Friday 20th Oct 7.45pm Ossett Utd v Brighouse Town – POSTPONED

A fruitful week for Brighouse Town in cup and league football with two excellent wins over Thackley and Consett.

Last Wednesday, Town, after a disastrous start in the first 15 minutes which saw them 2-0 down to the Northern Counties East side, came back to win 3-2 in the West Riding County FA Senior Cup and go into the hat on November 1 for round two.

They had to thank leading goal scorer Mo Qasim for slotting home a penalty in the 44th minute, and then with a man of the match performance in the second period equalise before Myron Gibbons hit the winner later in the game.

On the Saturday,(match sponsored by Intermotors Ltd) at home to Consett, who were in sixth-place at the start of the day, they won 3-1, although they could have had five or six goals while there visitors with a strong period in the second half could have had at least three but for solid defending by Darius Smith, Brandon Webster, Alex Phillipson, Jack Dando and Matty Nebard plus keeper Harry Garman who pulled off one outstanding save shortly after the Durham-based side had pulled a goal back in the 69th minute through Zak Atkinson.

Town started very well in the game and should have been a goal up after six minutes when Qasim was through one-on-one with keeper James Anderson, but he was denied. Town continued to press and Qasim wasn’t denied on 15 minutes when he split the home defence wide open from 22 yards out and then went into the box to this time beat Anderson.

Town were looking for goal number two and it came via a gift from the visiting custodian who spilled a cross and there to tap home was centre-back Alex Phillipson.

Hoping to try and put the game to bed before the break, Town then had the ball in the net again but Jack Normanton was ruled narrowly offside and 10 minutes later Dando, from a corner, headed powerfully against the crossbar.

Turning round 2-0 up, Town did continue to try and add to their scoreline with some great runs by Smith, Webster and Qasim but were denied and once the Consett manager made three changes it certainly made a difference, and especially after they had opened their account.

However, Town held out and in the 88th minute substitute Gibbons came in from the right, shrugged off a defender and then sent a rasping shot across the face of goal and into the net to make it 3-1.

Town ensured with good game management they could see out the seven minutes of added time.

Following the final whistle referee Sam Bragg, who issued five cautions to each side, showed a red card to Consett manager Tony Fawcett.

On Friday evening, in form Town travel the short distance to Ingfield to take on Ossett United (7.45) and then next Tuesday they travel to Bridlington to take on the seasiders (7.45). There will be a coach to Bridlington leaving the Dusty Miller at 4.15pm.

Marske United have hauled loanee Jorge Sikora back as the NPL Premier strugglers have injury problems, while fellow defender Aderemi Efunnuga has signed for Stalybridge Celtic following lack of outings with Town.

£30 Oliver Bell 39, £20 Ben Fitzjohn 17

Brighouse Town bowed out of the Isuzu FA Trophy at the third round qualifying stage, losing 5-4 on penalties to Ashton United.

Ashton, currently second in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, were given a real run for their money by Town who more than matched them throughout the game.

It was 0-0 at the break with Kielan Adams missing the chance midway through the half to put the home side ahead after Harry Garman had spilled Cole Lonsdale’s through ball. Town had their chances however with Will Calligan and Jack Normanton going near.

Seven minutes into the second half Town’s Mo Qasim was denied by a combination block of keeper Luke Simpson and fullback Sean Newton inside the box and the ball ballooned goalbound but was just taken short of the line by Simpson.

Town deservedly went ahead in the 57th minute when a through ball from Matty Nebard found Qasim and he couldn’t be denied a second time as he easily beat Simpson.

Ashton equalised in the 64th minute from a second successive corner, Dan Cowan heading in at the near post in what was a crowded box.

Town came bounding back and substitute Myron Gibbons was tracked into the box and just put his final shot the wrong side of Simpson’s post.

Normanton and Samuel Bentley also had chances to put their side back in the lead before the referee blew for time after three added minutes.

Town had won their last two penalty shoot-outs but following a missed penalty from the boot of Darius Smith, Ashton kept hitting the target and took the tie 5-4.

Town’s assistant manager Louis Axcell said Town had played very well and deserved something from the tie. The towering and sturdy centre-backs Jack Dando and Jorge Sikora gave Ashton’s strikers a torrid time and look to be two good recruits by the manager in the pasty three weeks.

