Brighouse Town participated in their first action of 2025 last Saturday away to Grimsby Borough, all other games having been postponed.

They came away from the Lincolnshire coast with a 1-1 draw but could easily have won the game had lady luck been on their side.

Town’s players worked their socks off for the whole game and the extra time in both halves.

Before Grimsby got their 42nd minute penalty, Town did have goal bound shot off Akeel Francis glanced onto the cross bar and away to safety.

Grimsby had twice appealed for a penalty but been turned down but on the third occasion it was a stonewall certainty as very promising FC Halifax Town loanee Harvey Coates brought down a striker in the box.

Hull City loanee keeper Shea Callister, who had a superb debut, dived the right way and just got his finger tips to the ball but Sam Topliss’s effort went in.

Town came out for the second half and to be fair bossed certain stages of the game and were unlucky not to equalise on 60 minutes when a shot beat the home keeper and hit the foot of the post.

However nine minutes later they got their just reward when a superb corner from Rhys Player was headed in by Francis who led the line superbly.

Town sniffed a victory but it was not to be but they were worth their point. They lost wing-back Darius Smith with 10 minutes to go with a hamstring injury but it allowed striker Danny Edwards on for his first game back since August through a medial ligament injury.

Town’s supporters gave their heroes a rapturous round of applause has they left the field against a side in eleventh position.

Town travelled to Gateshead on Tuesday night for a re-arranged game with fifth-placed Dunston.

On Saturday they are at home to Newton Aycliffe (3.pm) who are in sixth place, so it doesn’t get any easier as they try to fight their way out of the relegation zone.

In the meantime Town have parted company with experienced goalkeeper Kyle Trennery who fancies his chances at playing back up at a higher level again.

They have also lost wing-back Ethen Vaughan who has signed for League of Ireland club Dundalk United after playing successful trials with them while the cold snap was present over in England.   

Vaughan, 24, the former Norwich City, Burnley, Stalybridge Celtic and Hyde United player has gone with manager Grant Black’s blessing and best wishes.

NCEL club Goole Town have come in for defender Jack Durkin who was on the bench at Grimsby as an unused sub. 

Town lost 4-1  away to Dunston on Tuesday night, their consolation goal coming from Matty Nebard in the 82nd minute when his cross-cum-shot evaded the home keeper.

Those who travelled there reckoned  Dunston were the best side we have come up against all season and we had a very thin squad to choose from with injuries and unavailability.          

Brighouse Town put up a sterling performance in their 1-1 home draw with third-placed Belper Town last Saturday. Having beaten the Nailers 2-0 at their place six weeks ago, Town were confident after their 4-1 beating of Carlton Town they could look to their first double of the season.

Once again Town got off to a slow start when they should have been a goal up after just five minutes. New striker Akeel Francis was looking at an open goal but failed to put his boot through the ball and beat Kieran Preston.

The Derbyshire side, knowing they had been let off the hook, took the ball to the other end and put Town under pressure. On ten minutes from a corner taken by Mason Warren they went ahead when debutant Tavonga Kuleya out jumped the home defence to head home despite Town keeper Kyle Trenerry and two defenders also on the line.

Four minutes later, Town’s Niah Payne ran on to a flicked header to leave him well clear and his finish was expertly despatched beyond Preston, who was furious with his defence.

Both keepers made some good saves towards the end of the first half but there were few moments of quality to put either side in front.

Kelan Swales fired narrowly wide for Belper after the break but it was Town who nearly won it on two occasions, once in the 85th minute when they hit a post from a corner and Ethan Vaughan’s shot on the rebound was blocked. Town, who were being well served by diminutive substitute, Rhys Plater, also snatched it three minutes into added time but Preston just got a boot to deny Payne a second.

Town’s creative player Romario Dunne left the pitch early in the first half with a knee injury and could have been doubtful for last night’s (Wednesday)re-arranged game away at Pontefract Collieries. He was more hopeful of making this coming Saturday’s home game with Cleethorpes Town (3pm) when Town hope to avenge a 5-1 scoreline on the opening game of the season. Cleethorpes, after their 2-0 home win over AFC Emley last Saturday, are currently leading the NPL East Division One table by four points and it will be a tall order for Town to take points from this one but the team is much more settled and improving game on game.

On Boxing Day, Town are away to ninth-placed Garforth Town and it is a 1pm kick off.