Bacup sign off with Pool pain
NORTH WEST COUNTIES DIVISION ONE BACUP BOROUGH ........... 1 CITY OF LIVERPOOL ..... 2 SHELDAN KEAY ACUP Borough suffered defeat in their final game of the season after they were narrowly beaten at home to City of Liverpool.
It means the curtain has now come down on what has been a frustratingly disappointing season for Bacup, who failed to build on reaching last year’s playoff final.
If the past few weeks are anything to go by though, then there is a promising future for Brent Peters’ young side.
Arriving in town were newly-formed City of Liverpool, who in their first season have secured a play-off spot, reached the Macron League Challenge Cup Final and were winners of the Reusch First Division Cup.
If this was not daunting enough they are also the division’s highest scorers with 119 league goals, in contrast to Bacup who since the end of March have really struggled to get out a balanced side in most games due to a crippling injury list.
Ahead of this game manager Peters only had one recognised defender to go with in captain Adrian Bellamy, so due to the circumstances, injuries, suspensions and unavailability Bacup can take a lot of heart from their contribution in this game against a very good, well-organised team.
BCity of Liverpool brought with them a large following and whenever the Liverpool side attacked and a player went down anywhere near the penalty area their vocal fans would appeal for a penalty, but thankfully the referee in charge was not going to be intimidated by a large crowd with their appeals falling on deaf ears.
Midway through the first half, makeshift defender Jordan Rutter failed to listen to the shout from his keeper Louis McCarthy, and for this Rutter paid the price as a high challenge on this occasion resulted in a penalty, which was converted and was a blow to Bacup as they were giving Liverpool as much as they got during the early stages.
Bacup pushed for an equaliser, and with halftime approaching, Matty Bryan pushed the ball past the Liverpool keeper only to be taken out and another penalty was awarded.
Rio Wilson-Heys stepped up to take, shooting the ball low to their keeper’s right, who saved by pushing the ball out.
Bacup reacted by getting the rebound on target once again but a terrific save prevented a half-time equaliser.
The visitors managed to double their lead in the second half when Bacup’s defence appeared to be quite static, resulting in a simple finish for the Liverpool striker to make it 2-0.
Liverpool’s two-goal ●● Adrian Bellamy was Brent Peters’ only recognised defender cushion seemed like it was enough but Bacup’s Wilson Heys had different ideas when he got on the ball midway into the opposition half before catching their goalkeeper seemingly off his guard to score just inside the post.
Scoring at this time certainly lifted the belief in the Bacup players which resulted in constant Bacup attacks, something which silenced the large following from Liverpool.
The nearest Bacup came to an equaliser was when substitute Darryl Lloyd chased a loose ball before being brought down in what looked a stonewall penalty. The referee agreed it was a foul but outside the area, with the resulting free-kick coming to nothing.