Stockton Town left Lancashire dissatisfied as Bamber Bridge came from two goals down to draw 2-2.
Words and Photo by Jordan Clarke
Goals from Jake Petitjean and Josh Scott gave the Anchors a first-half advantage, but the ever-resilient Brig side fought back, and could’ve won it with a constant push throughout the second half.
Michael Dunwell named an unchanged lineup from the side that bettered Cleethorpes Town last week, with Chuka Unigwe returning to the matchday squad after a couple of weeks away.
The hosts thought they had the lead within the first five minutes, when Jamie Allen drove down the right hand side, firing past Nathan Harker, but his effort hit the inside of the post, travelled across the goal line and was luckily gathered by Harker.
13 minutes in, Tom Coulthard nearly gave Stockton the early advantage, but his header was crucially tipped over the crossbar by Aiden Dowling.
As both sides settled into the muddy conditions, it was the Anchors who struck first in the match 30 minutes in, when Kevin Hayes and Josh Scott worked well together on the right-wing, with the latter’s cross eventually being pounced on by Jake Petitjean who fired in his seventh goal of the season.
Four minutes before the break, Stockton doubled their advantage when a long ball from Cameron Painter unleashed Josh Scott, who spotted a slight opening in the net and found it with a perfect strike, marking his 8th of the campaign.
Half-time: Bamber Bridge 0-2 Stockton Town
‘Brig’ opened the second half similarly to the first, with a spell of threatening pressure as they looked for a way back into the match.
After a few half-chances went to waste, winger Jamie Allen pounced on a defensive error inside the box, and he slotted past Nathan Harker to fire up the home fans.
Kevin Hayes very nearly added a crucial third for Stockton, when he was played through on goal, but missed the target searching for the side-netting on the far side.
That miss proved costly, as striker Ewan Bange punished the Anchors, throwing himself at a cross from the right-wing and finding the target, levelling the scores.
Adam Nicholson and Tom Coulthard had to be on high alert to clear a large number of scary opportunities around the six-yard box, and their job was made even harder two minutes from time when Owen Gallacher was shown a second yellow card for slowing the play down.
Full-time: Bamber Bridge 2-2 Stockton Town
Stockton will be frustrated with the outcome, but still secure a point to take into Tuesday’s home matchup with Prescot Cables.
