Tranmere Rovers 4 Brigg Town 1

Saturday 17th November 2001, FAC Round 1

Brigg Town’s brave FA Cup run ended today at cup graveyard Prenton Park. It was certainly no disgrace for Brigg, as the gulf in class between the two teams separated by five divisions, told in the end.

As you would expect Tranmere started the better of the two sides and in the ninth minute Rovers new signing Jason Price stole in following Gareth Roberts good work down the left had side. Brigg Town keeper Steve Jordan was more an equal to this and parried the ball to safety.

Tranmere’s early possession was rewarded soon after. Nineteen minutes into the game the home side took the lead. Veteran striker Paul Rideout, holder of a cup winner’s medal from his time over the water with Everton, was fouled on the edge of the box. From the resulting free-kick, new boy Alan Navarro stepped up to curl the ball into the back of the net, to make it one – nil to Tranmere.

Two minutes later, Navarro almost doubled his contribution to the game, when he dispossessed the Brigg back-line. He managed to fire in a shot but this was blocked by the visitor’s keeper.

These chances seemed to spur on the nervous looking Brigg Town and on 25 minutes they should really have equalised. Phill Rowland skipped down the right – his cross, found Simon Roach, Brigg’s hero of the last round. But his header had no pace and was gathered by the grateful Tranmere keeper Joe Murphy. A minute later Murphy had to alert when Steve Carter struck a long-range effort, but this was dealt with competently dealt with by the home keeper.

Brigg’s travelling support saw calls for a penalty turned down on the half hour mark, when Danny Hope, was seemingly felled, by Tranmere defender Graham Allen. The travelling fans had to make do with a corner instead.

Tranmere boss Dave Watson had obviously seen enough at this point – and left his position in the stands. This no doubt prompted the renaissance for the remainder of the second half.

After the break again Tranmere started the better of the two sides and after 48minutes they almost doubled their lead, when Stuart Barlow reacted the quickest to Paul Rideout’s flick on. Again the visitor’s keeper excelled himself by turning the ball around the post for a corner.

Just before the hour mark, Rovers lively new midfielder Jason Price gathered the ball outside the area; he beat two men but could only drill his shot into the side netting.

Tranmere’s fitness was beginning to tell at this point with Brigg unable to get a foothold into the game in the second half. It was inevitable that Tranmere would score and when they did it was no surprise who would score it.
The goal that broke Brigg hearts came on 64 minutes following good work down the right by Steve Yates. Yates’ cross found Price unmarked, his header was superbly saved by Jordan, unfortunately for him the ball fell kindly for the Tranmere man Price and he fired home to make it two – nil.

There was seemingly no way back for Brigg. Their task was made even greater after 76 minutes when Seyni N’Diaye burst through the visibly tiring Brigg back line. N’Diaye reached the by-line, where he back heeled the ball to Price who made the score three – nil.

Almost immediately Brigg grabbed themselves a consolation goal when substitute James Leech fired a curling shot past Murphy in the Tranmere goal. This capped a meteoric rise for the undergraduate from Leeds University, who up until three weeks ago was playing parks football.

With the game virtually over there was time for Tranmere to add to there total with three minutes to go when Sean Flynn unleashed an unstoppable shot from thirty-five yards past Steve Jordan, who had excelled himself despite conceding four goals. A minute later Jordan pulled of a remarkable point blank save to deny Stuart Barlow from close range.

So Briggs FA Cup odyssey is over, but what a great run it has been. After the game Ralph Clayton reflected on what might have been,

“ I really enjoyed today’s game. The reception we got from Tranmere was great. I’m really proud of them and my players.” Dave Watson the Tranmere manager paid tribute to the Brigg Town team “All credit to them in the first half they played some good football, but I felt second half we got to know them a little better. All credit to Brigg this was their day”

ATT – 7693

* This report previously appeared on the now defunct website Pyramid Football