Town’s Youth team progressed to the first round of the FA Youth Cup with a stunning 3-2 away win at Tadcaster Albion on Tuesday night.

Town took the lead after three minutes through Max Eastwood via a great header, but Albion’s fulltime academy side hit back in the 16th minute via Oliver Fash to make it 1-1.

On 25 minutes Town substituted Bobby Hamer for Daniel Harmer and the score remained 1-1 at the break.
Town, who had to some extent come under the cosh in the first half but looked more composed in the second period went 2-1 down in the 82nd minute when an Archie Colley shot was deflected in by a Town player.

However, four minutes later Cormac Rozsa, who is a registered Town first team player, sent a 25 yard free kick into the top corner ahead of Joshua Smith replacing Aaron Basra

On 90 minutes Town got the all important winner when Rozsa this time fired home a 40 yard free kick.

Town’s 15-year-old keeper Toby Currie had an absolutely brilliant game.

Never- say-die Town battled to the end and pulled off a fantastic win with two outstanding strikes from Rozsa to put Town through to next round.

EIGHT GOALS in 48 hours finally got Brighouse Town’s NPL East Division season off and running.

They won 5-3 at Grimsby Borough on the Saturday and then 3-0 at home to Tadcaster Albion on Bank Holiday Monday.

The Lincolnshire side, like Town, were without a win in the league and cup ahead of the game, but for the first 25 minutes they created plenty and the Town goal had a few anxious moments.

However, it was Town who opened the scoring on 32 minutes when Jack Boyle blasted home a penalty after Laurence Sorhaindo had been brought down in the box by a high boot to the side of his head. Referee Alistair Wilson pointed to the spot immediately but regular taker Sorhaindo was still down receiving treatment when Boyle lined up the ball on the spot.

After treatment the big man was good to continue and this was where the game really opened up. Centre-back Jack Beeden powerfully sidefooted in a corner from Boyle and three minutes later fellow centre-back Aiden Walker had the ball over the line after Sam Drake’s initial strike in the six yard box was just cleared.

It looked as though Town would go in for the break three-nil up but on the stroke of half-time Luis Adlard pulled one back for Borough.

Play was pretty even in the first 20 minutes of the second half before the home side was awarded a free kick some 20 yards out and to the delight of the home crowd Reece York beat Michael Roxburgh with a superb strike to make it 3-2 and game on.

However, this ignited Town once more and they made it 4-2 seven minutes later when Drake superbly headed in from a corner out on the right. Boyle was substituted by Jack Normanton some three minutes later and with his first touch of the ball just inside the box he beat experienced keeper Ryan Musselwhite with a powerful shot to once more restore the three-goal cushion and this is how it stayed until the 90th min when Tom Charlesworth grabbed a late consolation goal for Borough.

Manager Vill Powell was obviously delighted with the win but not too happy with his defence leaking three goals.

On the Monday, with squad rotation in mind and some changes owing to defensive errors, he made six changes and threw away the old sporting cliche of changing a winning side.

Tadcaster manager John Deacey over the summer has been busy in the transfer market but is looking for goals and he came to the Yorkshire Payments Stadium on the back of a 0-0 home draw with Grantham Town.

Early exchanges had the visitors ahead on points but Town had hit a post inside the first ten minutes, and at the other end Huddersfield Town keeper Michael Roxburgh was looking confident and assertive to keep Albion in check.

It remained 0-0 at the break and midway into the seond period the away fans were reckoning on witnessing another 0-0 epic as former Barnsley stalwart and ex-Bridlington Town player-manager Brett Agnew and Jordan Deacey were being kept in check by Beeden, a superb Matty Nebard, Sam Reed and Aiden Walker who was covering some ground.

On 60 minutes Powell made two changes that completely changed the game along with pacy and skillful Javelle Clarke being brought in to the game more down the left. On came Boyle for Myron Gibbons and Mohammad Qasim, who had run Grimsby ragged on the Saturday, for Normanton.

There was a big scare for Town shortly after as Sorhaindo collided heavily with a post and needed treatment to his rib cage.

Town took the lead in the 78th minute as Jack Johnson put through his own goal after trying to ward off a rasping low cross into the box by Qasim.

The Town fans wanted more and they got it in the 82nd minute as Clarke beat three defenders and then squared to Sorhaindo who made no mistake. The strong striker bagged a brace in the 89th minute to make it 3-0 after Boyle had been uppended in the box.

Town, with stand-in skipper Corey Gregory calling the shots, rode out the game and posted another valuable three points.

Holmfirth crimper and Town skipper Tom Haigh, who has been with the club since his teenage days, is currently on holiday but could be back in contention for Saturday’s re-arranghed home game with Nottingham side Carlton Town (3.0). The game should have been next Monday night but has been brought forward with both clubs out of the Emirates FA Cup.

Town’s first choice keeper Brett Souter had a setback from his knee operation when fluid covered the joint, but he is now on the mend, while keeper Charlie English (ex-Leeds Utd) is playing with FC Halifax Town’s academy and Jamie Hassall, signed from Knaresborough Town, has been injured on a building site.

