It’s been coming
BURSCOUGH manager Dave Sutton declared: “It’s been coming for weeks!” – after his side had well and truly knocked South Yorkshire-based Armthorpe Welfare for six in the FA Vase second qualifying round.
One reason why Burscough have struggled to get going this season is a failure to score goals after dominating games. On Saturday, however, the Linnets were on fire in front of goal and in truth it could easily have been a lot more.
The game took 10 minutes to get going, then Burscough took the lead in the 21st minute. A neat move originating on the right between Prince Ekpolo and Lee Healey saw the ball delivered straight into the path of Peter Henerty who was cutting in from the left; from an angle he sent the ball past Armthorpe goalkeeper Adam Stevens.
In the 27th minute it was 2-0. Ekpolo headed the ball down and Stevens could only parry it, Healey stepping up to provide the finish from close range.
The momentum was now firmly in Burscough’s favour. It is a while since they have led by two goals and they revelled in the luxury, playing some football that was excellent on the eye, as well as incisive.
On 33 minutes only the swift action of keeper Stevens kept out Liam Diggle after a ball over the top then Diggle put a header wide after Adam Gilchrist set him up.
But Burscough were good value for their interval lead and the crowd could look forward to some more after the interval.
Away keeper Stevens was to be a busy man again in the second half as Burscough pressed for a crucial third goal but they had to wait until the 71st minute. Terry Cummings, playing on the right side, twisted away from his marker and his cross was gratefully side-footed home by Henerty.
Although they hadn’t looked in any great danger of slipping up, the third goal seemed to release Burscough from a psychological hold, they became far more expansive and on 73 minutes Parkes scored the best goal of the game to make it 4-0, curling a sublime right-foot shot around Stevens and inside the post.
In the 79th minute Henerty could have shot himself in a hat-trick attempt, but instead unselfishly chose to square to Healey who easily made it five.
Cummings became the creator again on 84 minutes, his cross finding Adam Gilchrist and he made it 6-0 to Burscough.
It is the second time Burscough have beaten Armthorpe in cup action, the Linnets had returned from Yorkshire victorious in the 2006 FA Cup.
Burscough go to Gateshead to face Dunston UTS in the first round proper of the FA Vase on October 21.
Sutton said: “Someone was going to get this hammering, we have threatened it for weeks. At Widnes (last week) we should been two up before they scored. I think we might have turned a corner, I sincerely hope so.”
Burscough now look for their first Hallmark Security League win of the season at home to Irlam on Saturday, then at West Didsbury & Chorlton on Tuesday (7.45pm).