RateTheRef

On Saturday Brighouse Town had succumbed 2-5 at home against one of the sides below them in the table - a side apparently particularly adept at Lazarus-like recoveries from life-threatening injuries - and had fallen to 18th out of the 19 teams in the division.With the next match against the table-toppers, it was with a sense of foreboding that JCFC made his way to

Monday 12th October 2020
NPL Division 1 NW
Brighouse Town   3   v   4   Dunston
Will Cavanagh (Sheffield); Duncan Carratt, Arran Williams.

It was a surprise, therefore, when the Dunston keeper flapped at a second-minute free-kick, allowing a home forward to give his side the lead. Only another 88 minutes to survive! A good Dunston chance was blocked on 5 minutes, but just one minute later the Brighouse keeper unwisely dashed out to the corner of the penalty area and his unsuccessful dive merely conceded a penalty, duly converted. On 9 minutes it was the turn of the home number 11 to go down under a challenge - and to receive a yellow card for simulation. By minute 10 Duston were ahead and it could well have been three soon afterwards. Mr Cavanagh treated the Dunston number 7 to an extended discourse, the only further involvement required in the half. A good run by the home number 11 ended with a strong shot, unfortunately just the wrong side of the post. Town's defensive frailties were exposed yet again, a corner being far too easily transformed into a goal.

Half-time chat in the stand centred on whether the strong Dunston side's margin of victory would be four or five goals. Town emerged though to play with spirit, though their keeper had to do the defenders' job for them on the hour.A long ball from the  Brighouse keeper found the lively right winger, but the eventual shot was comfortably saved. Despite a Dunston shot which rattled the frame of the goal, the signs were more encouraging for the locals and one stentorian Dunston fan began to berate his defenders. It seemed unduly pessimistic, but he was proved correct, as Brighouse pulled a goal back on 72 minutes. The visiting number 2 received a yellow card for a mistimed slide and on 74 minutes Brighouse drew level. In the end they were slightly unlucky to concede the clincher for Dunston, a ricochet in no man's land falling behind the Town defence, Dunston taking possession and crossing to find an attacker still unmarked, as Town tried vainly to recover. There was a late caution for each side, one after a well-judged advantage. Town can take some reason for optimism in their second half performance - there must be a few worse teams somewhere in the division ... mustn't there?

Mr Cavanagh is new to Level 3 this season and still a young man. He coped very comfortably in unspectacular fashion. He appeared to relate well to the players - experience as a primary school teacher helps! - and found plenty to grin about. A solid evening's work from all the officials.