Linnets the Maine men
BURSCOUGH took a huge step towards safety in the NorthWest Counties Premier Division on Saturday, their hard fought win in Manchester moving them up to 16th position in the table and significantly four points out of the relegation zone.
They still have to win more games to ensure their place in the league next season, but they now have a live chance of doing so.
Manager Dave Sutton made just one change to the team that lost at Abbey Hey last week, Jason Dunroe returning to the midfield after a suspension, though they were still without Alex Parkes who is suffering from a hamstring injury.
They were also boosted by the news that defender Rex Kimona-Puissance had declared himself fit after last week’s injury.
Burscough struck early. In the fifth minute a Maine Road attack broke down and Burscough counter attacked quickly, Terry Cummings tapping the ball home as the home defence were caught out.
It only took the hosts six minutes to equalise, Jamie Ormrod scoring.
It was an open first-half, as both teams needed to win it made the play intense.
In the 17th minute Burscough’s top scorer Chad Whyte restored their lead, the Linnets number nine creating an angle before firing home his 11th league goal in a Burscough shirt.
Soon it was 3-1 to Burscough with a 25th minute goal, this time Cummings was the creator, his cross setting up Peter Henerty who finished tidily.
Maine Road had to push forward and they finished an exciting first-half with a goal from Sean Cookson.
The second-half saw Burscough forced to defend and they did it well, allowing Maine Road very little at all in the way of chances. Burscough had chances but didn’t convert them, keeping the drama going until the final whistle.
The win puts Burscough on 32 points from 31 games, back in October when things weren’t going well for Burscough they were bottom of the table on a big minus points to games figure. On form they are on course to achieve safety, but they cannot rest easily yet.
Manager Dave Sutton said after the match;”The win has given everybody a lift at a crucial stage of the season, we now have to build on it.”