Second-half goals cross the Zebras

Published on 31st December 2008 in Sport

Brigg Town 0

Goole AFC 2

The UniBond League One South's clash of the two bottom clubs, before kick-off at least, went the Vikings' way at the Hawthorns on Friday, with two second-half goals underlining their improvement after the break.

With the relegation scenario uncertain in these troubled times for non-league football - though few are prepared to admit it - the win stretches the gap to eight points between them and the Zebras, whose season was thrown further into turmoil last week with the resignation of their chairman, Mike Harness.

However, for at least a third of the game Brigg belied their position as they dominated the first-half exchanges. But for the woodwork, desperate defending and poor finishing, they would have taken the lead, and it took the shot against the bar from striker Rick Day to waken Goole to the fact they could not take the points for granted even at a time of goodwill to all men.

Fortunately, the message got home, and after Chris Tate headed home at the start of the second half, the outcome was never in doubt as the year ended on a winning note.

There was a hasty pre-match change for the Vikings when Steve Rollinson pulled up in the warm-up with a hamstring twinge, and Danny Buttle was drafted in from the substitute's bench. There were recalls for Adam Lee and Stewart Copnall, who both missed the Stamford defeat through holiday and suspension respectively.

A crisp, sunny and dry afternoon lent to perfect conditions and the opening exchanges were short on quality and goalmouth activity.

The Vikings marginally looked the better, but the home side responded well after their tentative start and through Nathan Emson and Paul Ashton started to assert.

Rick Day, who shot to prominence at the Hawthorns roughly this time last season, and who netted the winner at the Pleasure Grounds in the Boxing Day fixture 12 months ago, had two chances. The first with a shot wide of Chris Hill's post on 21 minutes and, four minutes later, he was unlucky with a 25-yard drive which thundered against the bar, and to safety.

At this stage the Vikings were struggling to put two passes together, but before the break they did get on top themselves and Stewart Copnall's mazy run won a corner. Danny Buttle's shot on the angle was saved by keeper Lee Herrick.

Zebras' manager Steve Housham said in his programme notes that they were finding goals hard to come by, and were gifting opponents goals in reply, but there was little his defence could do with the first goal of the match on 49 minutes.

A break down the left, albeit with a suspicion of offside in the build up, saw Buttle eventually provide a telling cross for Chris Tate to pull away at the far post and direct a fine header past the despairing Herrick.

A well-taken goal by the Vikings forward, and he almost made it two on the hour with another header, this time aiming it back across the goal, and it drifted wide with Adam Lee trying desperately to apply a touch.

The Vikings were asking most of the questions at this stage. They sealed the game with twenty minutes to go when Lee was twice baulked in the area by John Borland. The second time referee Lawson pointed to the spot as the striker went to ground and, after a hold up for no apparent reason, Lee confidently slotted home from the spot, despite regular penalty-taker Danny Buttle being on the pitch.

The Zebras, to their credit, never gave up, and with the Vikings sitting deep they allowed the home side one or two openings, with Hill doing well to save low down from Hutchinson. But with Ben Spilman introduced in the closing minutes there were one or two openings for Goole to extend their lead, although only a free kick by Luke Jeffs seriously threatened the home goal.