Powell bemused by double red
BURSCOUGH’S clash with 1874 Northwich was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch on Saturday.
Northwich have played just 15 games this season - a staggering 13 less than the Linnets - but sit five points and four places above Dave Sutton’s men.
Burscough themselves have now had three of their last five games postponed with two losses squeezed in between, meaning they haven’t registered a victory since the Boxing Day win over Squires Gate.
With plans for a new ground taking shape off the field, performances on the pitch will now be the main concern for Sutton and chairman Mike Swift.
At the beginning of the season, the chairman issued a statement which read: “The new season in our new league [after relegation] will not be dull, the football will be interesting and well worthy of a debate or two and we’ve new visiting supporters to entertain.”
While the football certainly has not been dull (the Linnets have kept just two clean sheets all season and concede over two goals a game on average) the points tally certainly has.
Burscough have lost more games than any side outside the bottom two. Barnton and Darwen are both hopelessly adriftbut with the new stadium now on the horizon, the next several games could prove crucial for Dave Sutton.
Linnets take on Hanley Town this weekend, who sit fifth, but Sutton will be hoping home advantage gives his team the advantage as they look to push away from danger.
With just eight points separating themselves and ninth place, a win would give Burscough the perfect momentum as they go into clashes with Abbey Hay and Maine Rd, who sit just two points above and two points below them respectively.
A failure to secure points in those fixtures will definitely have supporters debating whether survival is possible this season. SKELMERSDALE United’s winless run continued on Saturday as they drew 0-0 with Atherton Collieries.
Collieries finished the game with nine men after Darhyll Mason joined Neil Chappell in receiving his marching orders, but United captain Liam Hollett was also sent off for his involvement in the first-half’s main talking point.
The United skipper took a wayward touch on the heavy Prescot pitch and launched into a full-blooded tackle with Chappell.
Referee Ian Gittens arrived on the scene and immediately issued Hollett with his marching orders, but after a period of treatment for Chappell- who came off worse for wear- the referee produced red once more.
“Why he would send both men off I have no idea,” a bemused Skem boss Dave Powell said after the game.
“It’s usually one or the other, and it’s a bit strange really. That changed the dynamics a little bit and we couldn’t really get going again second half.
“They had the other man [Mason] dismissed for constant fouls and dissent to the ref, so I thought we’d come out and and move the ball a little quicker in the second half, which we did to be fair, but Colls’ defence and midfield worked their socks off.”
Powell also believe Gittens should have awarded his side three penalties.
“The lads have been tackled from behind with no contact with the ball and they’ve been too honest really.
“The referee has got to make that decision. He’s let the play go on but if they’re falling over the chance has gone. They never got any ball, for me a foul is a foul and it should have been a penalty.”
Powell could, however, see the positives as Skelmersdale picked up their second point in three games to keep themselves eight points from danger.
“Sometimes you just have to say Colls defenders were outstanding. We’ve got a clean sheet”.