Brig's FA Cup dreams crushed by Trafford in 3-1 home defeat
Bamber Bridge knocked out of FA Cup by North West Counties outfit
A 3-1 home defeat to Trafford at the competition’s first hurdle put paid to any hopes Brig had of a lucrative run in the FA Cup.
In the first half Brig looked like they had got the measure of their opponents who ply their trade two rungs below them on the non league pyramid.
Inspired by new recruit Tom Barkhuizen who joined the club on loan from Barrow until January just over a week ago, they went on the front foot midway through the first half after a cagey opening in the games early stages.
They were unlucky not to score when Barkhuizen who played over 200 games for Preston North End between January 2017 and June 2022 threaded the ball through for Archie Lang but his well struck shot was pushed away for a corner by Trafford keeper Connor Beard.
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Thirty-three-year-old Barkhuizen who was using all his vast experience to organise Brigs attacks then linked up well with 18-year-old Blackpool loanee James Butterworth in the penalty box but Trafford managed to somehow scramble the ball away twice in the same attack when it seemed almost certain the home side would score.
Brig took the lead in the 26th minute when following forced a series of corners initially started when Beard pushed over a well struck shot from Jamie Allen.
The sustained period of pressure eventually paid off when Regan Riley rose high in the area to flick the ball into the net off the angle of the bar.
In the second half the visitors played their way back into the game when Lewis Jacklin fired the ball into the net after picking up a loose ball inside the penalty box after the Brig defence failed to clear the ball following an initial shot by Ahmed.
Brig tried their best to retake the lead and shortly after hitting the bar from a free kick Allen played the ball for Barkhuizen who was through on goal but just as he was about to pull the trigger he was foiled by a strong tackle from Trafford centre half Norris.
In the final third of the half Brig seemed to tire more than their opponents and in showed in the 74th minute when Trafford substitute Dillan Edmondson who had only been on the pitch a minute ran with the ball from the half way line to just outside the penalty area as defenders backed off him then coolly slotted the ball past Brig keeper Goodness Gospel Eze.
Brig were on the ropes now with the final knock out punch being delivered just before the start of three minutes of injury time when the visitors were awarded a penalty which David Worrall duly converted with a low shot which beat Stockport loanee Eze and secured an FA Cup giant-killing for the delighted Manchester outfit.