BAMBER Bridge's hopes of staying in the Unibond Premier League received a huge boost with this great result at close neighbours and arch-rivals Chorley.

The 3-1 win at Victory Park moved Brig one step nearer to league survival.

Playing a high tempo passing game the home side had the flair and imagination early on leaving Brig keeper Barton to pull out all the stops and keep his side in the game.

The visitors dug in and battled hard but it was a defensive error that led to the opening goal.

Just under nine minutes from half-time Brig defender Mark Milligan was careless close to the right by-line and lost the ball to Colin Potts whose low cross found the highly rated Lee Trundle.

He volleyed into the back of the net from close range to give the home side the lead at the interval.

In the second half Brig began to play, possibly on the back of a half-time rollicking from manager David May.

Just over ten minutes into the second period they levelled the scores with a spectacular, but seemingly lucky, goal.

Ex-Chorley midfielder Grant Leitch came forward and let fly with a scorching shot from almost 30 yards which deflected off a home player before nestling in the net of his former team.

The bit was most certainly between Brig's teeth and just a few minutes later they were in the lead when Dave Lancaster powerfully headed home for the team from Irongate.

Ten minutes from time when the rampant Leitch sent over a pin point cross which was volleyed into the goal by Ian Vickers.

By Alan House

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.