Bamber Bridge 2 - 0 Trafford

Date: Saturday 29th November 2008
Competition: Unibond League Div 1 North
Venue: QED Stadium, Bamber Bridge, Lancashire
Attendance: 173

Admission Price: £7.00
Programme: £1.50
Raffle Ticket: £1.00
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Total: £9:50

The fog descends over the North West, postponing football matches left right and centre. The Bamber Bridge Vs Trafford fixture was my original choice of match, but upon discovering a beer festival on in my home town, I tried to look for a match nearer to home, alas the fog had killed that off. Knowing my luck, I’ll step off the train in Bamber Bridge and the fog will have got the better of there too, but as of now (12:25pm) their website live update feature says the match is going ahead. Last night’s weather forecast suggested the fog wouldn’t stretch that far north anyway, but we all know how reliable they can be. (02:12pm) Arriving at Bamber Bridge FC’s ground, the QED Stadium or more commonly known amongst the locals as Irongate, they’re letting people in but the turnstile operator advises me to “keep hold of my ticket, incase it gets called off before 3pm”. The fog is present and to worrying levels. Sat by one corner flag, you can only just about see the other corner flag in the opposite corner. My camera has no such luck! The slightest hint of more fog and the match will more than likely be postponed. I recognise the referee immediately, Mr A. Clayton, last time I saw him he had an absolute horror show, it will be in interesting to see his performance this afternoon. The ground is a tidy looking facility with a main stand down one side and an impressive looking what I guess it a directors area behind one of the goals. It’s a better option than standing behind the other net as many posts will obscure your view from moist angles. Large nets are hoisted like flags down the other side to prevent balls from flying into the housing estate next door.

From my position at the side, I could just about make out the two teams as they emerged from the tunnel under the main stand and onto the pitch. Bamber Bridge in their home colours of white shirts with navy shorts and navy socks, Trafford are in their changed strip of all yellow. The game started at a frenetic pace with both teams getting chances to open the scoring in the opening exchanges. A Trafford corner in the 7th minute was delivered into the penalty area but the header it was met with was weak and it looped into the arms of Bamber Bridge keeper Andy Banks. Trafford had another chance 1 minute later when the attacker proved too strong for the defender and shook him off the ball, but the required composure was missing as the shot was blasted over the crossbar. The next clear cut chance was fall to Bamber Bridge in the 13th minute when a great break out of defence saw the ball carried to the edge of the penalty area and held up well whilst support arrived. When it did the cross was played in superbly but the header was agonisingly wide when it should have hit the target. Bamber Bridge then won a free kick in the 15th minute but the delivery was sent wide of the right hand post. Come the 20 minute mark, the fog was getting thicker and I was struggling to see down the other end of the pitch. This point proved itself on the 29th minute when the amalgamation of Trafford fans behind the goal appealed for a penalty. I couldn’t tell you why, or if they were unlucky not to get the decision or not, I simply couldn’t see it. However I could see Bamber Bridge’s next good chance when they won a free kick in a dangerous position on the half hour mark. The delivery was met well by the head of Anthony Murt but he could only manage to direct the ball wide of the post and another chance went begging. 5 minutes later down the other end of the pitch, Trafford had an opportunity was a great run to the edge of the box was made by Scott Barlow, he then rounded his defender and had his shot saved by keeper Banks but the parry was played back to Simon Woodford but he snatched his shot in front of goal. Another Bamber Bride free kick in the 39th minute, this time it was met with a good low save by Trafford keeper Damien Rooney, and Rooney had to be alert right at the end of the half as he pulled off another fine save from a close range shot to force a corner. That was to be the last action in a fairly evenly matched half. A game that started quickly and settled to a steady pace. I’ve been unable to see the other end of the pitch for about 10 minutes and with the light fading this isn’t going to help the problem. I would stake a small wager that this match will not go the full 90 minutes before being abandoned.

Half Time:
Bamber Bridge 0 – 0 Trafford

Referee Clayton was out on the pitch at half time examining the rapidly worsening fog situation. He kindly took the time to have a chat to me and explain the “must see net to net” rule. His personal opinion was the situation wasn’t great and with fading light and the floodlights making the fog denser, the 2nd half will start but it may not finish. My opinion was that it looked impossible as I had to strain to see the goal at the other end. The 2nd half did get underway and Trafford had a very good early chance in the 47th minute when a superbly weighted ball was played into the penalty area evading the Bamber Bridge defence and falling to the feet of Scott Barlow, who unleashed a powerful volley straight into the back of a defender and the danger passed. In the 53rd minute, I think Bamber Bridge went close to scoring, the only indication I had of this was the crowd noise coming from the Bamber Bridge fans, the agonising gasp of a team that had just missed its target. The game would change in a 4 minute spell when Bamber Bridge would score two goals, both from the foot of striker Alex Porter and both from set pieces. From what I could make out through the thick fog, Bamber Bridge won a free kick in a dangerous position and Porter’s delivery clipped the underside of the bar and nestled in the net to give the home side the lead. This occurred in the 55th minute and then in the 58th minute Bamber Bridge were awarded a penalty. Alex Porter converted from the spot and Bamber Bridge now had a healthy 2 goal lead. Bamber Bridge could have had a third goal not long after this time as I think they came close again on the hour mark. A Bamber Bridge winger went on a great run down the left wing and then disappeared into the fog. I could just about make out him square the ball and then a large groan came from behind the goal as the ball went dead, it was on this evidence that I assumed the Bamber Bridge forward had missed the target. Trafford then got themselves a slightly strange free kick when keeper Andy Banks came to collect a long aerial ball played into the penalty area, he gathered it but then slightly overshot the edge of his penalty area. Referee Clayton awarded Trafford a free kick and took no further action against the goalkeeper, much to the displeasure of the Trafford fans in the stand that were baying that the keeper be sent off. The free kick was eventually sent a long was over the crossbar. After this point, trying to complete a report became an impossible task as visibility was just too poor. Chants from the Trafford fans of “we can’t see a bloody thing” were probably an encouragement to referee Clayton to abandon the match, but the fact of the matter is you couldn’t see a thing, but with just under 10 minutes left, the game was going to finish, and it did with no further scoring, Bamber Bridge coming out 2-0 winners.

The game ended in zero visibility and to the letter of the law, referee Clayton should probably have abandoned the match about 4 minutes from time. Something the Trafford fans let the referee know about as he left the field. The two sides looked evenly matched on the field and the two set piece goals were the only things to separate the two sides. The football itself was enjoyable to watch, well, what I could see of it anyway! Was glad to find a pub after the match, my hands returned to a normal colour after 10 minutes of being in the warm. Interestingly, the Preston North End Vs Bristol City match happening just down the road from Bamber Bridge was suffering from the same fog problems but still went ahead. So the first stop on the footballing adventure has been a bizarre one, but in many ways enjoyable. Roll on the next match and congratulations to Bamber Bridge, as this victory took them to the top of the Unibond League Division 1 North.

Full Time:
Bamber Bridge 2 – 0 Trafford

View more photos at: http://www.photobucket.com/bamberbridgetrafford