Massive win as Linnets fight on

IT was a big day at Victoria Park on Saturday. Burscough needed to win their final home game of the season if they were to have a realistic chance of avoiding relegation from the North-West Counties Premier Division, the thing was the visitors from east Manchester also needed to win if they were to give themselves a relegation safety cushion, especially as they have only two league games remaining after the clash with Dave Sutton’s team.

It all made for a thrilling encounter and despite some obvious nerves, the two teams didn’t disappoint.

The opening period was close and it was clear that both teams were suffering from a little tension, they were wary of over committing to attack, and passes were made with the utmost care.

Burscough were perhaps the most adventurous and on 11 minutes Chad Whyte went close, rising above Abbey goalkeeper Ross Heywood, but he saw his header from a Danny Brady free-kick bounce just wide.

Burscough had a big scare on 22 minutes.

A corner from the right went to the near-post, where Burscough goalkeeper Josh Samberg was fouled; the ball ran to the far post and was tapped into the net.

The Linnets were left grateful that referee Peter Simm had spotted the pushing in the build-up.

In the 27th minute Burscough got the crucial opening goal and much of it was down to the determined attitude of forward Terry Cummings.

Whyte slipped him away down the left but the ball looked to be going for a goal-kick, however Cummings managed to reach the ball before the goal-line, he turned and rolled it into the penalty area, Whyte followed up and crashed the ball into the net from six yards to give the Linnets a 1-0 lead.

The game remained tight and goal scoring opportunities were very much at a premium, though the hosts probably held a marginal edge. Burscough went close on 41 minutes when Prince Ekpolo set up Whyte but the ball went wide.

A minute into added time before the interval, Burscough got a second goal - it was to prove crucial in the second-half. Cummings went away down the right and sent the ball to the far side of the penalty area, Expolo was sharpest and he was able to chest the ball into the net from around two yards out.

If somebody had said Burscough would be 2-0 up at the interval they would have taken it all day long.

For the first ten minutes after the restart Abbey Hey laid siege to the Burscough goal, no doubt very buoyed by a goal in the 46th minute. It was a strange move for the goal, a corner was driven in the from the right and an Abbey forward went for with an outstretched hand at the near-post, only he pulled his hand away at the last moment, the distraction created saw the ball go to the far post, from where Peter Watling had a simple tap-in to make it 2-1.

Abbey pushed forward and but for an excellent header by Brady, Watling might have headed home a second (equalising) goal.

Burscough recovered their composure and in the 55th minute Whyte was only kept out by a swift dash from his line by keeper Heywood.

Another bit of enterprise from Burscough brought about their third goal on the hour. A fairly innocuous ball ran into the corner of the penalty area and keeper Heywood went after it, as did Whyte, the keeper dropped the ball and tripped Whyte, a penalty was awarded and the ever reliable Alex Parkes made it 3-1 from the spot.

Burscough were in control but that changed in the 73rd minute.

A long clearance was helped on by Abbey substitute Adam Farrand, then strike partner Watling gave him the ball back and after a collision with Samberg the ball found its way into the net to make it 3-2.

From being all set to collect three valuable points the Linnets now had a nervous 17 minutes to navigate if they were to gather those points.

Abbey put the pressure on and generally Burscough defended well.

Rex Kimona-Puissance making one wonderful tackle to deny Ash Blake, then Samberg made a good save above his head from a powerful drive from Matt Cook dealing with the two most worrying moments.

Burscough were further boosted when they left the pitch at the end by discovering that the other two relegation rivals; AFC Liverpool and Maine Road had both dropped points.

Dave Sutton’s team had been the better team on the day, with perhaps Burscough’s forward strength tipping the balance their way.

They have games in hand on those around them but now face five away games, arguably they probably need to win two and maybe draw one if they are to finish out of the bottom four. It won’t be easy, but on this showing they can do it.