Still struggling to earn their first point of the season, Brighouse arrived at Salendine Nook for a meeting with promotion-chasing Westend Tigers and again left empty-handed.
Brighouse were chasing the Under 16 Division 4B game from the fifth minute when Oliver Read broke on the left to fire home the opening goal for Westend.
And Brighouse’s problems’ doubled just five minutes later when Read was again allowed to break through the middle to chip the advancing keeper from the edge of the area (2-0).
Thankfully, Brighouse’s rearguard of Kieron Parnell, Aaron Faulkner, Jack Hopkins and Oscar Alderson got the message and closed the door to make sure Read was not allowed to repeat his trick a third time.
The home side continued to dominate play but, with Brighouse defending deeper, Westend found their opportunities limited.
Nathan Cyrus went close with a shot from all of 30 yards but the effort skimmed the top of the bar, and good build up play from Cyrus and Lewis Maynard set up a chance for Joe Anderson, but his hurried shot was wide of the mark.
Having stopped Westend’s early charge, Brighouse’s confidence was growing and Luke Sutcliffe could count himself unlucky when his powerful, goalbound shot was deflected inches wide of the target just before the break.
Brighouse started the second half in positive mood and should have scored when home keeper Marcus McGrath could only parry a Kyle Howell cross into Tom Hill’s path, but the midfielder’s snap shot from six yards flew agonizingly wide.
With the end of the game approaching, Brighouse were forced to push forward if they were to get anything from the game, but their efforts left them susceptible to the counter attack and Frankie Unwin almost took advantage with a powerful shot from 12 yards, but keeper Tom Creasy reacted quickly to turn the ball over the bar.
From the resulting corner, Howell and Hill set up a speedy break for the visitors but, once again, they were unable to find the net as Oliver Moore’s shot flew wide.
Brighouse’s last opportunity of the game fell to Howell, but his effort from the edge of the area drifted over the Westend bar.
Despite the home side’s overall dominance, defenders Faraz Ali, Joe Randerson and Cyrus had been forced to work hard throughout to keep Brighouse at bay.
The final chance for Westend to finish off any Brighouse hopes arrived from a corner with just a couple of minutes remaining, but keeper Creasy pulled off a fine stop to deny Peter Moran’s volley.
The win propels Westend into second place while Brighouse remain rooted to the foot of the division although, on this display, points won’t be long in arriving.
