A cup tie loss and a defeat in the League were the outcomes of Brighouse Town’s two home games last week.

They lost 4-2 to Garforth Town in the first round of the West Riding County FA Senior Cup on the Wednesday and then lost 1-0 to a second half penalty against fourth-placed North Ferriby.

Against Garforth, manager Grant Black had to make numerous changes from the side that gained a valuable point at Stocksbridge Park Steels through players not qualifying or being injured. It was a good midweek workout for the fringe players and it made Saturday’s line up all the more stronger.

Into that side against the Humberside’s came new signing Joshua Eggington, a new fullback capture from Sherwood Colliery, and back in the line up was wide player Rhys Plater who had been in a car accident following the Stocksbridge game and as a result had missed the Garforth tie.

Striker or midfielder Romario Dunne led the line as a contracted player after agreeing terms in midweek and also back was Hull City loanee Cameron Gray.

Brighouse gave as much as they got, as they say in sporting parlance, in the first half half and could have taken the lead in the 21st minute but Niah Payne’s angled shot hit the wrong side of the post with keeper Ben Bottomley beaten.

It was 0-0 on the break and all to play for when just six minutes in Town gave away a penalty through an outstretched leg on North Ferriby’s striker Tom Corner and referee Joshua Drake pointed to the spot. Keeper Kyle Trenerry went the right way but Josh Whiteley’s spot kick just had a little too much on it and squeezed in at the corner.

Town over 15 minutes made four changes but they just could not find away through the North Ferriby defence and the home fans left the ground disappointed that their boys had got nothing form the game.

This Saturday Town are away to Pontefract Collieries (3pm) in what is always a tough place to visit but the new look squad is certainly not shot of commitment and the line up against North Ferriby looked much stronger at the back.

As against Belper Town and Ashington, Town need to score first and then let their opponents chase the game.

Town go into Saturday’s game sixteenth of the 22 clubs and are up against a Pontefract side who in ninth place after their 3-1 home defeat this past Saturday by Grimsby Borough.      

Another clean sheet and a very good performance from the Brighouse Town side brought a valuable point back from Stocksbridge Park Steels and the resultant 0-0 draw.

Following on from victories over Belper Town and Ashington, Town would probably have settled for a point before kick off against the inform South Yorkshire side and that is just what they got from a hard working performance.

Keeper Kyle Trennery was also in top form once more and so was debutant towering centre-half Kevy Tarangadzo, signed on the Friday from Liversedge.

Just over 30 minutes into the game Stocksbridge could have scored but for the crossbar as Danny Deakin’s corner found Alex Hardwick and his head rattled the crossbar and came away to safety. Town went up the other end and the home keeper, Ben Townsend kept out a header from Niah Payne. 

Shortly afterwards Boston United loanee Harry Wood was just about to stab home in a goalmouth melee but referee Thomas Viles controversially awarded Stocksbridge a free kick for a foul on the keeper.

At the break, Manager Grant Black had to replace an injured Payne with Curtis Morrison who has been re-signed on another months loan from Bridlington Town.

Town throughout the game found the home wide player Joao Silver a handful but it was a James Morris cross to Hardwick that nearly brought their winner but Trennery brought off a great save. 

Town had also given a debut to Hull City U-21 midfielder Cameron Gray and he showed up well until replaced in the 71st minute by Isaac Acquah, who carried on the good work.

Skipper Josh Grant and wide player Rhys Plater ran themselves into the ground and all the players received a massive ovation from the travelling Town fans at the end of the game.

Last night (Wednesday) Town were playing Garforth Town in the first round of the West Riding County FA Senior Cup ahead of this coming Saturday’s home game with North Ferriby (3pm), who are currently fifth in the East Division table. Payne was unlikely to have featured against Garforth and striker Danny Edwards has had the results of a scan and is out of action until into the new year.

Manager Grant is also awaiting news on  fellow striker Myron Gibbons (knee) and, as a result, is still looking to bring in the odd player or two.  

