Author: Ray McLaughlin

Brighouse Echo Sport – Town News by Dave Parker

DEFENSIVE LAPSES cost Brighouse Town dearly away to Cleethorpes Town.

The first half was largely dominated by the home side and they spurned three clear cut opportunities to put the game to bed in that time.

The breakthrough came in the 41st minute when a Brody Robertson pinpoint cross was drilled in by Oli Donald.

Better was to follow for the hosts after the break when first, their man of the match, Luke Lofts outsmarted the Town defence with sheer skill in the 48th minute before beating Brett Souter. On 63 minutes Robertson, a first half provider, made it 3-0 with a glancing header to beat Souter.

Just ahead of the goal Town had introduced Elliot Harrison and Shiraz Khan for Zeph Thomas and Jack Boyle.

A further 15 minutes into the game and Town had pulled one back through a Mohammed Ibrahim header in a goalmouth scramble and in the 80th minute Ibrahim bagged his brace after being put through superbly on goal via an Elliot Harrison 40 metre run through the home defence.

Town worked hard to try and rescue a point but time ran out on them.

They badly missed leading goalscorer Lawrence Sorhaindo out with tendonitis of the right knee after the Worksop Town game. He should be back on Saturday when Tadcaster Albion, with their new manager John Deacey, are the visitors at 3.0.

Town still have experienced midfielders James Hurtley (hamstring) and Danny Racchi (ankle ligaments) out of action until probably December.

Albion’s form has picked up under Deacey after a rudderless period when ex-Town manager Paul Quinn left to take on the academy at Sheffield United.

With it being the International Break weekend Town have been blessed with three major sponsors in Chris Pickles and his CHRIS-tal Clear company, ex-long serving player Mark Wood and his Prisma Colour colleagues and Chris Anderson Dental Surgeon Ltd from his Rastrick Dental Surgery. Plus former Warley CC batsman Andrew Copley is bringing 20 social football guests from the Cock of the North, Hipperholme.

Experienced local brass band cornet player David Longbottom will play the Last Post ahead of the game as Town and Albion officials remember those who lost their lives in the two Great Wars.

On Monday night, November 15 (7.45) Town will entertain Knaresborough Town in the West Riding County FA round one tie that was postponed last Monday due to a waterlogged pitch. Admission £6 and £4 and match programme on this occasion £1

Brighouse Town academy player Sam Brearley is the Player-of the month for September and October in the North section of the ESPFA.

Brighouse Echo Sport – Town News by Dave Parker

BRIGHOUSE ECHO SPORT – TOWN NEWS by DAVE PARKER

HEAVY RAIN Sunday, overnight and Monday morning scuppered any chances Brighouse Town had of playing their home West Riding County FA first round home tie with Knaresborough as it left the pitch thoroughly waterlogged. It was later reported that the Pennine areas of West Yorkshire had had three inches of rain Sunday and Monday.


Match official Jason Smith had no hesitation in calling the game off which will now be played on Monday, November 15 (7.45) with the winners hosting Bradford club Thackley on a date to be sorted.


General Manager and groundsman Darren Laycock informed that he had only had the pitch verti-drained the week before the deluge and the pitch could have been a lot worse if he hadn’t have done so. “I hadn’t even been able to get on and cut it and mark out either,” he added.

Town had no game last Saturday but this weekend they visit the east coast when they take on Cleethorpes (3.00pm) who on Tuesday night lost 4-2 at home to leaders Liversedge, and last Saturday drew 0-0 at home to Tadcaster Albion who Town entertain on Saturday week.


The Owls under manager Dave Smith are having a good season and currently lie in fourth position on 23 points while Town are in ninth place of the nineteen clubs on 17 points and looking to climb into the play-off places during this month.


Town’s manager Vill Powell had hoped to have given some fringe players game time against Knaresborough as he looks to keep a strong match-fit squad.


