Two games in and the start of the season hasn’t been a bright one for the HD6 side as two defeats against Clitheroe and Marske United leave Vill Powell’s side hanging around the bottom of the table with the latter result coming last weekend but it’s something that returning forward Eli Hey is looking to put behind him as we prepare for the visit of Runcorn Linnets on Monday night.

“I think we need to take last week’s defeat on the chin as it wasn’t good enough from the whole team from start to finish and it’s now up to us to put it right on Monday night under the lights at The Yorkshire Payments Stadium. It’ll be another tough game like every game is in the league as they will be very organised and a hard working side but we know that if we match the work rate and play like we know we can then we can get a good result out of the game. The mood in the camp is fine, we know we’ve not had a good start to the season but it’s still very early days and we’re confident we can get us to where we need to be. It seems like a long wait till Monday with us not having a game on Saturday so it’ll give us a few extra day’s rest so that we are ready for the game against Runcorn on Monday.”

Eli returned to the club in the summer after spending time in our Academy set-up before leaving to develop himself in the senior game which is something he adapted to very well. After scoring 32 goals for Pontefract Collieries in the 2018/19 season, an injury saw him have 6 months on the sideline and after playing for Eccleshill and Colne before signing for Brighouse, Eli believes he is getting back to the fitness which saw him have a free scoring season for the Colls.

“I’ve really enjoyed my time back at the club. We’ve got a good group of lads and it’s a very good changing room to be in. I obviously have been wanting to play more than I have been but it’s up to me to take my chance when I get it. I’m not back to my best performance wise but I’m sure that will come with games but the fitness side I feel like I’m back to my best and for the first time I feel I can get back to where I was and even better! One thing that will help me for sure is having the fans back in the ground as they give you a lift when they are cheering you on so it will give me that extra 5% to spur on and perform well as we know they’ve paid good money to watch us perform. The first few friendlies where we didn’t have fans felt like training matches so it’s a massive boost to see them back and we hope to see a lot of them down on Monday night!”

The game kicks off at 7:45pm with admission priced at £9 for Adults and £5 for concessions. If you can’t make it to the game, jump on Mixlr and listen to Brighouse Town Radio from 7:30pm with Dave Foy and Cameron McAlpin.

THREE GAMES in to the 2020/21 season and Brighouse Town are still looking for their first win after their latest 3-0 setback at Marske United last Saturday.

Not the best of conditions with a gale force northerly wind off the sea which prevented both sides getting the ball down for the most part and playing some football.

Town’s goalkeeper Matt Smith was the busier of the two custodians, and, apart from an error for their second goal when he should have denied Curtis Round a through ball from Adam Wheatley, he pulled off some great reflex saves to keep the scoreline down.

The home side went 1-0 up after 10 minutes when Glen Butterworth sent Adam Boyes clear and he made no mistake hitting the target from 12 yards out.

Town hadn’t produced one useful attack on the home goal, but going a goal down did bring them into the game, with Eddie Church and Jack Boyle doing their utmost to bring Town back on level terms.

Eight minutes before half-time Town should have had had a penalty when striker Joe Jagger was manhandled by two players to the floor but referee Jonty Gill just waved his claims away. Two minutes later and Boyle brought a tremendous save with his powerful left foot strike from Ryan Catterick who was to feature shortly afterwards.

On the stroke of half-time, Boyle was brought down in the box and this time Mr Gill pointed to the spot. Jagger picked up the ball but his weak attempt was saved by Catterick, who did spill the ball, and then Jagger, following up, was alleged to have fouled the keeper and was booked.

Marske went 2-0 in the 53rd minute and a minute later Laurence Sorhaindo replaced Jagger as manager Powell looked to pull a goal back and make real game of it in the final 30-odd minutes. Eli Hey replaced Alhassane Keita on 60 minutes and new midfield signing from Belper Town, Jordan Deacey was next on the pitch for Jacob Mattock four minutes later.

Town did go close with Church and Jack Tinker but it was Matthew Tynon who wrapped matters up for Marske with four minutes to go.

Town did miss the midfield tenacity and skill of the suspended Tom Haigh, who will be back in contention for selection on Monday when Runcorn Linnets are the visitors (7.45). The NPL have given clubs with the 10pm curfew on clubhouses, and serving post match food and drinks for the players and match officials, the option of 7pm, 7.15pm or 7.30 kick-offs for midweek games instead of the mandatory 7.45.

On Saturday Town have no game, their turn to sit out with the loss of Droylsden on the eve of the season, but the clubhouse will be open for the televised Leeds Utd v Manchester City game.

We are happy to announce the signing of midfielder Jordan Deacey from Belper Town. Jordan joins the club ahead of Saturday’s away trip to Marske United.

“I’m delighted to join the club, I know John Francis from clubs I’ve been at previously and when he mentioned the gaffer was interested in signing me, it was a no-brainer for me. It’s a club that is on the up and I want to be a part of that. My target for the season is personally to contribute with goals and assists. I always try and get 10 goals and 10 assists a season so if I can do that, I’ll be happy. In terms of my ambitions clubwise, I want to get Brighouse into the league above and that’s what the hopes and ambitions are for everyone at the club so it seems like a good place to be right now.”

Welcome Jordan!

Whilst only a friendly, The Orange Army were made to sweat on their win versus the South Yorkshire outfit. 

The first big chance came in the fifteenth minute as Jacob Mattock curled a long pass to the left hand side and into Laurence Sorhaindo who fired just wide of the far post. Moments later Penistone whipped a low cross in from the right but had no men available in George Clarke’s eighteen yard box. 

