Linnets can mix it with the best
BURSCOUGH produced their best performance of the season as they earned a 1-1 draw with high-flying Charnock on Saturday.
Richard arrived at Victoria Park on the crest of a seven game unbeaten run which included a 9-1 thrashing of AFC Darwen, while Burscough were looking to recover after losing 3-2 at Padiham last Tuesday.
Terry Cummings, Luke Gibson, who was signed from Charnock, and Jamie Clark all went close for Burscough in the opening 20 minutes after the hosts fought off an opening salvo from the visitors, but Carl Grimshaw managed to lose his marker and nod home against the run of play after half-an-hour.
Charnock then set about showing why they stood 19 points clear of Burscough going into the game as they dominated play during the opening stages of the second half, but the home side defended resolutely.
After a nightmare start to the season, Burscough had won four of their last seven, after failing to register a league victory previously, and once more co-managers Dave Sutton and Nick Matthews had reason to be positive about their side’s survival chances.
With just over ten minutes remaining, Terry Cummings cut inside and rattled a shot against the far post. As the ball froze tantalisingly on the goal-line, Ben Maddocks reacted quickest and levelled the score for his side.
As the game reached its dying embers, Burscough netted once more. After a cluttered goalmouth scramble from a corner, the ball somehow ended up in the back of the Charnock net. As the home side turned to celebrate, however, referee Ian Walsh stood unmoved as he awarded a free kick for Richard. In the ensuing protests, Burscough’s Gibson received a booking for petulantly launching the ball against the floor in frustration.
Charnock had a glorious chance of their own to take home the three points as Grimshaw wasted a glorious opportunity for his second as he headed wide from close range. Chad Whyte then had his own moment to seal a win for the Linnets, but keeper Jordan Gidley produced a good stop.
This was quite clearly Burscough’s finest performance of the season as they proved, despite their lowly position in the table, they can trouble any side on their day, and co-manager Matthews commended Luke Gibson on his performance against his old club.
“When we signed him three weeks ago from Charnock they said he wasn’t good enough,” he said.
“He proved that comment completely wrong today, but the whole team deserve praise. It was an excellent team effort.”