On Saturday its back to League action as Town entertain Consett (3pm) in a game sponsored by Dyehouse Lane-based company Intermotors Ltd.

The Durham-based side, who lost 2-1 at home to Ossett United last Saturday in a league game, are currently in sixth place in the table and Town 14th. Manager Vill Powell’s injury woes are easing with fullback Brandon Webster and midfielder Jack Wilson both in last Saturday’s squad and ex-Bradford City fullback Curtis Peters is fit for consideration after ankle ligament problems, while both midfielder Jack Crook (hamstring) and striker Jayden Major (leg) are still some way off.

Former Town loanee Bobby Pointon, who is some prospect, scored his first goal for managerless Bradford City last Saturday in their 1-0 home win over Swindon Town.

Brighouse Town returned to winning ways in the league last Saturday with a 2-1 home victory over Newton Ayclifffe.

All three goals came in the second half but there was still plenty of goalmouth action in the first half, especially from the Town perspective.

Sunderland loanee goalkeeper Daniel Cameron was in brilliant form all the game and in the first 45 minutes he saved three good chances from Mo Qasim, new signing Will Calligan and Jack Normanton, along with his defence aiding with some blocks.

The County Durham side’s strikers Cole Kiernan and Cieran Jackson also made the Town defence work hard in which there was a return by Matty Nebard who left in the summer for Pontefract Colieries but ended up signing on Friday from Campion.

However, both defences won out and it was 0-0 at the break.

The second half was only three minutes old when Town went into the lead through their leading goalscorer Qasim who was fed a sublime ball to split the away defence wide open and he this time superbly beat Cameron to make it 1-0.

Three minutes later and Town were two up as Qasim fed Normanton who went round Cameron and rolled the ball in to the bottom corner of the net.

In the 57th minute Town should have been three goals to the good as Normanton put the ball across the face of the goal but Qasim just took a touch, when a first time strike would have been the better option and his shot was then saved by Cameron.

Ten minutes later Normanton, who covered some ground in the game, rose to a cross and his bullet header was tipped over by Cameron.

Newton Aycliffe worked hard to get back into the game but centre-backs Joprge Sikora and Alexander Phillipson worked overtime to protect Michael Roxburgh’s goal.

Myron Gibbons replaced former Barnsley and Bradford Park Avenue midfielder Calligan on 66 minutes and proceeded to run the Newton Aycliffe defence ragged with his pace. There was also a welcome return on 87 minutes for former Bradford City player Jack Wilson after a lengthy leg injury. Three minutes later and the visitors pulled a goal back as Liam Adamson sent his hard shot in from Roxburgh’s left and the Spennymoor reserve keeper could only get a finger tip to the ball as it sped into the net.

Town were disappointed to concede late again in the game but they held out for a valuable three points.

On Saturday in the third qualifying round of the Isuzu FA Trophy, Town travel to Hurst Cross, Ashton-Under-Lyne to take on a Ashrton United side very much on form in the Northern Premier Division and also the FA Cup and Trophy. They currently sit in sixth place and after a 2-0 win over Lancaster City last weekend in the FA Cup they are now away on Saturday week to Kidderminster Harriers in the fourth qualifying round.

Town manager Vill Powell and assistant Louis Axcell went across the Pennines on Tuesday night to watch United take on Morpeth.

Powell has released former Huddersfield Town Academy keeper Roxburgh and re-signed James Hassall to fight for a place in goals with Harry Garman.

Next Wednesday night, October 11, (7.45) Town are away to Bradford club Thackley in the first round of the West Riding County FA Senior Cup.

Progress was made in the Isuzu FA Trophy last Saturday but after the euphoria of that game it was a second league defeat on the trot for Brighouse Town on the Monday night.

Town came back from a goal down in the second qualifying round tie at home to Clitheroe to be leading 2-1 as the final whistle approached and then in added on time they succumbed to an equalising goal from a corner and the game then went to penalties.

Clitheroe went a goal up after 12 minutes when new signing Jack Dando was ruled to have fouled Domaine Rouse in the penalty box. Richard Baker made no mistake from the spot.

Town equalised through Jack Normanton on 36 minutes and six minutes later he should have been awarded a penalty after being blatantly pushed over in the box.

