Brigg Town Football Club CIC
Toolstation Northern Counties East Football League - Division One
Match REPORT

Brigg Town FC CIC 2-2 Retford United

Saturday 27th January 2024
NCEFL1
Words by

BOB TAYLOR

Photos by

MELV CHUDLEY &
ANNA BÄCKSTRÖM

Promotion chasing Retford United were Brigg’s opponents on Saturday afternoon looking to consolidate their league position.

Brigg were without Prince Haywood and Martin Pembleton in midfield but Luke Anderson and Dean McCarthy were in the starting line up to give added support for Player-Manager Brett Agnew.

Retford began the game well winning a free kick outside the Brigg penalty area but this was well defended with Lewis Hill watching the eventual strike at goal going well over the crossbar.

Brigg settled down well and took the lead in the eighth minute when poor defending allowed Brett Agnew to seize possession before striking a firm low shot into the corner of the net.

The Badgers responded to their initial setback by pushing forward and they put the home defenders under pressure but failed to take advantage of free kicks played into the home team’s penalty area. Steve McCarron and Chaz Fisher gave solid defensive performances to maintain control throughout.

Agnew worked an opening down the left wing and completed the move with a first-time volley going over the Retford crossbar.

Two more free kicks from the visitors were cleared and then in the thirty-seventh minute Brigg scored a second goal. It came as a result of a snap shot from outside the penalty area by Agnew which surprised Daniel Haystead in the Retford goal and rebounded from his chest to Dean McCarthy, who reacted smartly to find the bottom corner of the net from fifteen yards out.

Another strike from Agnew from thirty yards out flew just wide of the post but Brigg went into the half time break with a two-goal lead, looking comfortably in control.

The second half began well for the home team who were awarded a couple of free kicks from outside the penalty area but the visitors began to get more control of the ball in midfield and after fifty-seven minutes a cracking shot found the back of the net but the referee awarded a free kick to Brigg.

Continuing to press forward, Retford scored within a couple of minutes when the ball was worked down the left wing before being chipped towards the far back post for Liam Owen to find the roof of the net.

Agnew was unlucky to see another scoring attempt missing out when his strike at goal was saved by the ‘keeper’s legs.

Further chances fell to substitute Scott Hutchinson, but the vital third goal was denied.

Retford missed out on the opportunity of levelling the score when they were awarded a contentious penalty kick during which James Petronzio was sin-binned, but the spot kick was brilliantly saved by Lewis Hill, who also kept out the follow-up strike.

The game deteriorated as it drew closer to a conclusion with Brigg being reduced to nine players for a period after Hutchinson was shown a second yellow card.

Then with only seven minutes remaining, Retford levelled when Brandon Kane struck a great shot into the bottom left corner of the Hill’s goal to win a point and deny Brigg’s progress.

Zebras Eleven:

Hill, Petronzio, Spencer, Mascall, McCarron, Fisher, Griffin, Vasquez, Agnew, Anderson, McCarthy.

Substitutes:

Norburn, Start, Ronis, Hutchinson, Bacon

Zebras Player of the Match:
Chaz Fisher
Match Attendance: 284

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