A goal for Brigg, which would have restored their lead, was ruled out for offside and this was followed by the home team seizing an opportunity at the other end of the pitch to give them the lead despite the Zebras’ offside appeals. Brigg missed the chance to equalise in the opening minutes of the second half when Declan Bacon’s penalty was saved.
The Steelers began the game strongly with an attack down the right wing winning a free kick which was played into the penalty area but the flag went up for offside. Brigg’s first attack finished with the ball skidding off Declan Bacon for a goal kick.
Brigg took the lead after twelve minutes of play when Bacon played the ball to Ryan Thompson at the edge of the penalty area from where he found the net with a deflected shot that dipped under the crossbar.
Parkgate’s response was to push forward and a fierce shot by Ahmed Tahar from twenty yards out flew past the the upright. Steve McCarron chipped a neat forward ball into the penalty area to win a corner kick on the right but this was well-defended and Bacon forced home ‘keeper Jordan Greaves into tipping a shot over the crossbar.
Brigg were growing in confidence and had a good fifteen-minute spell in the second quarter of the game but Parkgate scored an equalising goal after thirty-five minutes when Silas Valladolid-Collins beat two defenders before firing his shot in from the edge of the penalty area.
Five minutes later, Brigg worked the ball well from midfield and Bacon ended the move by finding the back of the net but the goal was ruled for offside.
Soon after, Broughton saved a close-range header from Joshua Nodder.
Then in the last minute of the half, the home team took the lead for the first time after appeals for offside were rejected leaving Ross Duggan the opportunity to beat Elliott Broughton to the ball before finishing off the move and sending the teams into the half time break.
Brigg began the second half strongly and from their first attack they were awarded a penalty for a handball in the Parkgate box. Bacon stepped up to take the kick but home but Greaves dived the right way to save.
The game continued with both teams working hard to create openings but midway through the second half, the home team stretched their lead with a superb goal from Duggan, who found space on the left wing before turning to strike a curling shot into the far top corner from twenty yards out.
Brigg continued to search for a way back into the game but were undone again in the fifth minute of added time when Nodder was presented with the easiest of chances to volley the ball in from close range after a poor clearance from Broughton.
On Saturday afternoon the scheduled home game against Wombwell will be another testing league fixture.