BRIGHOUSE TOWN manager Vill Powell just cannot buy any progression in the Emirates FA Cup and he was the first to admit this after the 2-1 home defeat to Step 5 Penistone Church last Saturday.

“I don’t know what I have to do to win an FA Cup tie, “lamented Powell in his post match interview.

He felt as low as the Town supporters after Town blew chance after chance in the first half and failed to put possible goals away in the second period.

Against the run of play Town went a goal down in the 28th minute when experienced Penistone forward Jordan Corduri blasted home from the edge of the box with several Town defenders shouting to the assistant referee that they thought some of his teammates were offside. He had all the time in the world to pick his spot.

Ten minutes later Town were level when Mohammad Qasim came into the box on the right and then unleashed a cracking shot to easily beat visiting keeper Harry Ambler.

That is how it stayed until the break, but Town, with better finishing from Jack Boyle and Jack Normanton, could have been comfortably in the lead.

Leading goalscorer last season Laurence Sorhaindo, back from injury,. was brought on after 55 minutes for Normanton and eight minutes later ex-Doncaster Rovers striker Myron Gibbons was on for Boyle. Nothing came in the way of a goal or two and it was the visitors who took the lead again when 6ft 5ins centre back Wayne Hughes outjumped keeper Michael Roxburgh from a cross coming in from the left and he headed home.

Town had a great chance to level for a possible replay but Harry Wilkinson’s powerful header was just wide of Ambler’s right hand post.

On came experienced ex-pro Zeph Thomas and despite some crafted football from Tom Haigh, the home side just couldn’t find the back of the net for a second time in the afternoon.

With Monday evening’s NPL opponents Shildon drawing their tie 1-1 at Newcastle Benfield, that game was postponed. On Saturday, September 3 when the next round of the FA Cup takes place Town will now entertain Nottingham-based Carlton Town instead of playing them two days later on Monday, September 5.

On Saturday Town break new ground with an away game at Grimsby Borough (3.0). Like Town they still have to grab their first win of the season.

The coach leaves the Old Pond, Hove Edge at 11am prompt.

On Bank Holiday Monday Town host Tadcaster Albion (3.0) and the day after the club’s U-18 side travels to Tadcaster to take on the Brewers in the FA Youth Trophy Preliminary round tie (7.0). This will be new Academy manager Harry Birro’s first involvement with a FA tie and he will have first team staff around him including physio Emily Harden.

Former Bradford Park Avenue wide player Alex King, who was an unused sub on the bench against Penistone Church, has moved on a dual registration to Handsworth Parramore.

THREE SECOND half goals in nine minutes from the Hebburn Town strikeforce ensured Brighouse Town did not kick-off their NPL East season on a winning note.

The first half ebbed and flowed with both sides at times holding the upper hand but there were no goals despite some goalmouth action.

On a hot and humid afternoon the players took advantage of waterbreaks. They went in at half-time goalless but it was Brighouse who took the lead in the 61st minute through Bradford City loanee Bobby Pointon who got hold of the ball just outside the six yard box and then sent Hebburn keepoer Shaun Newbrook the wrong way.The lead lasted 13 minutes before substitute Sean Reid was left unmarked to head home from a cross from the left.

Four minutes later and Liam Murray had given his side the lead before Oliver Martin in the 83rd minute made sure the trhree points were on their way back to the north east.

With injuries and unavailability the Brighouse side was a youthful one and in the last quarter of the second half it really did look like men versus boys.

After the game manager Vill Powell said his side was `too soft’.

No-nonsense midfielder Corey Gregory said ahead of the game he was still four weeks away from being fully fit after his ankle ligament damage from the end last season, but striker Laurence Sorhaindo felt he would be fit for the Penistone Church Emirates FA Cup Preliminary round tie at the Yorkshire Payments Stadium on Saturday (3.0).The south Yorkshire side have played three NCEL Premier Division games so far and last Saturday beat Golcar United 1-0 to register their second win. To visit Town they beat Lower Breck of Anfield 2-0 in the Extra Preliminary round tie and they will be no pushover despite being a league lower at Step 5. Town fans are also desperate for a cup run.

If the tie is level after 90 minutes the replay will be next Wednesday night, August 25 (7.45).

That would rule out Monday’s home league game Town have with County Durham side Shildon (7.45). However, even if Town win and Shildon drew their cup game with Newcastle Benfield, the Monday night game would be off.

A lot of ifs and buts that can only be sorted out around 5pm on Saturday teatime.

