Brighouse Town’s caretaker manager Paul Quinn narrowly failed with his side to return from Cleethorpes last Saturday with a valuable point or three!

The former manager was abroad when he got the call to take over until the end of the season from Vill Powell and neither he or his assistant Steve Waide had had the opportunity to work with the players on the Thursday night session, Under-23s manager Mark Ellis and skipper Josh Grant taking on that task.

The squad had a good, fresh pre-match drill under messrs Quinn, Waide and Ellis in warm sunshine but with a strengthening wind coming down the pitch.

Brighouse for the first half had to defend with the wind in their faces and the ball was ballooning all over the place. However, they could have been in front inside the first five minutes when the ball fell to Jack Crook some twelve yards out, he made good contact on a bobbly pitch but his shot just cleared the crossbar. Town had another good chance to open their account moments later when Mo Qasim weaved his way up the right and then fired in a great cross but his teammates had not anticipated and the chance was lost.

The hosts moved ahead in the 13th minute when a loose ball in the box wasn’t cleared although the visitors were asking the referee about offside and a foul on Jamie Allsop, but Josh Walker poked home.

Town after the early excursions into the home half were finding it hard against the elements and the defending of left back Adedapo Adelman, who was a real thorn in their side and particularly Jack Normanton.

The sides went in at the break with just that one goal separating them and there was real optimism among the Town fans that they could take advantage of the wind at their side’s backs.

Brighouse went a second goal down in the 58th minute when Walker bagged his brace, running through the Town defence and beating Jamie Hassall in the bottom corner of his net.

All credit to hard work Town they came back strong and Jack Wilson was unlucky to hit the bottom of a post after the ball had run across the goal line, Crook hit a rising shot over from outside the box, before substitute Myron Gibbons found the target in the 67th minute. Town worked hard for an equaliser but were not helped by two dubious offside decisions and then in time added on Gibbons came into the box to go for a ball and was taken down by home keeper Ben Bottomley. All the Town players appealed and their supporters but referee Gavin Scott waved their appeals away.

So, it was a 2-1 defeat and with Grantham Town’s 94th minute winner over Consett they moved to within two points of Town but Winterton, five points off and at the foot of the table lost 3-0 at Pontefract Collieries who Town host on Saturday (3pm).

The match is being sponsored by past players and teammates of the late Peter Gill.

Hi Guys please see message below from Josh(Mark Wood),
Just letting you know we have sorted a date for Gilly’s game. It’s planned in for Sat April 13th ko 3pm BTAFC v Pontefract .
All other details as message copied below.
Hope you all can make it and share some memories/laughs over a few beers for Gilly.

Just a quick note to let people know about this game who might want to come along and support it. Couple of options: 1st just turn up,pay at the turnstile, have a beer with friends of Gilly and remember a top bloke,
or join in the sponsorship of the game, £20 gets you entrance to the game, a free pint and free pie and pies or burger and chips and helps support the club and a donation to the British Heart Foundation. If you’d like to do the sponsorship please let Josh know on 07799381499 to help with numbers. Please feel free to forward to any friends you feel might be interested.
Thank you.
Josh

Brighouse Town’s tale of woe continued with two defeats over the Easter holiday including a 5-1 reverse at home to the bottom club Winterton Rangers.

Town have only had two wins in 2024 against Liversedge on January 1 and away to Belper Town on January 23 and with only three draws they have been well and truly sucked into the relegation battle at the foot of the Northern Premier League East Division.

Only Ossett United stand between Town and the bottom two clubs, Grantham Town and Winterton Town, and five points is the difference between staying up right now and being one of the two clubs who go down.

Town were without their captain Josh Grant over the two games, vice captain Curtis Peters also failed a fitness test for both games and on the Monday game wing-back Darius Smith also pulled out. 

On the Saturday game away to second-placed Dunston, played on the 4G pitch at Consett as the Newcastle side are having huge drainage problems, Town played some good football and were in the game until the 68th minute when central defender Josh Dacre allowed Jack Maskell to score from a low David Richardson cross.

Within four minutes Town were level as Jack Wilson weaved his way into central field and then delivered a good pass to Mo Qasim who had just come on for Kieron Ceesay and he picked his spot to make it 1-1.

A valuable point looked to be on the cards until with seven minutes to go Jordan Lamb beat Smith to the ball on the touchline and he took play right up the touchline and into the box before he squared for Dale Pearson to beat Jamie Hassall and make it 2-1.

