speaks volumes for the talent that has been signed over recent seasons at the Yorkshire Payments Stadium

After Mr Johnston had spoke to his two assistants he sent off the Liversedge captain Jack Stockdill, another former Town player, and Town’s Corey Gregory.

Town’s heads continued to be held high and they worked for an equaliser which came their way in the 90th minute courtesy of a free kick on the edge of the box after Boyle had been brought down. The former Huddersfield and Clyde striker, who was in great form in the game, took the ball and beat the wall and Porter to plant the ball to his right.

Town fans were in great voice as the board went up for six minutes of added time. They held out well until in the sixth and final minute of `Fergie time’ Joe Walton prodded home to the left of Bellagambi.

The Town players, who had payed their proverbial socks off, and supporters were crestfallen at the score and then final whistle seconds later.

Town go again on Saturday at Ossett United (3.0) who with new management team Jas Colliver and Mark Ward in charge went to Tadcaster Albion on Monday and won 3-2 after a poor run under former manager and Bradford City player Wayne Benn.

Town had no injuries after Monday’s game but it is doubtful if strikers Zeph Thomas (hamstring) and Laurence Sorhaindo (quad muscle) will be in contention. Skipper Danny Raachi out of action since October with a serious ankle injury is getting very near to a return and striker Mohammed Ibrahim (hip) is around two weeks off. They will be allowed if selected to play Gregory under the seven day non-league ruling at Ossett before he begins a three match ban..

Town have fixed their home quarter final tie with Steeton in the West Riding County FA Senior Cup for Monday, January 17 (7.45).

TOWN’S goalscoring fest continued at Gateshead on Saturday when they defeated Dunston 3-2 with a very accomplished performance.

Without injured keeper Brett Souter and ever present centre-back Harrison Beeden and on a tacky and part in the shade frozen pitch, they were on the board on two minutes when leading goalscorer Laurence Sorhaindo headed home to take his tally to 13.

The ball had come in from the left after some skillful work from Shiraz Khan and was met by Javelle Clarke but his shot was parried out and Sorhaindo mopped up with an angled header away from keeper Liam Connell.

The home players and crowd were shocked and Town continued to take the game to their hosts with Khan, Sorhaindo and Clarke well and truly on the front foot.

However, in the sixteenth minute following an initial cross, the ball was recycled back into the box and this time Lee Mason was on the end of the cross and headed home to equalise.

Dunston had a purple patch and Town, with Matty Nebard and Aiden Walker in the centre of defence, had to work overtime and debutant keeper from Huddersfield Town, Londoner Giosue Bellagambi made a great save with an outstretched leg from Michael Pearson.

There was a bog blow for Town in the 31st minute when Sorhaindo took a knock and had to be replaced by Elliot Harrison. Town steadied the ship through hard work and with wing-backs Darrius Smith and Josh Grant making headway up the pitch and then tracking back to quell any danger. Town were unfortunate with five minutes to the break to see a James Hurtley piledriver hit the Dunston skipper Craig Scott on his chest on the line with Connell beaten.

The second half was only seven minutes old when Jack Boyle, a 48th minute substitute for Zeph Thomas, received a ball from Clarke, who had chased a crossfield pass from Khan, and, the former Huddersfield Town and Clyde striker fought off a defender and then just inside the box rocketed a shot from a tight angle beyond Connell.

Town, with veteran Hurtley and superb midfield signing Corey Gregory in control, Town were well and truly looking to sew up the match.

In the 71st minute Boyle received the ball once more just inside the box and let fly only to see it hit the base of Connell’s far post and come back out but fortunately former FC Halifax Town player Khan was on hand to steer it firmly into the net and make it 3-1.

Dunston huffed and puffed looking to get back in the game as Hurtley and Grant voiced `game management’ at their colleagues.

In the 88th minute Dunston substitute Scott Heslop did just beat Bellagambi to the ball and that set up a tense remaining couple of minutes plus added time but Town saw out the game for three valuable points.

On Bank Holiday Monday, December 27, Town will entertain Liversedge (3.00) in what should be a feisty derby with several former Town players in their ranks.

Liversedge manager Jon Rimmington has steered the NPL Division East newcomers to second in the table behind Marske and an expected good crowd should be in for an entertaining game with Town having netted 14 goals in their past four games.

The match is being sponsored by the Halifax Steam Brewery/Cock Of The North at Hipperholme. Town have also taken on board another valuable sponsor ahead of Christmas in Halifax-based company CP Media, owned by Mr Michael Brennan who will be sponsoring manager Vill Powell and centre-back Aiden Walker.

TOWN marched into the quarter-finals on Wednesday night of the West Riding County FA Senior Cup with a 5-1 victory over NCEL Premier Division club Thackley, writes Dave Parker.

There was a bad blow for the player and the club in the warm up when Town’s U-17 player Henry Henderson tore a hamstring very badly and had to be helped from the field of play and back into the dressing rooms. He was replaced on the bench by the experienced Corey Gregory who had to replace Tom Haigh in the 55th minute, the long serving player having picked up an ankle injury.

Town were on the scoreboard after just eight minutes when Alex King came in from the left and put a precision pass into the box for Jack Boyle to hammer home. The impressive King found the back of the net himself 11 minutes later when he beat two defenders and then picked his spot to leave keeper Jack Holroyd grasping thein air.

Town had more first half chances against a team a division below them who also ensured their hosts worked hard. Their number 7 Lewis Waddington was a real handful out on the right and it was his surging run to the box that brought his side a penalty in the 44th minute.

Following protests, which referee Aaron Bannister waved away, former Town player Albert Ibrahimi slotted home from the spot.

