Five goals in the space of eleven minutes in the second half killed off the game as West Allotment's hopes of progressing further in the 2021/22 Emirates FA Cup were dashed. A valiant effort from the lads however, the classy Bamber Bridge side were just too much in the end.
A crowd of 173 gathered a Palmersville to see West Allotment take on Northern Premier League side Bamber Bridge in the First Qualifying Round of the Emirates FA Cup. Unfortunately, there was no upset on the cards for the supporters despite a spirited first half display.
Bamber Bridge began the game on the front foot. They kept the ball well and passed it around with control and confidence and almost took the lead on 8 minutes. Ryan White forced a save from Finn Hodgson and then moments later he curled a shot just over the bar from just inside the box.
After 20 minutes, the solid defensive work from Allotment was undone as The Brig took the lead. Matt Dudley coasted into the box under no pressure and was there to get onto the end of a Ryan White cross to put the visitors 0-1 ahead. A sloppy goal to concede after what had been a top-draw defensive display so far.
Allotment began to advance a bit further up the pitch once they had conceded the goal and ultimately, the positive play was rewarded after 35 minutes as Allotment drew level to infuriate the visitors. Paterson was the man with goal as he kept hold of the ball for a few seconds and then unleashed a strike that appeared to swerve as is it hit the back of the net straight down the middle of the goal.
The second half was a different story as Bamber Bridge became simply ruthless. The visitors were dominant after the second half had kicked off and clearly must have received some stern words from their head coach at half time. Bamber Bridge eventually retook the lead after 57 minutes courtesy of debutant Craig Carney. From Allotment's perspective, the goal was incredibly unfortunate as the ball was bundled home after taking a couple of deflections on its way into the net. No time to feel sorry for ourselves, we needed to dust ourselves down and go again.
After going 1-2 down, Allotment almost drew level once again however, striker Matty Hayton was unable to control a through ball which would have left him 1-on-1 with the Brig goalkeeper. After this, the game turned ugly for Allotment.
Ewan Bange put Bamber Bridge 1-3 ahead after a well worked move on 67 minutes. Matt Thompson delivered an inch-perfect cross and Bange was there to just glide onto the ball and bend it into the top corner leaving Hodgson with no chance.
Three goals became four goals on 71 minutes as Sheldon Green headed home another goal for the visitors. A free kick from out wide was delivered into the box and Green was there to power the ball home as he was left unmarked. Carney shortly got his second goal just a couple of minutes later as he drifted into the box in acres of space and rounded Hodgson and he was left with the easiest finish he will ever get into an empty net. The score now 1-5 to Bamber Bridge.
The ruthless Bamber Bridge were still not finished as they continued to inflict suffering on a deflated West Allotment. It was 1-6 on 77 minutes as Rob Apter added his name to the scoresheet after a brilliant finish into the bottom corner and then two minutes later Sheldon Green added a seventh. Thankfully, that was their last goal!
In the final moments of the game, Mikel Thompson smashed the ball home on the volley from outside the box to give Allotment a positive to take from the second half. Nevertheless, it was nothing more than a consolation goal. Full time and it finished 2-7 to the Northern Premier League side.
Allotment: Hodgson, Baltazar, Parkinson (Higgins 63'), Beeston, Scott (c), Trodd, Paterson (Walker 63'), Jones (Larmouth 61'), Hayton, Thompson, Martins
Goals: Paterson (35'), Thompson (89')
Bamber Bridge: Roccia, Thomson, Higham, Spooner (c), Gourley, Carney, Green, Shaw, Bange, Dudley, White
Attendance: 173