After missing the Hebburn Town and Worksop Town games through being on holiday, striker Jack Boyle is likely to be back in contention and Sarfraz Khan, celebrating his 24th birthday in midweek, also hopes to be back to fitness after also missing out on the Hebburn and Worksop games with hamstring problems.


Defender or midfielder Josh Grant has grown in stature since his return last month from league leaders Liversedge where he was bereft of games. Both his tackling and distribution were excellent against Hebburn and Worksop, while his inswinging corners gave the Hebburn keeper and his defenders nightmares!


Town are pleased to announce another major commercial partner with the ambitious club in Mr Luke Larvin, Managing Director of Full Circle Asset Finance, Gas Works Lane, Elland Bridge, Halifax. Mr Larvin was a recent visitor to the club’s annual Jimmy Heffernan Charity night in aid of Overgate Hospice, Elland, and was prominent in the auction and raffle for sporting items including a framed Manchester United shirt to go up in his office.

Darrell Hadala 500 !!

THE CURRENT chairman James Howard and three previous chairmen presented long serving kit manager Darrell Hadala with a framed shirt ahead of last Saturday’s home game with Worksop Town after he had completed 500 consecutive games at the midweek fixture away to Hebburn Town.

 

The Wood Taxis’s official employee was also toasted following the game in the clubhouse where his assistant Will Armitage and media manager Damian Wales had captured several moments on a DVD over the past few seasons.

Picture ID: from left Chris Lister, Charlie Tolley, Darrell Hadala, Ray McLaughlin and James Howard. 

Brighouse Echo Sport – Town News by Dave Parker

RATHER THAN a point gained it was two points thrown away for charitable Brighouse Town as they well and truly let visitors Worksop Town off the hook in last Saturday’s game.

Laurence Sorhaindo, so clinical at Hebburn Town on the Tuesday night, missed two great chances to have found the net before he did in the 32nd minute off the bar following a Zeph Thomas header on to it. Brighouse had also been denied a goal in a goalmouth scramble for offside and then after only 30 seconds from the restart for the second half he appeared to be treading a vat of treacle in the six yard box as he shanked a good chance to just tap in with keeper Seb Malkowski, a former Polish professional, beaten.

The Nottinghamshire side had introduced all their changes at half-time and they were soon on the front foot after surviving Town possibly going 2-0 up. They levelled matters in the 56th minute when wing-back Ben Turner sent in a cross come shot to Brett Souter’s left and it managed to defy his outstretched arm and go in under the cross bar.

Brighouse forced several corners, had two goals ruled out for narrow decision offside’s but couldn’t get a second goal in the net and they survived a possible winner for the visitors when a shot hit the foot of a post and went behind.

Manager Vill Powell, missing the likes of Jack Boyle (holiday), skipper Danny Racchi (ankle ligaments), James Hurtley (hamstring) ( and Shiraz Khan (hamstring), after the game rued what chances his side had missed to put the game to bed and bag a vital three points for a place in the play-off area. Boyle and Khan, who both know where the back of the net is, may have tipped the scales in their side’s favour.

Town have no game this Saturday as the NPL League left it clear for clubs progressing in the Buildbase FA Trophy and they will resume on Monday night at home to Knaresborough Town (7.45) in the first round of the West Riding County FA Cup.

Should they beat the north Yorkshire side, who are currently 14th in the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division, they will entertain Batley on a date to be arranged.

Goalkeeper Declan Lambton has returned to Guiseley after a month on loan and playing just one game in the FA Trophy 2-0 defeat at Widnes.

Powell was keen to keep him but the player wanted more game time rather just sitting on the bench.

Another keeper on Town’s books, Thomas Kirkland, has gone out on loan to Eccleshill United and made his debut for them last Saturday in a 5-2 away win in the FA Vase first round at Newcastle club Heaton Stannington.

Against Worksop, Town had another young keeper on the bench in Charlie English and he may well get a game against Knaresborough along with the likes of Sam Reed out on a dual registration with Swallownest, Harry Wilkinson, Mossimo Ciccarelli and Marshall Getty on the same arrangement at Athersley Recreation.