The second half was only two minutes old when Elliot Harrison, who was on top form, restored Town’s two goal lead and on 66 minutes he backheeled Town into a 4-1 lead. Assistant referee Chris Moore confirmed to the referee the ball had gone over the line.

Thackley remained competitive throughout but came up against an enthusiastic Town side who could have seen Harrison bag his hat-trick had it not been for a good save from Holroyd. Talking of good saves and Souter made a cracking save midway through the second half when palming the ball away from his far post when a goal looked all on.

Town did make it 5-1 in the 90th minute when Boyle, who had covered some ground on the night, came in from the left and when just inside the box he let one of his piledrivers go which curled round Holroyd and into the net.

Good work on the night in defence from Matty Nebard, making a rare start, Josh Grant, Harry Wilkinson and Harrison Beeden.

A LAURENCE Sorhaindo hat-trick ensured Brighouse Town gained revenge over Frickley Athletic for a 2-1 reverse at their South Elmsall ground back in August and they kept their unbeaten home league and cup run going.

The club’s leading goalscorer was on the scoresheet after six minutes when he banged home a penalty after being brought down in the box.

Ten minutes later and a ball from the left found Frickley’s Rio Monyneaux on his own on the right an he saw off the challenge of Josh Grant and firmly planted the ball in the top corner of the net out of the reach of Brett Souter.

Town’s heads didn’t go down and Corey Gregory and Thomas Haigh ensured in midfield that their side got on top in the remainder of the half.

The second half was only a minute old and a ball came down the centre of the pitch and Sorhaindo controlled and then headed for goal, seeing off two defenders with guile and strength and then when facing keeper Joshua Chapman he drew him and then slotted the ball into the empty net.

Town were really piling on the pressure with Shiraz Khan and Sorhaindo attacking with strength and purpose. The third goal after the third of succession of corners came in the 69th minute and Grant’s in-swinger was mishandled by under pressure Chapman and Sorhaindo pounced to hammer into the net to make it 3-1.

Fresh legs from Jack Boyle, Elliot Harrison, who was very impressive in his cameo role, and Mikey Starkey ensured that Frickley’s movement up field and chances were very limited in the last 20 minutes. The added time in the second half was very feisty and Bradford referee Darius Bradley brought his cautions to seven for the match with five minutes on the clock.

Saturday’s game proved to be the last in a Brighouse Town shirt for ex-Emley fullback Starkey who has been crossed off this week after an approach from his village club Golcar United who play in the North West Counties League Division and are currently league leaders, three points ahead of new club Bury AFC.

Town, who were last night (Wednesday) entertaining Thackley in the re-arranged second round of the West Riding County FA Senior Cup, are away on Saturday at Gateshead club Dunston (3.00). They drew 0-0 with Dunston on the opening game of the season at the Yorkshire Payments Stadium and the Tynesiders are currently in sixth place to Town’s10th position.

There is a coach leaving the Old Pond, Hove Edge at 10.45.

Town will then have a break from fixtures until the Monday after Christmas, December 27, when current second-placed Liversedge are the visitors and Town officials are preparing for a big turnout for the derby game.

BRIGHOUSE TOWN were well worthy of a result at Stockton Town last Saturday, but Lady Luck once more deserted them just like she had the week before when the floodlights went out when they were leading Yorkshire Amateur 3-0.

The game was only four minutes old when Town’s reliable keeper Brett Souter got his studs stuck in the 3G pitch and keeled over back pedaling in an attempt to prevent the home side’s Alfie Conway helping himself to an early Christmas present.

Vill Powell’s men came bounding back and inside 10 minutes from the cruel setback, leading goalscorer Laurence Sorhaindo powered to the edge of the box, swiveled and sent in a cracking low drive to beat keeper Callum Roberts.

The visitors then took charge of the game, with skipper Tom Haigh and widemen Javelle Clareke and Shiraz Khan giving the home defence plenty to think about. They were unlucky not to take the lead when Zeph Thomas let fire with a thunderous shot only for Thomas to be in the right place at the right time and they went in at the break drawing 1-1.

Into the second half and it was Town who were more attack minded and the Town defence of Harrison Beeden, Aiden Walker and Josh Grant were thwarting all the home side attempted. However Town just couldn’t find the back of the net and against the run of play in the 68th minute Kevin Haytes gave Souter no chance with a blistering drive and 13 minutes later fortune favoured them when a Jamie Owens low effort cannoned off a post and Nathan Steel was on hand to steer the ball home and make it 3-1.

Town’s players picked up the cudgel and attacked again and were rewarded in the 89th minute with a Khan goal after Sorhaindo had a great chance to bag his brace with an empty net staring at him and substitute Jack Boyle just missing a heading chance off a Khan cross.

Town’s West Riding County FA Cup tie second round tie with Thackley was postponed on Monday night with the Yorkshire Payments Stadium under water. Both clubs have now agreed to meet at the same venue next Wednesday, December 15 (7.45).

This Saturday Town entertain Frickley Athletic from south Yorkshire (3.00) and a side just one place below them in the NPL East Division table. Town need take the three points from Frickley who beat them 2-1 back in August during the first week of the season and commence a climb up the table.

“The commitment, skill and effort is there, we just need the rub of the green as we were having with Yorkshire Amateur when bad luck struck,” said assistant manager John Francis.

Manager Powell has had electrical contractor friends of his up from Sheffield to work on the power supply across the stadium and they have also sorted different heating apparatus in the various buildings.

Halifax-based proven striker Nathan Cartman who was rumoured to be a target for Town on his release from Scarborough Athletic last week over travel problems, has joined Yorkshire Amateur as assistant player-manager. His new club will be playing the replayed game with Town on Saturday, February 12.