Brig ace Ally is the complete package

The Brig winger wrote himself into the record books on Saturday when he reached a century of goals for the club in the 4-1 NPL First Division North win over Witton Albion.

Manager Neil Crowe believes Waddecar will go down as one of Brig’s best ever players – a statement which Lawlor would not disagree with.

“Ally’s just an unbelievable player,” said Lawlor. “There have been Football League clubs and National League clubs who have shown an interest in him.

“But it’s just lucky for Bamber Bridge that he’s a local lad who just wants to play local football because of his work commitments.

“A hundred goals from a winger in 270 games is phenomenal.

“You have to remember those appearances start from when he was 18 and he would not have started every game when he was younger.

“It’s all credit to him and just shows how good he is.

“He was out injured for three months earlier this season and it was no coincidence that we struggled.

“The thing about Ally is he’s got a bit of everything as a player. He’s not your typical flair player – he works his socks off as well. He can tackle, he can head, as well as create and score goals.

“I would rate him as one of the best players I have played with in non-league – and I have played with some big-name players.”

Waddecar will be hoping to add to his scoring record this weekend when Brig travel to play lowly Ossett Town.

It will be the first of seven league games in March, and Lawlor concedes it is a make-or-break month for his team.

Four of the games are against teams in close proximity to them in the table and who all still harbour ambitions of finishing in the top five.

Although currently down in 13th spot, a run of six league wins in their past nine games since the turn of the year has given Brig a whiff of the play-offs.

They are currently nine points shy of fifth-placed Burscough, but do have games in hand on many of the teams above them.

“That’s the little incentive for us,” said Lawlor. “We have been involved in the play-offs the last couple of years and we don’t want this season to wither away and become a damp squib.

“We want to have something to look forward to.

“If we win our games in hand, we can make the ground up and can start looking at the play-offs.

“It’s going to be bit of an uphill battle because of the start to the season we had and I guess it’s now or never for us.”

Although beaten 5-1 by higher-league opposition Nantwich Town in the Doodson Cup in midweek, Brig should look forward to this weekend with confidence, as Ossett are just two points above the drop zone.

However, they have recently changed manager with Grant Black replacing the sacked Graham Nicholas.

“They’ve not had a good season,” said Lawlor. “But they’ve changed their manager recently and he’s brought in a lot of new players.

“They have had two or three decent results and are in a little bit of form, but I would fully expect us to go there and win.”

Brig are set to be without Glen Steel this weekend.