Dave Parker

TWO FIRST half goals were enough to defeat Wakefield last Saturday in Brighouse Town’s second and final group game and qualify them for last night’s (Wednesday’s) home semi-final with Liversedge.

Jack Boyle was the first on the score sheet midway through the first half after rangy Mikey Starkey won a high ball played forward by Sam Reed and placed it right into the path of the former Huddersfield Town and Clyde player who then, one of one, easily beat the home keeper.

Then, right on half-time, veteran striker Zeph Thomas scored the second and final goal after once more being played into a good position to go one on with the keeper.

In the second half Town’s manager Vill Powell made some changes to get more game time into his players with two more important games coming up, while his opposite manager Adam Lockwood, the former Doncaster Rovers and Yeovil centre half, got the best out of his young players in front of a crowd approaching 700 at the Millennium Stadium, Featherstone.

Golcar United and Penistone Church qualified for the other semi-final, with Golcar registering a 5-2 win over the Nostell side and they played Penistone Church last night (Wednesday).

The winning two sides from the `semis’ will play in Saturday’s final at the Yorkshire Payments Stadium at 3pm and the losing semi-finalists will kick off at the same venue at 11.30am.

All details for the competing sides in those matches will be on the Brighouse Town website and Twitter site from today.

The clubhouse and kitchen will be open from 11am and the day will be extended with TV coverage of the European Champions Final.

Town’s manager will be hoping that experienced Danny Racchi will be definitely fit for a game at the weekend and diminutive striker Mohammed Ibrahim as both missed the Wakefield game with leg strains.

Keeper Brett Souter, who collided in the first half with his own central defender Matty Nebard and left the field with a head wound, was hoping to be fit last night against Liversedge, but his stand-in Declan Lambton, signed from Guiseley, came on to have a very good game.

The Town committee expect a maximum attendance under the current road map covid rules of 675 on Saturday and say it will be: “first come, first served” and the turnstiles will have to be shut after that figure is reached.

There will be a souvenir programme for the two finals, Golden Goals for both and a half-time draw for the final itself.

For the first time ever since the club’s Academy was formed three years ago, Town have two players in the Divisional Team of the Year as youngsters James Tetley and Sam Brearley have made it into the ESPFA North Division TOTY. James, from Leeds, is an energetic full-back who’s known for his relentless work-rate, one-on-one defensive capabilities, and his fantastic personality, has been Town’s most consistent player this year with high performance levels every week.

Manager Simon Ward says his personality rewarded him as first year captain, and he has been promoted to next year’s vice-captain as well.

” Sam, from Brighouse, is a local lad, and has been a leader within the team this year having become our vice captain and promoted to become next year’s captain. Sam is a fast, ball playing centre-back who loves a tackle as well. Both are constantly learning and improving and we hope to invite them into first team pre-season training later in the summer as a reward for their outstanding performances and attitudes.”

Dave Parker

BRIGHOUSE TOWN opened their Yorkshire Trophy 2021 Group A game with a 1-0 home win over Penistone Church on Monday night and in front of 417 spectators.

Despite a busy sporting night of Championship soccer, Super League Rugby League and rugby union on television, those who rolled up to the Yorkshire Payments Stadium were delighted to be out in the fresh air and watching competitive non-league soccer.

Throughout the game defences were on top with some assured clearances, tremendous blocks and in the case of Penistone keeper Chris Smith some great saves in the second half.

Town’s new experienced keeper Brett Souter looked in command and also sent out some good balls to set attacks moving.

The game and three points was sorted in the 24th minute as Town’s skillful wide man Javelle Clarke cut in from the right and beat two defenders before slotting his shot beyond the reach of Smith.

Town now move on to the Millennium Stadium, Post Office Road, Featherstone on Saturday (2.0) to face American-backed side Wakefield, who last night were playing Penistone Church.

Director of Football for the Wakefield club is former Sheffield United international keeper Chris Turner who also managed Hartlepool.

They play in the Sheffield County Senior Premier League and groundshare with Featherstone Rovers RLFC.

The club had under the new structuring about to be announced hoped to be promoted in to Step 6 and begin their climb up the football pyramid.

On Tuesday they had already sold 500 tickets for the game with Town and are hoping to push it near to the 1,000 they are being allowed in.

Town are hoping they can collect another win to give them a possible home semi-final next Wednesday evening (7.30). Details will go on the club’s website and Twitter account on Sunday.

In the meantime manager Vill Powell has moved swiftly to replace former club skipper Kurt Harris with the former Pontefract Collieries centre back Matty Nebard, 27.

The Group B game between Golcar United and Liversedge on Tuesday night ended in a 2-2 draw.