The opening goal came in the twenty fourth minute a corner from the right hand was flicked on by Kurt Harris into the path of Harrison Beeden who sliding hit the roof of the net. Brighouse dominated possession thereafter however it took another twenty minutes for them the double their lead. A mix-up at the back from Penistone allowed Sorhaindo to score centrally with the referee signalling half time soonafter. 

The goal of the night came five minutes into the second half through Shiraz Khan. The winger cutting in and rocketing a shot into the top corner from twenty five yards out. Vill Powell straight after the goal took the opportunity to blood fifteen year old Jay Chapman with the young centre back coming on for Captain Kurt Harris.

As the game progressed Powell also introduced fellow youngsters Lewis Barlow and James Campbell. On the hour Church pulled a goal back, Luke McGinnell from a corner with Alex O’Keefe grabbing a second ten minutes later. There was rotation throughout from Brighouse whom used six substitutes and they held out for the win. 

Brighouse Town: George Clarke, T’nique Fishley, Kurt Harris, Harrison Beeden, Sam Reed, Jacob Mattock, Trialist, Alhasanne Keita, Eli Hey, Shiraz Khan, Laurence Sorhaindo. 
Subs: Jay Chapman, Josh Grant, Javelle Clarke, Lewis Barlow, James Campbell, Jack Tinker. 

By Georgia Cook

After an encouraging pre-season, it was a warm and sunny day down at The Yorkshire Payments Stadium all set for the first game of the season. Brighouse got off to a flying start as Haigh put a good ball into Church but it was blocked and out for a corner it went. Just a minute later it was Church that was caught up in the action once again when a corner by Grant allowed him to do a bullet header which unfortunately went just over.

It was Joe Jagger who got the next chance in the game when a bad foul on Haigh by Stopforth lead to a free kick on the halfway line with Jagger heading it wide from the edge of the box. Soon after, a miskick by Beeden lead to Clitheroe striker Adams taking a touch on the ball but was unable to hold his run and slipped on the ball. 

Clitheroe’s first chance of the game came in the 8^th minute when Feeney played a ball into Adams but he was caught offside. But Church was quick to respond as a run into the box gave him the chance to have a shot that hit the side post, very unlucky to not get anything from it.

Just a few minutes later a pass back to Smith by Beeden lead to Adams putting the pressure on in the box, tackling him and winning the ball however with too much power on the ball it went out for a goal kick. Worrying moments for Brighouse Town.

Jack Tinker had his first chance of the game when Grant crossed it into the box and Harris took a touch and passed it to him bur once again the chance was put wide. But now Clitheroe were starting to get into the game and were looking very threatening.

After a ball by Jagger in the 25^th minute to Church a deadly cross by him was laid on a plate for a goal but no one was in the box to finish the job and kept the score line at 0-0. Clitheroe began to be very attacking now and were really getting into the game.

A bad challenge by Moncreiffe on Javelle Clarke in the 32nd lead to the first yellow card of the game and unfortunately for him he was subbed straight off and it was Conor Gaul who was the replacement. 5 minutes later a good run through midfield by Haigh and good link up play with Boyle excited the Brighouse Town fans but nothing was able to come from it.

Half time Brighouse Town 0 Clitheroe FC 0.

On the resumption after half time, Clarke was booked for what looked a 50/50 challenge which looked a very harsh yellow.

Clitheroe got off to a good start when in three minutes into the second half Clitheroe captain Billy Priestley headed the ball just wide of the net. 

Another harsh decision from the referee when Haigh was booked after a foul on Lonsdale which didn’t look to be as dangerous as what some players were trying to make out. A free kick on the edge of the box that went just over the bar. 

In the 54^th minute it was youngster Javelle Clarke who led the attack down the right and was so unlucky to not get anything from it. Clarke was a standout player today and a huge threat for the home side the future is looking promising for him. Just two minutes later it was a surprise substitution with him off and Eli Hey on.

A couple of minutes later a beautifully controlled ball by Boyle and an even better cross into the box allowed hero of the hour Eddie Church to take the lead in the game in the 58^thminute with a bullet header firing the home side in front with a goal to nil. Brighouse were unlucky to not get a second when a ball in by Jagger had too much power for Hey to take a controlled touch and fired it over the bar instead.

A bad challenge by Clitheroe’s number 8 Gary Stopforth on left back Jack Tinker forced referee Henry Naylor to award yet another yellow card to the game.

Brighouse had another chance in the 67^th minute when a beautiful bit of midfield play between Wilkinson and Haigh allowed Boyle to get upfront but unfortunately when passed the ball he put it well wide of the net.

The first red card came of the game when midfielder Tom Haigh was awarded his second yellow after another challenge this time on Stopforth. Boyle was then quickly substitutedwith Fishley coming on. 

In the 70^th a free kick by Clitheroe’s Cole Lonsdale allowed captain Billy Priestley to get the equaliser for the away side and make the game stand at 1-1.

Clitheroe were on the attack just minutes later when a free kick on the half way line looked like it was going to go in the top right corner but keeper Matt Smith was able to tip it over the bar and excellent save. Smith kept Brighouse in the game in the second half.

Substitute Sorhaindo made a good run through the midfield but on the way was clipped many a time by Gaul which lead to a yellow card for him when nothing came from the run.

Utter devastation was caused for Brighouse in the 88^th minute when a ball into the box allowed many attempts on goal and many blocks but it was captain Priestley who managed to grab the second and winning goal for the away side. A messy goal to concede.

Full time Brighouse Town 1 Clitheroe FC 2