Garforth fielded an unchanged side to that seen against Harrogate Railway last Saturday.

Both teams looked to attack from the off in what was a keenly-fought contest. Allistair Waddecar looked useful on the right wing for Bamber Bridge and made a couple of forays down this side but either his balls into the box were cleared away by the Town defence or he was caught by the offside flag. David Brown was making similar inroads down the left and one move saw him try to find Paul Walker in the six yard box but the ball went just behind him and was cleared.

On 10 minutes the Miners took the lead in style. Great work down the right by captain Milton Turner saw him cross into the box to find Chris Walton just inside who unleashed a spectacular curling volley into the top right corner. Given his other goal at Durham the ex-Wakefield man clearly doesn’t do things by halves!

Both teams continued pressing. Walker had a good chance to put us further in front on 22 mins. Receiving the ball just outside the area, he found space between defenders to shoot low but it was well saved by keeper Lee Dovey to his right.

Waddecar continued to cause Town problems. On 24 mins a couple of balls into the area from him were headed clear, but not far enough; on the second occasion the ball fell to Neil Reynolds just outside who squared right to Matt Mahoney who found the net with a low strike which beat Ben Higginson at his near post.

Happily the away side’s response was immediate. A minute later from a thrown-in on the right near the halfway line Brown charged down this flank and squared in to Walker just inside the area who slotted home past Dovey.

Defender Darren Kelly took a knock around this moment and had to be replaced by Andy Villerman.

On 30 mins the home side wasted a glorious chance when a mixup between two defenders in yellow let in Matt Mahoney (?). The midfielder only had Higginson to beat but shot across goal and wide. In the remainder of the half Mahoney’s brother Danny and Chris Marlow tried their luck with high shots but the Town custodian just managed to gather them both. Garforth also came close from a counter attack - Jamie Price played in Brown but his low drive went just wide.

2-1 was the scoreline at the break in what had been an excellent first half. Both sides continued to attack in the second period. Walker almost grabbed a second goal when his low free kick from around 25 yards out was just held by Dovey.

On the hour mark Brig’s task in getting back in the game was made harder when Ryan Salmon made a late challenge in the middle of the park. The striker had already been booked for dissent and referee Ian Hussin duly produced a second yellow card and sent him for an early bath.

Higginson again had to be alert 6 mins later, denying defender Simon Lakeland who had received the ball from a free kick.

Walton almost added another screamer to his collection on 68 mins. From a throw in on the left the ball found him in space on the inside right. His strike from 40 yards narrowly went wide of the left upright. Town did make it 3-1 though on 72 mins when a move down the left involving Walker and substitute Lawrance Hunter saw the ball being squared by Walker into the box for Brown to fire home.

On 76 mins Brig were reduced to 9 men when a long clearance from Turner found Walker with only defender George Bowyer. Bowyer brought him down and as he was adjudged to be the last man was also sent off.

To their credit the home side kept up the pressure despite the numbers and still looked dangerous with lively substitute Leon McLoughlin on the right springing many of the attacks. The remainder of the game saw equal opportunities for both sides. Garforth sub Ben Thornton was unlucky not to grab his third goal in as many sub appearances after the ball was given away on the right to Oliver Hotchkiss. Hotchkiss played in Thornton in space on the inside left just outside the box, his low shot beat Dovey but came off the left post and despairingly flashed across the goalmouth. At the other end some good play from the Lancashiremen forced two equally good saves by Higginson, from McLoughlin and Waddecar.

The men in yellow managed to survive though and collect three points. A tremendous team performance which saw solid defending as well as exciting forward play against a decent attacking side who’ve given us two tough games this season. Farsley’s draw at Skelmersdale sees us move into fifth. Lancaster up next...