Town did come back strong through Qasim, Wilson and Brandon Webster but the game was put to bed in the 89th minute when Robinson in an offside position chipped a hesitant Hassall and the ball landed in the net to make it 3-1.

The scoreline was not a true reflection of the effort put in by the Town players.

All the travelling support could talk about on the way back was the 2-1 win Grantham Town had had over fellow strugglers Ossett United and the fact the Gingerbread Men had come within five points now of Town who had a massive home game on the Monday with Winterton who had lost 2-0 at home to Cleethorpes Town.

Town’s crowd had been swelled by FC Halifax Town fans who had seen their home game with York City called off at 11am for waterlogging and some York fans who had come to Halifax early and were then looking for a game. The Minstermen also boosted the Town coffers as they spent on a variety of items in the club shop.

They, and the Town faithful, witnessed the first goal after nine minutes when Winterton full back Clay Bryant hit the target to put his side a goal to the good. Two minutes later and the north Lincolnshire side were back in the Town box and centre half Henry Moore made it 2-0 and the home fans were in a state of shock.

Three minutes later and things only got worse as lively winger Russell Berko hit the first of his three goals to make it 3-0.

That is how it stayed until half-time with Town coming up against a very good keeper in Nathan Popple who made three very good saves.

Town did pull a goal back in the 56th minute through Jack Normanton who was put clear down the middle and he did have the beating of Popple on this occasion to make it 3-1.

Town then went looking an important second goal and both Qasim and Normanton were denied. It was the away side who got the all important match-winning fourth goal when Berko got his second on 75 minutes.

In the third minute of added time Rangers made it 5-1 as Berko completed his hat-trick with a strong drive to beat Hassall.

Emley with a 5-0 away win at Goole on Saturday were crowned NCEL Premier champions and with the 700-plus crowds they have been getting this season would be a welcome addition to the East Division fixtures next term but Town first off have to make sure they hold on to their place.

In the meantime Doncaster-based midfielder Jack Crook has been allowed to sign on dual registration forms for Retford Town possibly to help them if they make the play-offs in the NCEL Division One. However, he will stay with Town until the end of their season which now sees them with just two home games against Pontefract Collieries on Saturday, April 13 and Carlton Town on Saturday, April 27 left. They have challenging away games on top of the Cleethorpes game at Consett on Tuesday week, April 16 and then on the Saturday at possible champions-elect Stockton Town.                        

 There is a coach on Saturday to Cleethorpes which will leave the Dusty Miller at 11.15am  

        

Brighouse Town are delighted to announce that Paul Quinn and his assistant Steve Waide have agreed to take charge of the team for the remaining fixtures to the end of the season.

Paul needs no introduction to the club steering it through the NCEL to promotion to the Northern Premier League. He has since had extensive managerial experience at this level and within the professional ranks.

Steve is a UEFA A Licence coach and has worked with Paul for several years. They will bring a fresh and focused attitude to the remaining few weeks of the season and I am sure will be given a very warm welcome.

Both Paul Quinn and Steve Waide will be in the dugout for Saturday’s game away at Cleethorpes Town.

The lads and the interim management team would love your support on Saturday, ensure you travel over to the East Coast and get behind the team!

It is with a heavy heart that Brighouse Town and Manager Vill Powell have agreed to part ways. This is taken with the best interest of the club at heart and been agreed it’s the best course of action for both parties.

After 8 years with challenges and successes and what has resulted in a difficult season, both parties feel it’s time for a change and a new voice. This was Vill’s first managerial role and 8 years in is a real achievement and he should be extremely proud of what he has achieved.

Vill has said “In my time at Brighouse, we have had some great memories and some lifelong friendships have been made. I would like to go on record to thank Charlie Tolley supporting me throughout the 8 years and Chris Lister who has continued that support. I’d also like to thank everyone at the football club who have helped in moving the club forward.

I would also like to thank my staff during my time Nat, Louis, Leon and Stacy and all the players.

All good things come to an end, and I have enjoyed and learned so much at my time at Brighouse, stuff that I can take forward with me, but it is now someone else’s turn at Brighouse and I wish them all the best.”

Vill’s commitment to the whole club from day one cannot be questioned and his contributions over the last 8 years both on and off the field cannot be questioned but both parties have now decided that the time is right to move on in separate directions.

We all wish Vill all the very best in his next footballing endeavours where we are certain he will have great success.

We would also like to thank Louis Axcell and Leon Wainman for their efforts at the club as they depart the club.

There will be no further comment from the club.