Tues 16.08.22 KO 7.45pm Stocksbridge PS 1 v 1 Brighouse Town Att 141
 Brighouse Town had to settle for a point after conceding a 90^th minute equaliser to Stocksbridge PS, and although bitterly disappointed not to see the game out and collect maximum points, Vill Powell conceded a draw was probably a fair result.
  The first half started at a frantic pace with both sides electing not to take any risks on the ball on a difficult surface, opting to go long, turn the defence and try play in the oppositions half. The first real chance came after 4 min when Charlie Oglesby had a header saved by Town keeper Michael Roxburgh and soon after Town had a penalty shout turned down when Jack Normanton looked to be dragged down in the area.
       To sum up what was basically a fairly uneventful first half; Town had more of the ball and territorial advantage without really creating a clear cut chance and Stocksbridge’s more direct style did test Roxburgh on a couple of occasions but he proved up to the task.
          Town clearly started the second half under instructions to start using the ball more and were rewarded for their endeavours almost immediately. Bradford City loanee, Bobby Pointon scoring a superb individual goal; picking the ball up near the half way line, turning away from two would be tackles before going on a run toward the box and leaving defenders in his wake before slotting a low shot into the corner of the net to give Town a 48^th min lead. Town were now dominating but couldn’t get that potentially decisive second goal with Pointon, Normanton and Mo Quasim all going close.
       Midway through the half, Stocksbridge started to get back into the game and put Town under pressure. Tom Poole came close to equalising from a free kick that grazed the outside of the post. The pressure finally paid off when the impressive Lewis Macaskill worked his way to the byline and crossed for the unmarked Jordan Lemon to take a touch and drill the ball into the far corner of the net for the equaliser.

BRIGHOUSE TOWN warmed to this Saturday’s opening Pitching-In NPL East Division One home game with Hebburn Town (3.00) with a scintillating 4-1 home win over NPL Premier Division side Whitby Town.

Manger Vill Powell without eight regulars through holidays and injuries was overjoyed with the performance, arguable the best by a country mile from the other pre-season games across July.

Town were on the board after 22 minutes though Jack Normanton and it was no more than they deserved as they continually pressed forward. Town’s centre backs Matty Nebard and Harrison Beeden were more than a match for the seasiders strikeforce from a higher division who finished just outside the top six last term.

On the stroke of half-time Town increased their lead to 2-0 as powerul midfielder Elliott Harrison rifled in a 35-yarder which had the Whitby keeper grasping fresh air!

Town continued to hold sway, although in the 74th minute, Whitby centre forward Bradley Fewster came into the box from the right and fired home across the trialist keeper.

Three minutes later and Town restored their two goal lead when Copley-based Travis Atherton made it 3-1 after an all action assault on the Whitby goal.

The 148 crowd were treated to a fourth in 85th minute when Bradford City loanee Bobby Pointon, who looks a gem of a capture, finished off another first rate attack on the Whitby goal.

Two senior players who were missing through injury were last year’s leading goalscorer Laurence Sorhaindo with a groin injury and midfielder Corey Gregory who is back training following ankle ligament damage sustained at Liversedge late last season. They are unlikely to figure against the Gateshead-based side who Town did the double over last season with 3-1 victories at both venues.

Hebburn played last Saturday in the Emirates Extra Preliminary Round of the FA Cup and lost 3-1 away to Northern League Division One club Sunderland RCA.

Town could give debuts to new signings in the past week in midfielder Sam Drake who has come on a dual registration from National League North club Farsley Celtic and Travis Atherton.

In fact, after last Saturday’s performance manager Vill Powell will have a selection headache to pick his side and those on the bench but its a good position to be in, he enthused.

Town’s management and players found out as they came off the pitch who they will play on Saturday week at the Yorkshire Payments Stadium in the Preliminary round of the FA Cup. Northern Counties East Premier Division club Penistone Church had gone to Anfield and beaten local side Lower Breck 2-0 with a goal in each half.

Town have over the past six years had several pre-season friendlies with Penistone and had mixed results. The supporters are looking for a cup run this time around after several lean years and the tie also sees after covid-19 the return of replays if all is level on 90 minutes. The FA Trophy, in which Town entertain Worksop Town on September 10, will remain with penalty shoot-outs if the scores are level on the final whistle.

Brighouse Town Football Club can confirm that James Hurtley has left the club.

James has been around the club for the last 9 years and has been an influential figure under each
management team showing his leadership, desire, and hard work to want to win football matches.

Manager Vill Powell commented “Any team is going to be disappointed to lose someone of James
Hurtley’s quality and presence around the place. James rejoined the club halfway through my first
season and he’s been top drawer ever since. I can’t fault what he has brought to the place, he’s a
positive character and has the experience in his locker and he’s been a class act. His quality on the
pitch is undeniable and it’s a shame to see him move on but I spoke to James in detail, and he has
had an approach this summer which he turned down but due to their situation they came in again
for him and to be honest when he said what the new club was offering, it’s in his interest to want to
take it.

He’s at a stage in his career and that sort of package he’s been offered you can’t refuse it. It was a
tough decision for James in the conversations that we had but from his point of view it was a no-
brainer with the financial package that was on offer, and we can’t compete with that. Good luck to
James, he will be missed in the changing room and I’m sure this won’t be the last time you see him
in a Brighouse shirt as you never know.”

Everyone at the club wants to wish James Hurtley all the best for the rest of his career and we send
our best wishes to him and his family. He will be welcome back at the Yorkshire Payments Stadium
any time.