Milligan’s chance to avoid “nothing season” for Brig
Jamie Milligan admits his Bamber Bridge side have reached the point where “it could turn into a nothing season” after starting November with back-to-back defeats in the Northern Premier League.
The manager instead hopes his side will “stick together and somehow find a way to stay with the leading pack”.
Having followed their 2-0 home defeat to FC United of Manchester with Saturday's 2-1 reverse at bottom club Morpeth Town, Brig are 15th but only four points outside the top five.
Kofi Moore gave them the lead 11 minutes into the second half in Northumberland but two late strikes by Nicholas Ballado, his second seven minutes into added time, floored Brig.
"I thought first half we were useless,” Milligan said. “We didn’t build any tempo. I thought for the first 25 minutes of the second half, we created enough chances to win the game.
"We did improve, we got the goal and the it’s a set piece that we have conceded from and then they have scored in the last minute.
"We are at that point where it could turn into a nothing season or we could stick together and go again in a massive game tonight and somehow stay with the leading pack.”
Brig have a chance to put things right earlier than expected, with their home game against Gainsborough Trinity brought forward to this evening.
It had to be switched from Saturday due to Trinity's FA Trophy tie with Alfreton Town, leaving Brig facing a blank weekend before visiting Hednesford Town next Tuesday.
Fulwood Amateurs reward for their penalty shootout victory over Yarm & Eaglescliffe in the FA Vase is a trip to Droylsden in the third round.
Phil Blackwell’s men appeared to be heading out of the competition when they trailed 2-0 in the second round tie with 90 minutes up on the clock. However, remarkably they scored twice in stoppage time courtesy of Spencer Lucas, above, and Ben Jackson.
With the scores level, the tie went straight to the shootout where Fulwood prevailed.
Fulwood played Droylsden in a North West Counties First Division North encounter earlier this month.
The match proved to be a dramatic encounter with Amateurs winning 4-3. Burscough will head to Chadderton in the third round. The Linnets beat Ashton Town 3-1 to progress.
In the NWC Premier Division this evening, Longridge Town and Charnock Richard travel to Barnoldswick Town and Padiham respectively. Euxton Villa host AFC Liverpool.