Devastation as Linnets lose out at the death

DESPITE dominating the early exchanges and taking a 16th minute lead, Burscough slipped to defeat at Silver Street on Saturday, the hosts’ winning goal arriving in the third of minute of added time leaving Burscough no time to put things right and to rue a number of missed chances in the first half hour.

Burscough weren’t just the best team for the opening half hour, they were dominant from the off.

Inside the first two minutes only an excellent intervention by home goalkeeper Lee White prevented Danny Brady from setting up an easy chance, the keeper going full-length to grab the ball.

The Burscough pressure continued. Off a Matt Ward cross Chad Whyte headed wide, then Luke Gibson did the same after consecutive corners, before a series of last ditch tackles kept Irlam afloat.

A scramble ensued after a Dylan Hodkinson cross then a Terry Cummings header was headed off the line.

When Burscough took the lead on 16 minutes it was a surprise to no one.

Cummings was the architect, storming past a home defender before crossing into the goalmouth, Hodkinson’s shot was saved by keeper White, but the ball ran to Chad Whyte who made no mistake from about four yards.

In the 25th minute Ward cut in from the left but his shot went just wide, then Ward put Chad Whyte in one on one with keeper White, but the custodian saved.

Significantly on 24 minutes Irlam made a change, Charlie Doyle exiting with an injury, Isaac Illidge replacing him.

On 31 minutes Illidge turned the game on its head.

Latching onto a loose ball some 25 yards from goal he turned and struck a vicious right-foot shot that went straight into the top corner of the net.

It was a stunner and completely against the run of play.

On 35 minutes Whyte headed on and Ward fired into the sidenetting, but the rest of the half belonged to Irlam, who were now buoyed by Illidge’s goal and in the 45th minute only a magnificent save by Burscough’s Josh Samberg prevented Irlam from taking the lead.

The rejuvenated Irlam came out on the offensive after the interval but Burscough held firm, though Illidge who stood out in the home midfield put a shot and a free-kick over the Linnets crossbar.

The game became lively in the last 15 minutes and until the end, play became very stretched as both teams were encouraged to go for a winner.

Twelve minutes from time, Burscough had a loud penalty appeal turned away after a foul on Whyte after Brady’s free-kick, then four minutes later, keeper White saved from Chad Whyte again.

On 88 minutes Samberg made an excellent save from Illidge, holding onto the ball as home forwards were poised to pounce, then Brady made a superb timed tackle to keep out Irlam’s Matt Boland.

Irlam scored the winner in the third minute of added time and just to make it doubly frustrating, it was controversial.

Rex KimonaPuissance clashed midway between the penalty area and halfway line and went down holding his head, Burscough briefly stopped but the ball ran to Jordan Icely who ran at goal, as he was closed down he squared the ball and Connor Martin tapped the ball home from close range.

It was around a minute and a half before the game kicked off again, such were Burscough’s protests, but really it was the old story of ‘play to the whistle’.