The second half was a frantic affair with Town’s centre forward Mohammed Qasim pulled to the ground by his shirt in the box but denied a penalty to the home crowd’s annoyance with the referee from Salford, Joe Cunningham. Clitheroe hit both a post and a crossbar and keeper Harry Garman also made two superb saves. Town were awarded a penalty in the 81st minute and Normanton made no mistake in beating Danny Taberner for a second time.

Town now had to just play out the tie and then in the 88th minute the referee went down injured and had to leave the field, Town’s former media manager and qualified referee Damian Wales taking over on one line while the senior assistant Ian Claridge took over in the middle.

Four minutes into added time Clitheroe equalised through Rouse and following a further five minutes of time the tie ended 2-2.

Town, thanks to keeper Garman with two great saves, won the penalty shoot out 4-1, along with the goals from Normanton, Ash Butterworth, Darius Smith and skipper Josh Grant.

Town will now travel over the `hill’ to Ashton United on Saturday week, October 7 for the third qualifying round, thus postponing their away league game that day at Bridlington Town.

Town could have been two goals up inside the first five minutes at home to Dunston with steadier finishing but it was the Tynesiders who took the lead on 12 minutes through Jack Maskell, who looked a trifle offside and keeper Michael Roxburgh just failed to get his hands on the through ball.

Town did have more chances in that first half against a very strong and skilful side and also had the ball in the net but the referee ruled a foul on the keeper Dan Staples. Town lost Jack Crook on 32 minutes with a leg injury and Mackenzie Warne took over. Also in the 58th minute Town also lost experienced full back Bramdon Webster (leg) and a minute later they went 2-0 down as Maskell headed in his second goal.

Myron Gibbons and Qasim did have late chances to score for Town who had been outplayed by a more experienced and stronger side.

On Saturday Town entertain promoted County Durham club Newton Aycliffe (3pm) who they last played on September 15, 2015 at home in the FA Cup 1st qualifying round and on the day lost 2-0.

Town’s West Riding County FA Senior Cup first round tie away to Thackley will be played on Wednesday, October 11 (7.45).

Brighouse Town, with four changes to the side from the previous week’s FA Trophy win over leaders Hebburn Town, gave a poor showing in south Yorkshire against fellow mid-table side Stocksbridge Park Steels and lost 3-0.

They had no answer to the creativity and skill of the home side’s left winger Jack Watson and it was he who ensured they were on the scoreboard after only five minutes with a cross into the six yard box for Tomas Poole to tap the ball home. The assistant referee’s flag had gone up for offside but the referee went across to him and then overruled his decision.

Play then became end-to-end and Town did see some chances created by Myron Gibbon up the left but there was little coming out of midfield for leading goalscorer Mo Qasim to latch on to.

After 37 minutes the Steels doubled their lead when Ross Goodwin hammered the ball home from some 12 yards out. Former Huddersfield Town and Spennymoor custodian Roxburgh did pull off two good saves to keep his side in the game.

Right wing debutant Nario Baptista looked a pacy and lively customer on in the first half for Brighouse but they went in 2-0 down.

At the break, Jack Normanton, back at the club for a third time from Silsden, replaced Gibbons.

In the 65th minute Stocksbridge wrapped up the game when former Town, Chesterfield and Bradford Park Avenue centre forward Luke Rawson flicked on a header for man of the match Watson to control and then curl beyond the reach of Roxburgh.

In the last 15 minutes of the game Town played with 10 men as centre-back Alexander Phillipson had to come off with a head injury and they had also substituted ahead of this Qasim.

Town gave a debut to centre-back Jorge Sikora on loan from Marske United and on the bench they had another new centre back in Jack Dando signed on the Friday from Shirebrook Town.

Two Town players have gone on dual registrations to Maltby Main, namely Malachi Bailey and Mackenzie Warne and another defender, Luca Grant has gone on duel registration terms to Shirebrook.

Town have a busy weekend coming up with a FA Trophy 2nd Qualifying round home time on Saturday with Clitheroe (3pm) and then on the Monday, September 25 a re-arranged home league game with Dunston (7.45).

There will be no extra time on Saturday should the sides be level after the final whistle, the tie going to penalties.

Clitheroe are currently fourth in the West Division of the NPL after drawing 2-2 with promoted Oldham side Avro on Saturday.