Win on road

contributed to a very strong performance which must have pleased the management team.

Phil Dean then left the field to be replaced by another debutant Callum Spooner, indeed Dean had without doubt his best game since returning to the Rams recently as his two assists highlights.

Bamber Bridge gave themselves a lifeline on 84 minutes when a right wing cross found Boyd whose header beat Taberner to reduce the arrears. The goal gave the hosts some hope and a superb block from Thompson denied Dudley before the referee turned down two penalty appeals as the pressure built on the Rams.

With 5 minutes injury time signalled the home side laid siege to the visitors goal with Carsley firing over the bar before a second Bamber Bridge goal arrived with 2 min- utes remaining as Waddecar slammed a loose ball past Taberner at the near post.

Nerves were jangling amongst the Rams fans in attendance but despite their best efforts Bamber Bridge surrendered their unbeaten home league record as Ramsbottom United celebrated their first away victory of the season in what was a superb advert for non league football.

An understandably thrilled Mark Fell said: “I’m delighted for the lads, away from home we’ve not got what we deserved but today we dominated large spells and took our chances. We made it tough in the closing stages and fair play to Brig they are very resilient. It was torture for me in the stand but Lanky and Scott did a great job in the dugout, I thought Phil Dean and Jerome Wright tortured them at times and Jacques at centre half had a great debut.

“The key for us was to get the away win monkey off our back and push on now, we’re 4 points off the playoffs and we need a bit of a run to put us back in the mix but I feel this group of players are capable of that.”