BRIGHOUSE TOWN’S weekend of woe in going out of the Emirate FA Cup preliminary round at Shildon, ended 48 hours later with them getting their second home draw of the season in the 5th minute of added time in a thriller with Sheffield FC.

Town looked to be heading for a nerve-jangling victory in Durham and the first round draw only to see, first a penalty awarded in the 86th minute, then right back Jack Tinker sent off, before giving away a free kick some 22 yards in the fourth minute of added time which was dispatched by late substitute Daniel Craggs with some aplomb over the wall to beat keeper Brett Souter.

Overall Town deserved their 1-0 lead, given to them by Jack Boyle in the 44th minute with a 20-yard screamer after dominating large parts of the first half. In fact Elliot Harrison was handed a gift just two minutes in but from 10 yards out he blazed over the bar. Boyle also had two good chances his outstanding work deserved.

The introduction of Javelle Clarke for the second half in the place of Mikey Starkey and his teaming up with outstanding fellow teenage full-back Sam Reed ensured Town did have numerous attacks up the left and they were unlucky not to add to their total. Both Clarke and Boyle should have found the target but as the 90 minutes approached, and having lost Boyle with a dead leg and Thomas Haigh with fatigue, Town also found themselves under the pump.

From a borderline area penalty box collision of bodies, Sunderland referee Martin Conroy awarded Shildon a penalty on the stroke of full time which another substitute Dean Thexton converted, although Souter did go the right way. Visiting supporters were in dismay and talking of a replay but that was only for three minutes before the referee awarded Shildon a free kick for James Hurtley allegedly fouling in a tackle. Craggs, only on the field for minutes did the rest and Shildon now have a home tie with South Shields on Saturday week when Town will, like this Saturday, be without a league game unless the NPL rearrange a league game for them.

In the game with Sheffield on Monday night Town, where Town manager Vill Powell had made two changes from Saturday, had much the better of the second half and fully deserved to get something out of it after going 2-0 down.

They were a goal down after just two minutes when there was a mix up in defence well inside the box and nippy Marc Newsham slid in to beat Souter. There were claims Town defender Matty Nebard had his ankles clipped and a free kick should have been awarded but the goal stood.

It was pretty frantic at both ends but the 1-0 scoreline remained on 45 minutes.

Only a minute into the second half Laurence Sorhaindo was only inches off heading in a hard cross from his right wing and the home support reckoned on another game of deserting luck and valuable points. Town did not give up the cause and battled away and played a lot of decent football but there was no reward, and then a rare attack on the home goal saw Souter penalised for bringing down a Sheffield attacker.

He more than atoned with a great save to his right from Newsam but Jordan Walshaw was quicker than the Town defence following up and he made in 2-0 in the 69th minute.

Two minutes later and Town had pulled a goal back from leading goalscorer Sorhaindo who beat former Halifax Town keeper Jonathan Hedge after receiving a good ball into the box. The home crowd were up for a deserved second and cheered successive advances on the away goal. They had to wait until the fifth minute of added time before in a busy goalmouth former FC Halifax Town wideman Shiraz Khan, a 57th minute substitute for Hurtley, flicked the ball wide of Hedge to jubilant scenes.

Town host Ossett United on Bank Holiday Monday (3.0) looking for their first win of the season against Wayne Benn’s charges who won two league games ahead of their 1-0 defeat against Stockton Town last Saturday.

Manager Powell was proud of the way his boys had come back from 2-0 down against Stockton but just wants his charges to tighten up on defence and then game manage, as he and his colleagues on the bench can see plenty of chances created for the goals to come.

Two days after the Ossett game, Town’s Youth team are at home in the preliminary round of the FA Youth Cup to Farsley Celtic and manager Simon Ward is appealing for support to cheer his boys on hopefully to the next round.

Ossett couldn’t go ahead with their Tuesday night game with Worksop Town as the Nottinghamshire club had to complete their Emirates preliminary round tie with the City of Nottingham club Eastwood Town which had been postponed on the Saturday.

Ossett have a game on Saturday at home to Hebburn Utd who beat Yorkshire Amateur 7-0 in the cup last Saturday and then surprisingly drew with bottom club Pickering Town on Tuesday night.

Town’s match on Monday is sponsored by Hipperholme company Halifax Steam Brewery and their adjoining hostelry, Cock Of The North. The ball sponsor is Chesterfield Candle Company

FOLLOWING TWO what can only be described as two frustrating results for Brighouse Town on the commencement of their 2021-22 Pitching-In Northern Premier League East Division season, this Saturday they switch their attentions to the Emirates FA Cup.

Town drew 0-0 at home to Gateshead club Dunston last Saturday and then lost 2-1 in south Yorkshire to Frickley Athletic on Tuesday night.

Against Dunston Town were thwarted after 12 minutes when striker Laurence Sorhaindo buried the ball in the net only to see the assistant referee’s flag go up.

Both clubs had their chances in the first half and Town survived an anxious moment when Matty Nebard headed off the line following keeper Brett Souter being stranded just outside the box.

In the second half Town should have had a penalty when Mossimo Ciccarelli was pushed over the box but referee Majid Ali waved their claims away.

At the other end the match official also turned down three penalty appeals by Dunston, who also had two free kicks in dangerous areas but fluffed their lines when taking them.

