Linnets refuse to lie down as Town are dragged back
BURSCOUGH left the Victoria Park pitch on Saturday to a standing ovation.
Dave Sutton’s team deserved their plaudits after a spirited fight back against the promotion chasers from the Potteries.
The Linnets were perhaps a bit fortunate to only be a goal down at the interval but they took full advantage of that by producing a second-half show that was a mirror image of the first-half, grasping victory with an 86th minute goal from Alex Parkes.
This after Sutton had asked his players to have a good look at themselves during the break.
There was no question that Hanley had been the better team during the first-half and they were buoyed by taking the lead after only six minutes via their captain, Theo Stair.
Burscough, who were without regulars Neil Hulme and Josh Dunroe, hadn’t played a game since they unluckily went down 2-1 to a last minute goal at Irlam on January 13 and they took time to get going.
Things could have got much worse for Burscough had Neville Thompson not hit the crossbar with a 20th minute penalty and Burscough goalkeeper Josh Samberg not saved the Linnets on a few occasions.
The Linnets were simply a different team in the second-half and could easily have levelled matters before they did via Chad Whyte in the 55th minute.
Burscough continued to keep the pressure on Hanley who had goalkeeper Dane Jackson at his best, Peter Henerty and Danny Brady being unlucky not to find the net, Henerty in particular being left to curse the form of Jackson.
Hanley were still a danger though and but for a brave block by Rex KimonaPuissance they would surely have restored their lead.
The Burscough winner came four minutes from time, Terry Cummings made one of his trademark runs at the heart of the opposition defence putting the defenders on the back foot, he was tripped and referee Ian Gittins awarded a penalty.
Alex Parkes stepped up to do the honours and Burscough had captured three valuable points.
The win was important for the Linnets. It maintains Burscough’s position in 17th in the North-West Counties Premier Division table and significantly fends off the chasing pack behind them.
Speaking after the match manager Dave Sutton was a happy man, he initially spoke of the first-half performance which he described as poor before adding: “In hindsight though, much of that was maybe down the fact that we hadn’t played for three weeks because of postponements. They (Hanley) had played in midweek and were at match sharpness from the off.”
“We had a good talk at half-time and I asked the players to make a special effort when they went out again, pointing out how important it was to win, their reaction was brilliant.
“We only have a small squad of players here but they certainly work well for each other and I can only thank them for what they did. They are probably the best team we have played this season; we were that good in the second-half.”