Basford United 3-2 Bamber Bridge (Northern Premier League) 12.10.24

Basford United claimed a hard earned three points during an exciting afternoon’s non-league football at Greenwich Avenue as Martin Carruthers returned to the dugout with victory over Bamber Bridge.

Carruthers watched his side give away a two-goal lead before a last minute own goal provided the home team with the win, deserved yes, but Basford far from had it their own way on an afternoon which so nearly left their fans frustrated.

It started well, United had the ball in the back of the net within two minutes but for the offside flag and when visiting goalkeeper Pradic passed straight to Chambers on five the United striker should have made the net ripple from close range, but instead he dragged his unexpected pre-plated guilt edged opportunity wide.

Chambers went close on two more occasions, hitting low and wide on 12 after neat football before being sent through on 20 only to shoot straight at the keeper, but on 25 he opened the scoring when Kacy Butterfield broke the Bamber Bridge offside trap to run through and pass to the former Coalville Town striker who had an empty net to roll the ball into.

That goal gave Basford slender advantage at the break but it was more than the hosts deserved as Bamber Bridge hardly troubled Saul Deeney’s goal despite lots of possession, the away side lucky that United’s chances hadn’t all been converted, otherwise the match might have been out of reach in the first 45.

Shortly into the second half the game did look out of reach, Prince Mancinelli marauding down the right wing with a powerful run which started inside his own half before crossing a beauty which was headed home on the dive by Chambers for goal number two.

Chambers suffered injury ahead of the hour and as he was substituted for young Mansfield Town loanee McKeal Abdullah, that changed the complexion of the game with Bamber Bridge also making a number of substitutions, on 74 it was one of their starters however who got the Lancashire based side back in the game, Abdullah sloppily losing the ball on half way and on the counter-attack, Lucas Weaver got past Henri Wilder and smashed hard and low towards the goalkeepers near post, Deeney in the light of the sun could only get hands on as the ball bounced off his palms into the side of the net.

That goal had the away side chomping at the bit and when Weaver was given too much time and space to fire low and hard on 84 it seemed that only one team would go on to win the game, and late on Bamber Bridge spurned a great opportunity as the ball bobbled inside the Basford box before being blazed over amidst shouts for penalty, Basford went up the other end and snatched victory from jaws of a draw as Kane Richards, fabulous all afternoon, jinked inside the area and crossed low into the six yard box where defender Will Squires stuck out a foot and in vain slid the ball into his own net.

Manager Martin Carruthers had been given time off after a family death and his return to the dugout was well received, made all the sweeter with victory that takes United up to eighth in the Northern Premier League table.

Basford: Deeney, Anderson, Wilder, Mancinelli, Nirenhold (Aideyan 90), James (Barnes 40), Richards, Butterfield, Waite (Dacres 90), Thornhill, Chambers (Abdullah 60).

*Article provided by Daniel Peacock (Editor).

*Main image @dannypea United action as Basford edged Bamber Bridge at Greenwich Avenue.