After the goalless draw manager Vill Powell said he was particularly disappointed in the first half work in the final third but was more pleased with the way the side worked hard in the second half and in the defensive area.

On Tuesday at South Elmsall, Town were a goal down against the run of play after 14 minutes when Kieran Wells took advantage of a defensive error and then picked his spot to beat Souter.

Within three minutes Town had equalised through Sorhaindo who headed in from six yards out from a corner out on the right.

Town’s energetic efforts and playing up the slight slope against the strong wind looked as though a second goal could be on the cards but it was the home side who in the 34th minute took the lead from a set piece almost on the dead ball line to Souter’s right. Straight from the training ground the ball via a snappy one-two was played into six yard box and Brad Wells was there to poke the ball home and the 2-1 scoreline stayed that way to half-time.

In the second half Town had at least half a dozen chances to take the lead and then secure the game but their finishing was woeful.

Thomas Haigh was clear on goal and seven metres out only had Frickley keeper Jake Askew to beat but he scuffed his shot and the home side breathed a sigh of relief. Sorhaindo, Danny Racchi and Mossimo Ciccarelli had good chances to bury the ball in the net after their side had played the only football in the second half and the score remained 2-1 at the final whistle.

Frickley only went into the Town half around half-a-dozen times in the second half and Powell was clearly frustrated along with his assistants Stacy Reed and John Francis as they walked off at the end. Reed shouted: “I don’t believe what I have seen there.”

The finishing aspect of their game will have to improve away to Durham club Shildon on Saturday (3.0) in the preliminary round of the FA Cup or there will be no progress in this year’s competition like last term when Town went out after extra time and penalties at Runcorn.

This season its back to replays if there is a draw and Town will, if they draw, after postpone Monday’s planned home league game with Sheffield FC (7.45) to play the replay. That could also be the case if Sheffield draw their BBC televised home tie on the red button and iplayer with Sherwood Colliery (12.30). At least under the pump club officials on not knowing what game they will be preparing for will have one possible hurdle out of the way if there is a result in that tie before they kick off against the current joint league leaders Shildon.

The newly promoted club from the EBAC Northern League have beaten Pickering 4-0 last Saturday and then Dunston 2-0 in their derby game on Tuesday night. Liversedge, another newly promoted club, are also unbeaten as are Frickley Athletic, Town are in 10th place going into the tie.

Town will be checking tonight (Thursday) on Haigh who went off in the 79th minute with severe cramp, central defenders Harrison Beeden (head injury) and James Hurtley (hamstring) plus wide player Mohammed Ibrahim who retired in the 42nd minute of Saturday’s game with an ankle injury and missed the Frickley game.

In the meantime, Pickering have made an inquiry for the services of wide player Alhassane Keita who is currently playing in the NCEL Premier Division for Leeds club Albion Sports to gain some game time and match fitness.

The coach for Shildon leaves the club car park at 11am and the fare is £10.00

BRIGHOUSE TOWN’S 2021-22 season in the Pitching-In Northern Premier League East Division kicks off on Saturday with a home game against Gateshead club Dunston UTS (3.0).

Town manager Vill Powell says he can’t wait and everyone at the Yorkshire Payments Stadium is raring to go, especially after their tremendous performance last Tuesday against National League North side Farsley Celtic.

They are locking horns with a club that they drew 3-3 with in their last meeting at the same venue last October before the season was curtailed for the first time later that month.

Former Morpeth Town manager Chris Swailes and his assistant with The Highwaymen, Jon McDonald, have brought in midfielder Ursene Mouanda from South Shields whose previous clubs were Rangers and Kilmarnock. They also have a face familiar to Town followers in Luke Porritt, a midfielder or forward who has payed with Scarborough Athletic, Hyde Utd and Guiseley.

Powell has just one major doubt in forward Zeph Thomas who has missed the last two pre-season games with ankle ligament problems. He has also allowed wide player Leighton Sawyer to go out to Worsbrough Bridge FC on a dual registration to get more game time.

On the following Tuesday Town are away at Frickley Colliery (7.45) where the much travelled and experienced Martyn Woolford will be pulling the strings for The Blues in midfield. Pontefract-born Woolford, 36, whose father Neil and grandfather Cyril both starred for Featherstone Rovers RLFC, commenced his professional round ball career with Scunthorpe Utd and then went on to play with Bristol City, Millwall, Sheffield Utd, Fleetwood Town and Grimsby Town.

Former professional Dave Frecklington is the manager at Westfield Lane and he has put together a strong squad for this term.

Town officials and supporters found out last Saturday who they will be playing away in the preliminary round of the Emirates FA Cup on Saturday week, August 21 when Durham club Shildon defeated Garforth Town 1-0 via a second half goal.

This season there will be replays as against last term’s extra time and penalties and the date for a replay will be Monday, August 23 at the Yorkshire Payments Stadium (7.45). If that should happen Town would have to postpone their home game with Sheffield FC scheduled for that night.

The Shells were promoted into the NPL East Division in June from the EBAC Northern League Division One and are under the managership of Daniel Moore.

Town have fixed their home FA Youth Cup game with Farsley Celtic for Wednesday, September 1 (7.30). The game will be played to a finish on the night with extra time and then penalties if the sides are still level.

Town’s match sponsor on Saturday is Mr Andy Pearson and his Brookfoot-based company Borehole Solutions Limited North and the match ball sponsor is Heffernan Utilities.