Bamber Bridge ready for action after Covid-19 interrupts season

Bamber Bridge return to action this evening

The Brig squad have been grounded since beating Matlock Town 1-0 on the opening day of the new NPL Premier Division season.

A day after that win, a key member of the squad was tested positive for Covid-19, which forced everybody within the group to self-isolate for a fortnight.

Happily the player in question has made a full recovery and the squad were back in training at the weekend, preparing for this evening’s league fixture at Ashton United.

“We trained Saturday,” said Milligan. “That was the first time we were allowed back in to train.

“We had a behind-closed-doors game between ourselves and we go again at Ashton.

“It will be great to get back going again. It’s been a bit of a nightmare.

“Everybody got tested and came back negative, but we all had to stay indoors for 14 days.

“It was horrible really. I am out of the house every day coaching so I’ve been pulling my hair out for the last two weeks being stuck at home.

“It’s been difficult for the lads but it’s over and we can concentrate on playing now.”

Milligan revealed his men have tried to keep ticking over as best they could at home but he admits their fitness levels might not be quite up to scratch, especially coming up against Ashton who have already played four times in the first few weeks of the season.

“They’ve all tried to keep on top of their fitness but it’s different to training,” said Milligan.

“We will have lost a little bit of fitness over the past few weeks but it can’t be helped – it’s as simple as that.

“Ashton have quite a few games – they have had to play South Shields twice, once in the league and then once in the cup, so they’ve had some tough games.

“They drew with South Shields in the league 3-3 and I went to watch them on Saturday in the FA Cup. They got comfortably beaten 4-0 in the cup but South Shields are stronger than most teams in this league.

“Ashton are a decent side, but over the past week there have been a lot of draws in our division so if we can get the win, it can take us up the table.”