FC United of Manchester 3 Bamber Bridge 2

01 May 2008 12:10 AM

BAMBER Bridge's best season in the past decade has come to an abrupt end after a narrow defeat in the play-off semi-finals to FC United

Phil Entwistle's young side had started the game well with striker Ryan Salmon watching his deflected shot rebound off the crossbar.

Meanwhile his strike partner Neil Zarac had two opportunities to hand Brig the lead before FC started to string to gether some great passes and play.

Against the run of play FC United took the lead with a well-taken goal.

Swift passing and a great flick by Nicky Platt set up Adam Carden to shoot into the top left corner of the goal on 22 minutes.

Brig's best chance of the first half came when young winger Tom Ince pounced on a mistake by the FC defence and was through on goal only for his touch to let him down in the box.

The one man Phil Entwistle had described as a threat - Ryan Patterson extended FC United's lead when he slotted home into an empty goal on 37 minutes.

The introduction of Ryan-Zico Black after the interval had an immediate effect as it was free-kick set up a goal for Neil Zsrac to score his first goal for the club.

Brig's hopes of a revival were quashed when a mistake in defence by Adam Tong saw the ball break for winger Jerome Wright to regain a two goal cushion.

With 15 minutes remaining Brig through caution to the wind by using Tong's aerial power upfront.It had the desired effect as Neil Zarac grabbed his second goal of the night to give Brig hope.

In a controversial end to the game there was only three minutes of added time despite a few stoppages and injuries and it proved to be too little too late for Brig.

Brig: McCormick, Steel, Crowder (Edmead 46), Williams, Tong, Bowen (Fleming 74), Ince (Zico Black 45), Mahoney (D), Zarac, Salmon and Porter (C)