This final game of the 09/10 season appropriately brought together the Premier League's top two teams with Brig having beaten Pumas in the Cup Final and Pumas having already clinched the Championship title. Pumas were defending their proud 100% record and Brig were out to show that their Cup win was no fluke. With star Blackburn Rovers forward El Hadji Diouf dropping by to watch a bit of the game on a cold night all was set for a thrilling show-down.
Pumas attacked right from the start and forced a corner on the left which could only be parried by the keeper but it fell safely and was scrambled away. Caleb pushed up on the right flank and fed a nice pass down the wing to Dion who was looking lively. He tried to cut inside but was closed down with close attention from two defenders but won a free kick. Caleb delivered accurately but no one managed to connect. Then Ben gained possession in midfield and laid on a beautiful pass to Dion again on the right flank. He worked his way inside and managed to deliver a good shot only to see it well saved. It was all Pumas but after 6 mins Brig got into Pumas half for the first time and broke down the left. Their forward showed great skill and strength in retaining the ball under the severest pressure from two Pumas defenders and managed to cross the ball which was hit powerfully from 15 yards through a crowded penalty area and past Conor's despairing dive. 0 - 1.
A scrappy period followed with neither side able to carve out any meaningful chances. Both defences were looking in control with Sam and Lewis working hard for Pumas and neither keeper was seriously tested. Dion had a good run down the right wing and saw his cross fail to find a Pumas' forward and then he suffered a crunch tackle which hurt him. After 23 mins Brig won a corner on the left which was delivered accurately onto a forward's head to force a good save from Conor. A minute later Brig broke through again down the centre skilfully retaining possession. An inch perfect pass was made for the right winger to run onto and thunder an unstoppable shot to the right of Conor's outstretched fingertips. 0 - 2.
Pumas tried to hit back quickly with Callum and Matt combining well but Tyler's shot went just wide and a couple of minutes later a similar miss was made at the other end by Brig.
Half Time Pumas 0 Brig 2
With the advantage of the slight downslope and a breeze at their backs Pumas could reasonably hope for better things in the second half but after only 2 mins they conceded a corner on the right which was delivered high and deep for a brilliant headed goal which found the top corner of Pumas net. 0 - 3.
Elliot, Jack and Robert were brought on to try to change the way the game was flowing but the Brig defence weren't yielding. Elliot's pass found Dion in space but his powerful shot soared over the bar. A minor goalmouth scramble at the Brig end after 9 mins gave Elliot a chance from short range and he made no mistake by prodding the ball home in typical fashion. 1 - 3.
Surely this would give Pumas the incentive to mount a strong fight back but Brig were very well organised and showed some tremendous individual skills. Another Brig corner found a forward's head with Pumas relieved to see the effort go narrowly over the bar. Then after 22 mins a strong Pumas attack down the right ended with a powerful shot from Caleb whistling over the bar also. In the final minute Dion managed to find the net with a clever finish but was judged to have been off-side.
Full time Ladybridge Pumas 1 Bamber Bridge Blues 3
It has to be said that this was not one of Pumas best efforts and it was disappointing to lose that coveted 100% record in the last game of the season. Having said that let's not take anything away from Bamber Bridge who have now beaten us convincingly twice in the past two weeks. However, the fact remains that this has been a most successful debut in the Central Lancs JFL finishing as Premier League Champions and Cup runners up. Pumas have won 21 of their 23 matches played - an outstanding record of which all team players and coaches should be proud. Congratulations to Wayne and Karl for bringing the lads to this level and coaching them not only in playing skills but in a high standard of behaviour and sportsmanship. Well done everybody.
Pumas attacked right from the start and forced a corner on the left which could only be parried by the keeper but it fell safely and was scrambled away. Caleb pushed up on the right flank and fed a nice pass down the wing to Dion who was looking lively. He tried to cut inside but was closed down with close attention from two defenders but won a free kick. Caleb delivered accurately but no one managed to connect. Then Ben gained possession in midfield and laid on a beautiful pass to Dion again on the right flank. He worked his way inside and managed to deliver a good shot only to see it well saved. It was all Pumas but after 6 mins Brig got into Pumas half for the first time and broke down the left. Their forward showed great skill and strength in retaining the ball under the severest pressure from two Pumas defenders and managed to cross the ball which was hit powerfully from 15 yards through a crowded penalty area and past Conor's despairing dive. 0 - 1.
A scrappy period followed with neither side able to carve out any meaningful chances. Both defences were looking in control with Sam and Lewis working hard for Pumas and neither keeper was seriously tested. Dion had a good run down the right wing and saw his cross fail to find a Pumas' forward and then he suffered a crunch tackle which hurt him. After 23 mins Brig won a corner on the left which was delivered accurately onto a forward's head to force a good save from Conor. A minute later Brig broke through again down the centre skilfully retaining possession. An inch perfect pass was made for the right winger to run onto and thunder an unstoppable shot to the right of Conor's outstretched fingertips. 0 - 2.
Pumas tried to hit back quickly with Callum and Matt combining well but Tyler's shot went just wide and a couple of minutes later a similar miss was made at the other end by Brig.
Half Time Pumas 0 Brig 2
With the advantage of the slight downslope and a breeze at their backs Pumas could reasonably hope for better things in the second half but after only 2 mins they conceded a corner on the right which was delivered high and deep for a brilliant headed goal which found the top corner of Pumas net. 0 - 3.
Elliot, Jack and Robert were brought on to try to change the way the game was flowing but the Brig defence weren't yielding. Elliot's pass found Dion in space but his powerful shot soared over the bar. A minor goalmouth scramble at the Brig end after 9 mins gave Elliot a chance from short range and he made no mistake by prodding the ball home in typical fashion. 1 - 3.
Surely this would give Pumas the incentive to mount a strong fight back but Brig were very well organised and showed some tremendous individual skills. Another Brig corner found a forward's head with Pumas relieved to see the effort go narrowly over the bar. Then after 22 mins a strong Pumas attack down the right ended with a powerful shot from Caleb whistling over the bar also. In the final minute Dion managed to find the net with a clever finish but was judged to have been off-side.
Full time Ladybridge Pumas 1 Bamber Bridge Blues 3
It has to be said that this was not one of Pumas best efforts and it was disappointing to lose that coveted 100% record in the last game of the season. Having said that let's not take anything away from Bamber Bridge who have now beaten us convincingly twice in the past two weeks. However, the fact remains that this has been a most successful debut in the Central Lancs JFL finishing as Premier League Champions and Cup runners up. Pumas have won 21 of their 23 matches played - an outstanding record of which all team players and coaches should be proud. Congratulations to Wayne and Karl for bringing the lads to this level and coaching them not only in playing skills but in a high standard of behaviour and sportsmanship. Well done everybody.