Seven days is a long time in sport and politics and a miserable five match winless run for Brighouse Town was brought to an end with a 2-0 win at third-placed Belper Town and a 1-0 home win last Saturday over Ashington who had just changed their manager.

The valuable six points took Town six places up the table from 19th to 13th and join a host of clubs in mid-table on 15, 16 and 17 points.

The change in fortunes began in the Derbyshire Peak District town last Tuesday evening and via a Niah Payne strike from the edge of the box in the 22nd minute that is Town’s goal of the season so far. It just rattled in to the home goal and the Town players mobbed Payne who has been consistent all season with his work-rate and skill.

Town’s defenders kept Belper at bay and shortly into the second half increased their lead when Payne again was on the end of a cross from a set piece to stab the ball home and make it 2-0.

The home crowd of 527 couldn’t believe that their players were being played off the park by a side at that time fourth from bottom and in the relegation zone.

Town saw the game out and their fans returned home up the M1 in great heart.

Saturday brought Ashington to the Heffernan Utilities Stadium who haven’t been enjoying a good season but were expected to perform for their new manager and in the opening few minutes they attacked the Town goal and were awarded a penalty when Jack Dando, back at the club on dual registration from Wombwell, brought down a player in the box. However, Town’s keeper Kyle Trenerry dived the right way and saved Michael Ndiweni’s spot kick.

Town got back into the game from then and put some real pressure on the Ashington goal and keeper Daniel Staples had to make several good saves. From a corner he gave away in the 36th minute, Boston United loanee Harry Wood crossed into the box from a short corner routine and Rhys Plater controlled the ball with his first touch and   laid it into the path of Dando with his next touch who then looped it over the outstretched hand of Staples.

Ahead of the goal Town lost the versatile Joshua Waldram with a knee injury after a heavy tackle and he was helped off the field.  

Town saw out the rest of the half and then the second and with some timely substitutions to take care of tired legs, Grant Black’s men saw off the Northumbrian outfit to the delight of their fans.

On Saturday Town travel to Stocksbridge (3.pm) in South Yorkshire where the home side is currently enjoying a successful period of six wins in their past seven outings including a 4-0 home win last Saturday over North Ferriby, and a midweek 1-0 away win on Tuesday night at Ossett Utd.

Black says Waldram has ligament damage and it is giving the camp concern and he more than likely will miss Saturday’s game.

Striker Danny Edwards has had his scan on the troublesome knee at Chapel Allerton Hospital, Leeds, and awaits the outcome. Vice-captain Curtis Peters, the former Bradford City player, was on the bench with the management on Saturday and he came with bad news that he is out for the season with his back injury.

Fullback Curtis Senior has one more game to serve from his two match ban he got from the Newton Aycliffe game but will be available for next Wednesday’s home game with Garforth Town (7.45) in the West Riding County FA Senior Cup first round.

In the meantime town’s manager is looking to add more bodies to the squad to ensure it remains strong and more success can be forthcoming.

Brighouse Town suffered their fifth successive defeat last Saturday away to Newton Aycliffe and also shipped in their thirteenth goal, without troubling the opposition yet again.

The first half was played in a torrential downpour and after four minutes of it the home side were a goal ahead, although it could be said that Town had enjoyed the better of the early play.

Striker Liam Jarvie on four minutes got on the end of an Ethan Wood cross and steered the ball to the left of Town keeper Kyle Trenerry, back in goal for the first time since August 29 when badly injured up at Emley.

Town had difficulty finding their men and were also playing against the rain and it was on 28 minutes that New Aycliffe doubled their lead when Dean Thexton was teed up by Jarvie in the box, allowing Thexton to smartly jinx past the Town defenders and fire past Trenerry.

Town did have some periods of possession but created very little to worry the home custodian Jim Pollard.

Newton Aycliffe sealed their victory in the 76th minute when substitute Cole Kiernan expertly fired the ball into the top corner of a crowded box.

