Linnets lacking in firepower
BURSCOUGH dropped another three points on their Saturday trip to East Lancashire and the reason is there for all to see.
In 17 league games they have scored just 12 goals, chances and openings were there but they just lack for attacking threat.
If they could find a goalscorer it would make all the difference to their perilous position in the North West Counties Premier Division table.
Padiham got one really good chance to score and took it.
Burscough started well and early on home goalkeeper Matty Holmes kept them out with a superb leap across his goal.
The move had started up the right side and the ball was put across goal by Conor Christiansen, Chris Lomax ran in and hit a powerful goal bound shot, that Holmes clawed away.
Padiham, who are managed by former Skelmersdale Championship winner Adam Morning, have struggled themseleves for goals this season and barring a cross that Dave Jones snatched from the feet of Luke Noble didn’t pose too much threat.
When half-time came along Burscough could say they had arguably looked the most likely to break the deadlock after a goalless opening 45 minutes. It looked promising.
Like the first-half, Burscough started the second-half well and Chris Lomax had an opportunity, but as Christiansen’s low cross came in from the right, he couldn’t get a telling connection with the goal at his mercy.
It was becoming a more entertaining match and Dominic Craig put in a weak shot that Linnets goalkeeper Dave Jones managed to hold onto.
On 57 minutes Padiham struck what was to prove the winner.
Craig latched onto a poor clearance that had come from a long ball down the middle, he then put the ball through the Burscough defence to an on the run Luke Noble.
As Jones left his line the six foot striker side-footed the ball past the keeper into the net.
It was a good finish and it was crucial to the outcome.
Burscough went on the attack and George Lomax was unlucky to see a shot deflected, however Burscough were now committed to attack and that left them vulnerable to a counterattack and on one occasion they were a bit lucky to see a raised flag save them from going two behind.
Christiansen lifted a free-kick just over the crossbar as Padiham were forced back onto the defensive, but Burscough were now finding it difficult to create opportunities against an entrenched home defence.
The one goal proved enough to defeat Burscough.
The lack of firepower almost certainly made a difference for the Linnets, if they had an experienced striker they would be in a lot healthier position in the league table.
PADIHAM: Holmes, Morton, Carson, Hancox, Lynch, McKenna, Dunroe, Walker, Noble, Ince, Craig © Subs McNamara, Harding, Morning, Morrison, Kangue BURSCOUGH: Jones, Presho, Edwards, Lightfoot, Horner, Weston, Christiansen ©, Ready, Lomax G., Martland, Lomax C. Subs Pope, Rawsthorne, Yeldrem, McGrath Attendance: 101