Defeat to Brigg at Bracken Edge

Brigg’s three-goal advantage by half-time was consolidated in the second-half for a 4-1 victory for the visitors at Bracken Edge in the NCEL Division One.

Roy Fogarty scored his third in three games, all at Bracken Edge, as Ammers chased the deficit on Tuesday evening, the margin restored ahead of a more comfortable final ten minutes for the visitors.

Ammers made six changes from the defeat to Nostell ten days ago. Kenneth Effah returned from suspension, joined by Bruce Fernando, Birama Diallo, Romario Viera, Wilson Ramos and Zidane Varela.

Brigg’s opener within two minutes sprung no surprises to their usual directness for Josh Batty to capitalise. The guests in-behind down the right, a drilled cross was met by Batty’s first-time finish at the near post.

Ammers’ quality was too on show early on. Taylor Ragan twisted 180 degrees to chip a ball over the shoulder of Brigg’s centre-halves, into Varela. The first-touch got the ball stuck under his feet for the follow-up right-footed shot to be placed only across goal.

The game wasn’t without it’s mistakes, Ammers losing possession inside their own box. The ball was shifted left before testing Diamond to parry wide to his left. The stopper had one of his centre-halves in support to block the follow-up.

Again Ammers returned the ball to the opposite end, Diallo stretching as he delivered a tame cross, running short of the target Fogarty who couldn’t get a clean enough connection to gain any power behind his shot.

The hosts managed to maintain the play inside the visitors’ half for large parts of the opening 22 minutes, largely thanks to Wilson Ramos’ several intelligent interceptions against Brigg’s attempts to play through, returning the ball to a threatening-looking front four.

Romario Viera’s on the same page two minutes later, first to the ball, resulting in a shot to his right, parried by Hill.

Good understanding on the right-hand side of Brigg’s attack worked it inside and forced Diamond to tip over.

He was beaten for the second-time, however dissalowed for a raised flag from a header all but on the ‘keeper’s toes, just minutes before the break.

That came shortly before Daniel North connected with the post.

The pressure counted towards two late goals for the visitors into first-half added-time. Ben Vazquez finished at the far post for the first.

Daniel North then was able to direct the ball inside the left-hand upright on this occasion. He initially got in the way of a teammates shot but the first-touch is close enough to follow-up with a shot into the bottom corner.

Brigg returned in the second-half the brighter. The ball bounced through the crowd of both attacking and defending players, from left-to-right and dropped cleanly for a Brigg shot squeezed under Diamond but cleared.

Fogarty looked to start Ammers’ resurgence with a simple finish thanks to Birama Diallo’s cross on 53 minutes. Ammers displayed their own direct play to set Diallo free down the right who drilled a cross into Fogarty’s feet just yards out.

The game was awoken after a ten-minute lull to the noise of Batty striking the post, glancing the ball off his shin onto the near left-hand upright from Pembleton’s in-swinging cross after cutting infield onto his stronger foot.

Tewolde looked lively since his introduction. On his second chance to open up his legs he’s round Luke Mascall before chipping over the Brigg full-back who recovered to block the cross out for a corner.

Brigg’s fourth assured themselves a more comfortable final twelve minutes thanks to Batty’s half-volley from outside the box. Again, directness dealt the blow, not managed by Ammers’ centre-halves and Batty obliged to hit a dipping ball to lob Diamond.

A trip to Selby on Saturday completes Ammers’ second league fixture this week.