Lapses in concentration costly for Liversedge

Liversedge were left to rue lapses in concentration as they slipped to a home defeat on Boxing Day.

After falling two goals behind after only 15 minutes Liversedge drew level before the visitors pulled clear after the break.

Sedge trailed after just two minutes when they lost the ball on the edge of their area and Brighouse’s Tom Matthews drew goalkeeper James Waggett and neatly lifted the ball into the net.

Within two minutes Darryl Leach saw a powerful header from a Nathan Cartman free-kick hacked off the line while five minutes later a Leach header smacked the crossbar before being cleared.

Brighouse doubled the lead after 15 minutes as a Liversedge clearance fell to Luke Gibson who produced a tremendous finish.

Liversedge deservedly pulled a goal back when a Cartman corner after 25 minutes was flicked on by Dave Bordman and Leach turned the ball home.

Bordman saw an effort disallowed for offside after half an hour but a couple of minutes before the break Liversedge were level when a Bordman strike found the net after a wicked deflection.

It was no more than Liversedge deserved but another lapse of concentration in the first minute of the second half saw them behind as Matthews fired home his second.

The hosts continued to press and went close after 54 minutes as a Jamie Wasley throw in was flicked on and Cartman sent a volley just wide.

Midway through the second half referee Alan Hill pulled up with a hamstring injury. Steven Berry took over in the middle with local official Craig Frost, who was in the crowd, taking over to run the line.

The game was stopped for 10 minutes and straight from the re-start Liversedge were made to pay for poor concentration as Gibson darted into the area and produced a cool finish to make it 4-2.

Andy Markham, who re-signed just before Christmas, Danny Cooper and Scott Driscoll replaced Cory Larkin, Damien Hopkins and Jerome White with 20 minutes left as Liversedge pressed but without reward.

Two minutes into injury-time Brighouse capped the derby triumph when Danny Naidole broke clear and rounded Waggett before firing home.

Liversedge: Waggett, Larkin (Cooper 72min), White (Driscoll 72mins), Hanney, Leach, Hopkins (Markham 72mins), Wasley, Hurtley, Bordman, Cartman, Hallam. Sub not used : Knight