By Dave Parker

BRIGHOUSE TOWN manager Vill Powell and his staff have continued to add to the retained list this past week while also hoping in the next two fixtures to look further at two trialists who impressed in last week’s 2-2 draw with Golcar United.

Back on board for the 2021-22 season is ex-Rotherham United central defender Harrison Beeden, ex-Huddersfield Town and Ossett Utd defender Joe Wilkinson, former FC Halifax Town and Ossett Utd wideman Shiraz Khan, progressive teenage full-back Sam Reed, son of assistant manager Stacy Reed, fellow defender Darius Smith and French Guinea striker Alhassane Keita who has had time with the enforced break to work on securing his work permit.

This past Tuesday’s planned friendly away to Nostel FC at Crofton Leisure Centre, near Wakefield, has been moved to this Friday night (7.30). Town are also hoping to play a behind closed doors home friendly next Wednesday with Bacup Borough (7.30).

It has yet to be confirmed, but under the FA’s new fourth division for Step 4-Brighouse’s level-Town could be meeting NCEL promoted Yorkshire Amateur from Leeds and Liversedge next season along with Northumbrian club Hebburn Town, who were at Wembley on Bank Holiday Monday playing Consett in the FA Vase final, and fellow EBAC Northern League Division One club North Shields.

Dave Parker

BRIGHOUSE TOWN manager Vill Powell has added to his squad with the capture of an Ossett United striker and also ensured another five of last season’s squad have put pen to paper for the 2021-22 Pitching-In Northern Premier League season.

Elliot Harrison, 22, joins former Ossett goalkeeper Brett Souter on the Town books after impressing in training and a training session game.

Town drew 2-2 at home last Friday night with ambitious Golcar United who included several former players under Paul Quinn, with goals coming from Mohammed `TJ’ Ibrahim and Zephyr Thomas.

Also engaged once more are long serving talented forward of midfield player Thomas Haigh, full-back Mikey Starkey who has missed the past two part seasons with a complicated leg injury but is now fully fit, tricky wideman Javelle Clarke, the stepson of former popular Huddersfield Town striker Nathaniel Brown, ex-Huddersfield Town and Clydebank midfielder Jack Boyle and experienced Shelf-based midfielder Danny Racchi who has been on Huddersfield Town, Halifax Town, York City and Kilmarnock’s books.

In the meantime Town’s academy side under manager-coach Simon Ward have recorded two impressive victories last Thursday 3-2 over Skelmersdale at home and then 6-1 at Witton Albion on Monday afternoon.

Nostell FC, who Town will play next Tuesday at their Crofton ground, near Wakefield, in a behind closed doors friendly, have joined the Yorkshire Trophy that commences on Monday, May 17.

That means now that the competition will be in two groups, with Town having Penistone Church in with them and Wakefield City, while in Group 2 it will be Golcar United, Liversedge and Nostell FC.

Dave Parker

BOTH BRIGHOUSE Town men and women management teams have been busy sorting some post end of season matches to keep their players together.

The men’s Yorkshire Trophy inspired competition gets underway on Monday, May 17 when spectators are allowed in for the first time with a home tie against Penistone Church (7.30). They will be allowed 675 paying spectators in at £5 and £3 for concessions and then on the Wednesday they will play Liversedge away who lost 2-1 with several former Town players in their ranks last Saturday in the Buildbase FA Trophy 4th round away to Hebburn Town and on the Saturday, May 22 away to Wakefield City, before entertaining Golcar United on May 29. The top two clubs will then play in the final at Town’s Yorkshire Payments Stadium on May 31.

While Town have a behind closed doors friendly with Golcar United tomorrow night (7.30), Town Women on Sunday will entertain two sides from Bradford City at 2pm on both pitches, while on May 2 they will host Doncaster Rovers Belles and on May 9 Sheffield United. Huddersfield Town, who only just beat them on penalties last Sunday week in the 3rd round, moved into the last eight of the Vitality FA Cup with a 3-1 win over Derby County Ladies.

Former Town midfielder Iwan Heeley helped his local side North Ferriby into the last eight of the FA Vase with a 4-0 win over West Auckland.

Town will begin their pre-season friendlies with an away game at Golcar on July 3, followed by Penistone Church and Sheffield FC away, before Harrogate Town are the visitors for the first home game on July 17 after pitch maintenance. Bradford City follow on the 21st and then Matlock Town on July 24.

Town are also in talks with York City manager Steve Watson about a home game and there are matches also arranged with Worksop Town and Eccleshill United.

Spectators can be allowed in to Town’s ground this lunchtime (Thursday) socially distanced for an Academy game between Town and Skelmersdale United (12.00) as it is classed as grassroots football.

In the meantime Town are looking for assistance in kit washing and ground duties for a few hours a week after losing long term Steve Ambler who is currently caring for his wife. General manager Darren Laycock can be contacted at the ground.