Brighouse Echo Sport – Town News by Dave Parker

Dave Parker

BRIGHOUSE TOWN finally got back to winning ways at the third attempt in the north east on Tuesday night when they defeated Hebburn Town on the outskirts of Gateshead 3-1.

Town were 3-0 up at the break and that could easily have been 6-0 with two good chances spurned by Zeph Thomas ahead of his 30th minute goal and Javelle Clarke after doing all the hard work from 30 yards out sent the ball wide of the posts with only Mark Foden to beat.

Town were on Hebburn’s all singing and dancing scoreboard after just four minutes when striker Laurence Sorhaindo brushed aside defenders from outside the box and then deftly beat Foden.

Town were completely dominant and too quick and strong for the home side and continued to press. Josh Grant using the strong crosswind was sending in some superb inswinging corners which the home defence couldn’t cope with. However, the second goal came on the half hour mark from a Grant corner and this time Thomas sent in a glancing header for 2-0.

Seven minutes later and it was 3-0 and Sorhaindo had his brace. He took control of the ball in the middle of the pitch and just unleashed a 25-yard left foot volley that had Foden grasping fresh air! His teammates all converged on him as they celebrated a first half that had seen them play probably their best football of the season.

Just before the break central defender James Hurtley went down with a re-occurrence of a hamstring problem and he was replaced by Elliot Harrison.

Captain and midfielder Thomas Haigh dropped back into Hurtley’s position at the start of the second half and Town defended well for 40 minutes before right winger Thomas Potter beat Brett Souter to pull a goal back in the 85th minute. It turned out to be too little too late as the Town players put in a right shift with Grant, Corey Gregory, Harrison Beeden and Mohammed Ibrahim working their socks off, as did debutant from Bradford Park Avenue Alex King when he came on for Thomas in the 68th minute.

Town will be hoping to take this form into the home game with Worksop Town on Saturday when they entertain the Nottinghamshire side at the Yorkshire Payments Stadium (3.0), and also look to advance on their eighth position in the East Division.

TOWN slipped to their second defeat in the north east in five days when they went down 3-1 at Shildon on the outskirts of Darlington.

They were without their skipper Danny Raachi who is having a MRI scan on ankle ligament damage next Monday after his first half injury at Marske on the Tuesday.

Town were also missing for a second match, experienced James Hurtley with a re-occurrence of a hamstring problem, but still had a strongish line up.

Shildon were gifted their first goal on 11 minutes as leading goalscorer Dean Thexton found himself unmarked as he received the ball 12 yards out and had time to pick his spot to beat Brett Souter. The goal had come against the run of play, but Town soon picked up with skipper for the day and new kid on the block Corey Gregory dictating play for Town. Their reward for some enterprising play was an equaliser in the 26th minute when centre-back Harrison Beeden prodded home from a Mikey Starkey free kick.

Shildon regained the lead seven minutes later when Joe Posthill rifled home aided by a couple of deflections to beat Souter who did get a hand to the ball and that was how it remained to the break.

Town rested Shiraz Khan at the break to allow Javelle Clarke on and he put a great ball across the face oif goal with Jack Boyle and Laurence Sorhaindo both diving for it and being only inches from connecting.

The home side put their name on three points in the 58th minute as Thexton scored his second but Town did not give up the cause in looking to pull goals back to try and get something from the game.

**Town have taken delivery in the past week of a large 24 ft x 8ft x 8ft portakbin which has been kindly donated to them by their former sponsors Dual Seal Glass of Huddersfield. Match day groundsman and long distance lorry driver for the company, Wally Hemingway organised everything with MD Mr Nigel Meredith. It is expected to be ready for use in the next two weeks.

In the meantime Kevin Beeden, father of centre back Harrison, is fitting out the portakabin with his operatives from his south Yorkshire company, a great help to the club.

In order to get more players match fitness, Vill Powell has allowed out on dual registration young players Alex King, Harry Wilkinson, Mossimo Ciccarelli and Marshall Getty to play for Athersley Recreation, Sam Reed to play for Swallownest and goalkeeper Thomas Kirkland to play for Eccleshill United.