Niah Payne did find the net for Town towards the end of the game but was ruled offside.

This angered Town defender Curtis Senior, now on the bench after being subbed, and he was reported to the match referee Scott Henry by his assistant and he duly showed him a red card.

Town were at second in the table Belper Town on Tuesday night ahead of entertaining Ashington this coming Saturday (3pm).

The Ashington game is a real six pointer with Town now fourth from bottom and the Northumbria outfit, famous for the Charlton brothers, Bobby and Jack, one place below them.

Town gave a debut at Newton Aycliffe to loan signings Harry Wood and Will Green from Boston United, and the former Doncaster Rovers players, were down to also start at Belper. They also played the much travelled Zanco Deco against Newton Aycliffe.

Senior will miss the next three matches from Saturday but skipper Josh Grant is available for the Ashington game after serving three matches but playing two games for Step 5 club Dearne Valley to keep match fit. Strong midfielder Isaac Acquah was back in action at Belper after serving his one match ban from the Heaton Stannington game.

Manager Grant Black has a long injury list and has striker Myron Gibbons out for another two to three weeks, forward of midfielder Romario Dunne out for another week, midfielder Curtis Peters out until possibly Christmas and striker Danny Edwards looking sidelined until the new year.

Black has been working overtime to try and bring in extra cover besides the Boston boys.  
Photos credit Newton Aycliffe 

      

Brighouse Town’s promising start to the season has imploded with a fourth straight defeat coming at Heaton Stannington in the city of Newcastle last Saturday afternoon.

They went down 2-0 after a promising start and also finished up playing the last 30 minutes with 10 men after their best player on the day, Isaac Acquah, the former Huddersfield Town youngster, had been sent off.

Two goals in three first half minutes did for Town after they had looked the more likely to score. A Kane Evans cross across the box was directed into the path of Kailem Beattie and he rifled  home unchallenged. Three minutes later and Town gave away a penalty just inside the box after initially the referee was going to blow for a foul just inside Town’s half but he then allowed play to go on and the home side took advantage then from the spot kick. Louis Anderson just beat the diving Paul Cooper and it was 2-0 and after 21 minutes the signal for manager Grant Black to make two changes. Off went veteran Craig Nelthorpe and new signing Ethen Vaughan to be replaced by Cole Wildin and Darius Smith respectively.

Coming up to half-time Town looked assertive, like they had done earlier in the game, but they just didn’t have a striker on board to put the ball into the back of the net.

Acquah was causing problems for the home side as they could not knock him off the ball but he had little support across midfield. He went in to the referee’s book for a soft foul and minutes later he was flashed a yellow card again on the 60th minute and then the red.

In defence Town had Matty Nebard and Curtis Senior playing well and with keeper Cooper assured in goal. Senior provided some good balls and crosses but Town had nobody there to take advantage. Cooper in a frantic goalmouth scramble kept the score at two-nil and that is how it stayed even with Town down to 10 men.

Town are back up in the north east this Saturday when they travel to Newton Aycliffe (3pm) and with a coach leaving the Dusty Miller at 11.30.

Black has put seven day notices on three players he is after to bolster the squad but has been handed grim news on striker Danny Edwards following his visit to Chapel Allerton hospital last Friday. He has lateral knee ligament damage and needs a scan and that is scheduled for four weeks time.

Skipper Josh Grant was handed the statutory three match ban for his dismissal at home to Grimsby Borough last week and will miss this Saturday and the away game with Belper on Tuesday night (7.45). Acquah will miss this Saturday’s game.

There could be a recall for keeper Kyle Trenerry out since being injured at Emley on August 29. As part of his road back to fitness he played as a striker for the U-23 team in a fixture last week and scored a hat-trick in a 6-1 win!

Last season he played for a Bradford Sunday League side a striker and scored 30 goals!

The manager will also be hoping striker Myron Gibbons is fit for selection on Saturday when he also hope for one or two new faces as well.