Brighouse break winless streak with triple-goal-treat

Last season Brighouse were the 'bad news bears' of the Orange and District Football Association’s over 35s competition, ending the 2018 season without a win and only one draw, a nil-all affair with club-mates Denley.

In 2019 the side has returned in C grade, sporting a new-look playing roster with a cadre from last season.

The winless streak looked set to continue after four rounds, but on Saturday the side claimed three points with a solid victory over Waratahs Eagles.

Brighouse burst out of the blocks in the first half with three goals.

The first came from a corner, with winger Roland Gruneis floating in a perfect ball, to be cleaned up by the feet of winger Hayden Trott, his first goal of the season.

The second came from a neat set of passes. Murray McCloskey, who only seconds earlier had slotted into the right midfield role, won the ball near halfway and delivered it to Vance Triming on the wing, who in turn crossed it into the path of striker Andrew Pansini, who clinically finished the move by putting the ball in the back of the Waratah’s net.

The third goal was another from the boot of Pansini but this time more opportunistic, after the keeper’s goal kick clearance misfired, the ball dropping at the feet of the Brighouse striker, who sent it back with interest, the ball glancing off the top right inside of the post.

It’s Pansini’s fifth goal in five matches.

Brighouse had a number of scoring opportunities in the second half but were content to go to the final whistle with a 3-0 victory and a clean sheet for keeper Chad Bliss.

Team manager McCloskey said putting Pansini into the striker role was paying dividends in every match. He also praised what he calls ‘the Cowra connection’ which played a major role in midfield, with centre-half Kristy Ford proving to be an important late-signing for the side.

Saturday’s clean sheet has been largely attributed to the solid back four who have been working together for the past five rounds, with centre backs Josh Towns and Jonno Barrie combining well with defenders Glenn Martin and Liam Dillon.