Linnets’ stay in Evo Stik League is over
BURSCOUGH exited the Evo-Stik (Northern Premier League) League after 17 years (plus two in National League North) with a hard fought but ultimately scrappy home defeat against opponents from East Lancashire.
It had been a fairly even first-half, but with few chances as good football was difficult on a dry bumpy surface at Victoria Park.
However, five minutes into the second period Ramsbottom took the lead.
Left-back Tom Murphy was put away down the left and his cross to the near-post was helped on by former Skelmersdale striker Max Hazeldine, presenting fellow striker Ryan Salmon with a simple tap-in from a couple of yards.
Both teams toiled for goals but both defences held out well until six minutes from the end when an error gave the experienced Salmon his second goal of the afternoon.
Burscough took a throw-in on the right, level with their own penalty area and the ball was thrown to goalkeeper Ben Morrow, not being able to handle the ball he went to kick it and it took a terrible bounce on the dreadful surface.
Salmon charged the ball down and bundled it over the line to make it 2-0. It probably said a lot about the way Burscough’s season has gone.
Next season Burscough will play in the NorthWest Counties League for the first time since the 20th century.
BURSCOUGH: Morrow, Jackson, Ashburner, Richards, Hill, O’Reilly, Bannister ©, Donaldson, Gilchrist, Milne, Nicholson Josh Subs Smith P., Smith E., Maddon, Ellis, Davies
RAMSBOTTOM UNITED: Fearon, Jarrett, Murphy, Roscoe, Thompson, Linwood, Rother, Stott, Salmon, Hazeldine, Seddon © Subs Botham, Gaskell, Corcoran, Green Hardy Referee: Sam Mulhall Attendance: 55