The home team provided stiff opposition and were fully committed in their efforts throughout the game, marking up tightly and efficiently creating their own chances to add to the scoreline.
The game started slowly but Alfie Usher’s first attempt came in the fourth minute with a fierce shot from the left-wing held safely by home ‘keeper Lewis Hill at his near post. The home team responded with a free kick from Joshua Devereux being headed away for a corner kick which was then cleared. Josh Jordan needed treatment for an injury but recovered to play on.
When Shirebrook attacked again, Kurtis Cockburn’s long cross from the right-wing was too deep. Dayle Hutson worked his way forward into the home penalty area but his shot lacked power and the goalkeeper gathered the ball.
After half an hour of play, Stephen McCarron was penalised for a foul outside the penalty area but the resulting free kick across the face of the goal was well defended. Miles Fenty was well-positioned to save another low shot from Kurtis Cockburn whilst at the other end of the pitch, Alfie Usher’s free kick was held safely.
In the closing minute of the first half, Scott Phillips got a firm header on target after the ball was switched back across the face of the goal from the right to left-wing before being returned into the penalty area.
Brigg began the second half more positively with a free kick given in the first minute for Alfie Usher but it was blasted over the crossbar. Miles Fenty was needed to make a couple of low saves from quick counter-attacks and Kenan McKenzie was caught offside from a long free kick.
The best scoring opportunity for the home team came in the seventieth minute when McKenzie was left to run unchecked into the Brigg half of the pitch following a clearance from a free kick but he struck his shot wide of Miles Fenty’s upright goal post.
Brigg took the lead in the eighty-third minute of the game following a free kick. The ball was played into the goal area for Scott Phillips to flick it on to Steven McCarron, who knocked it into the back of the net. For the remaining minutes of play, Brigg looked comfortable with the slender lead secured and ended by taking three more valuable points from the game but a fully committed Shirebrook team had made it a difficult task.
On Wednesday evening, Brigg have a home fixture against Rainworth Miners Welfare and follow this up with a trip to Prestwich Heys (Manchester) on Saturday afternoon in the Second Round Qualifying of the F.A. Vase Competition.