Brighouse Echo Sport – Town News – By Dave Parker

BRIGHOUSE TOWN lost their second league game of the season so far on Tuesday night at Marske, coming up against a very slick outfit currently chasing leaders Liversedge and still in the FA Cup and FA Trophy.

They went down 4-1 after being taught a lesson in the first half by a side giving them no time on the ball and always finding their teammates with the ball to cut the Town defence to ribbons.

Town did hold out until the 17th minute until a defensive lapse out on the right allowed the ball into the box for Craig Gott to beat Brett Souter, the ball going in off his near post. Town countered with the long ball to their front men of Laurence Sorhaindo, Jack Boyle and Shiraz Khan but they were either beaten in the air or relieved of possession. Adam Wheatley scored the Seasiders’ second goal on 33 minutes and six minutes later Town lost their captain Danny Raachi with a suspected broken ankle, Mohammed Ibrahim replacing him.

James Fairley made it 3-0 to the home side in the 53rd minute before two minutes later Town did get on the scoresheet as Shiraz Khan and Wheatley scrapped for the ball on the line and the home defender took it into the net for the first goal in sixteen hours for Marske to concede at home.

Town were now playing their best football of the night and giving the home side who meet Gateshead on Saturday in the 4th qualifying round of the FA Cup plenty of worries at the back. However they failed to find the target with Sorhaindo squandering a great chance and Boyle after a good free kick, which was returned to him, also just blasting wide ahead of Khan seeing a piledriver blocked.

Town were very unlucky to see a fourth goal go into the net in the 91st minute from Glen Butterworth as the ball provider to him on the edge of the six yard box was well offside!

It was never going to be a cakewalk against a side who beat National League North side Chester 4-0 last week in a FA Cup replay and have been scoring goals aplenty but manager Vill Powell will be wanting 90 minutes of commitment at Shildon on Saturday (3.0). Town lost there on the outskirts of Darlington 2-1 at the death in the FA Cup and had the measure for the most part of the newcomers to the NPL.

They will be without Raachi and fellow seasoned midfielder James Hurtley who missed Tuesday’s game with a recurring hamstring problem.

Midfielder or fullback Josh Grant has returned to the club after a short sojourn at Liversedge and was a second half substitute at Marske for Boyle.

Town are also back in the north east next Tuesday when they pay their first ever visit to Hebburn Town in the city of Newcastle.

Brighouse Town Academy – Match Report

BRIGHOUSE TOWN’S Town’s academy side made it three wins from three which is the first time they’ve achieved the feat in their first 24 games.
Having travelled down to Belper in the morning the players took a 20 minute period at the start of the game to liven up whilst the Town defence stood typically solid, lead by local lad and captain Sam Brearley who has trained with the first team on multiple occasions.
Town weathered the early Belper storm and took the lead around the half hour mark with a first time through ball by Bobby Hamer, another local Brighouse lad, who also plays for Town’s U17 side, which set up Paul Ikoe who finished calmly. The second came in quick succession when local lad Logan Sheridan scored his third goal of the season with an excellent solo goal. Ethan Donkersley finished off the scoring on the 40th minute.
Town pushed for more goals in the second half as they came out the better side, creating numerous one on ones against an outstanding Belper goalkeeper who made some first class saves including tipping two onto the bar from Brearley and Sheridan. Belper did get a consolation goal late in the game when their wide player, who looked offside, set up their impressive captain and talisman Fin Marshall.
However, in truth – Brighouse should have been out of sight at this point, but they managed the game well to finish with their third win in three games in what has been an impressive start. Manager Simon Ward said: “The lads set their own target of 5 from 5 with Witton Albion to visit the Yorkshire Payments Stadium today (Thursday) 12.0, and an away trip to Mickleover Sports, before breaking for half-term. Albeit, with some tough tests against Runcorn, Skelmersdale and two derbies with Ossett United to come towards Christmas.