Basford United secured three points from their home encounter with Bamber Bridge in a game which had an end of season feel to it, even though the visitors were in need of points in their battle against relegation.

Basford kicked off on a lovely sunny Spring Afternoon with Kieran Preston back in goal following his return after a loan spell at Hednesford Town. Henri Wilder, Basford’s transfer deadline day loan signing from Mansfield Town, started on the substitutes bench.

Bamber Bridge came into the match three points above the relegation places, the teams below them all having games in hand, without a win since January 12th and having their second manager of the season leave two days before this game.

The visitors were the first to threaten, however, when front man Alistair Waddecar went down in the home penalty area in the third minute after a tackle by Brad Gascoigne, but Referee Oliver Mackey waved away appeals for a penalty.

Three minutes later a clearance by Bamber Bridge goalkeeper Lloyd Rigby went straight to Jerry Nash, but the home number 7 couldn’t control his immediately returned shot which went high and wide.

Bamber Bridge were awarded a free kick after a foul on the edge of the home penalty area, and Joseph Booth saw his fine shot direct from the free kick hit the home crossbar and go to safety. Basford came straight back and a good centre by Nash was headed for a corner which was cleared.

Bamber Bridge were not so fortunate from the next home attack. From Wilson’s twentieth minute corner Gascoigne bundled the ball home from close in for the defender’s first goal for Basford.

Four minutes later Matthew Dudley broke clear of the Basford defence but turned inside and was blocked out. Basford went straight down the pitch and earned a corner, from which Nat Watson’s low ball driven to the near post saw a Bamber Bridge defender divert the ball for a second corner, narrowly missing converting an own goal in the process.

Wilson then saw his low shot from some distance squirm from Rigby’s grasp, the visiting goalkeeper seizing the ball at the second attempt.

Four minutes before halftime Preston ensured Basford had an interval lead when he produced a fine fingertip save to turn Adam Dodd’s powerful drive over the crossbar.

The second half saw little pressure on either goal until the fifty-eighth minute when a high looping centre was well held by Rigby under pressure in his six yard box. Two minutes later Preston was called into similar action from a centre by visiting Captain Matt Lawlor, holding the ball well. Lawlor was then prominent again in cutting out a good Basford move on the edge of his own area.

As the match progressed so did Bamber Bridge’s pressure on the home defence increase, seemingly aware of their need for points to stave off relegation, and right back Callum Spooner had a shot blocked for a corner by home Captain Dom Roma, Preston collecting the corner.

Waddecar then saw his curling shot from a free kick go just wide in the seventieth minute. Sixty seconds later the same player got on the end of a through ball and his shot was blocked, Preston eventually seizing the ball.

Basford broke away from the Bamber Bridge pressure and substitute James Reid netted just after Referee Oliver had blown for a foul by another home player earlier in the move.

Grantham saw his deflected centre palmed away strongly to safety by Rigby before the visitors spent the closing stages of the game seeking at least an equaliser. Four minutes from the end of normal time Regan Linney saw his powerful goal bound shot blocked in a crowned goalmouth after a corner, Referee Oliver once again waving away penalty appeals, this time for handball.

From an away corner the outstanding Preston punched the ball away under pressure, before Bamber Bridge substitute Danny Forbes shot at the home goalkeeper.

Due to substitutions and injuries there were seven minutes of added time, most of which saw pressure on the Basford goal. The home defence held firm, however, save for a Waddecar shot blocked with sixty seconds to go, and Basford secured a one goal win.

Basford: Kieran Preston, Liam Bateman, Dom Roma, Brad Gascoigne (Henri Wilder 75), Stef Galinski, Jerry Nash, Jack Thomas, Ryan Wilson (James Reid 70), Courey Grantham, Nat Watson, Fernando Bell-Toxtle (Lewis Carr 90).
Subs not used: Zak Goodson, Dennell Stokes.

Attendance: 207