Richmond promoted in stunning fashion

WELL it’s the morning after the night before and we’re still coming to terms with the fact that Burscough Richmond have gained promotion to the top tier of the West Lancashire Premier league, won the FA Lancashire Amateur Shield and for good measure received team of the month for April.

Not a bad haul for a team that virtually started from scratch at the beginning of the season.

And although the scoreline may suggest that the newly crowned Division One champions might have taken their foot off the gas, you couldn’t tell from Haslingden’s contribution to this game.

The North East Lancashire side wanted to finish on a high.

Richmond kicked off with slight breeze behind them on a playing surface that has held up throughout the season.

Credit to groundsman Dave Massam and his boys.

A long headed clearance from a Richmond defender found Jordan Lorde in space, the ball just to long, beating the striker by a pace or two just inside the penalty area in the first minute.

Jack Golding had an opportunity but shot high on ten minutes.

The Richmond striker, three minutes later made up for his earlier miss, finding Ryan Giller in space on the edge of the penalty area.

The classy midfielder lifted the ball with a side foot shot into the top corner of the net.

St. Mary’s goalkeeper Michael Pilkington could only watch as the ball settled into the back of the net, excellent finish to go one up.

The play went into a midfield mode leading to the second goal, the exception being a superb 40 yard diagonal ball from midfielder Mario Kramny, who found Lorde in space inside the visitors’ penalty area.

The Richmond striker rushed his shot firing just over the target.

Lorde was not to be denied a goal, leading into half time.

A massive kick from the Richmond goalkeeper Ben Barnes landed at the feet of the home side’s top striker, who gathered a difficult ball and somehow from an incredibly acute angle guided the ball into the back of the net to give Richmond a 2-0 lead.

Route one sometimes is the way, especially if the ball ends up in the back of the net.

That gave Lorde his 34th goal of the season, which manager Mike Clandon is certainly appreciative of.

Haslingden had given as good as they got, going close in time added on, it was Richmond’s half with two quality goals as referee Mr. Mallasand blew his whistle to bring the half to an end.

There were more goals in this match as St Mary’s resumned play and it wasn’t long in coming, Golding being the recipient of the third goal on 50 minutes.

A great assist by Nathan Martland, who’s inch perfect pass found the visitors’ defence wanting, setting up the diminutive striker to power his shot past goalkeeper Pilkington, just class attacking play from the home side that had the home crowd applauding.

Everything was coming together for the hosts in this game, it was all about outplaying their opposition as losing was out of the question, three points were needed for promotion.

The third goal had given the Burscough side an unassailable lead that the champions just couldn’t recover from.

It wasn’t the end of the scoring however.

Two minutes later Mario Kramny hits a powerful 35 yard daisy cutter that hammered into the back of the opposition’s net.

That goal and a commanding performance gave the big midfielder the man of the match award and deservedly so.

Substitutions were made in the latter part of the second half, Anthony Murt replaced Ash Disley, Peter Armitage replaced Golding and Saul Guffogg replaced captain Lee McNabb.

The fifth goal and the real icing on the cake came from the irreplaceable vice captain Chris Jones, who was ably assisted by substitute striker Armitage sending a great through ball, which outwitted the visitors’ defenders and goalkeeper.

The industrious midfielder left everyone in his wake to fire high into an empty net on 75 minutes, magnificent finish from one of Richmond’s longest serving players.

A couple more efforts close to full time, one from Lorde bringing a great save from Pilkington and a good chance for Armitage, who unfortunately lifted the ball over the the bar with a lobbed shot.

Referee Mr. Mallansand blew the final whistle with the appreciative crowd clapping and cheering at a quality performance by the home side, probably the best performance of the season with what was at stake.

The players shaking hands and hugging at what has been an incredible season.

Burscough Richmond are now after five years in Division One, a Premier League side.

We congratulate our opponents Haslingden St Mary’s on winning the First Division title.

Manager Mike Clandon is a proud man having been the architect of this season’s success, you can say two trophies in his first season isn’t bad.

Well done to all the players, the management team, Mike Cooney and Neil Swift.

And a special think you to everyone associated with the club, the committee, not forgetting our very generous sponsors and our wonderful tea lady Joyce.

The player of the year awards took place directly after the game, Scott Taylor the pivotal central defender winning the manager’s player of the year, players’ player being presented to John Anderson who’s roll at left-back is never lacking in quality. A short summer, then we go again. Come on you Yellows!