Linnets undone right at the end

BY NEIL LEATHERBARROW

BURSCOUGH looked like they were on course for three points at Victoria Park on Tuesday night.

They were 1-0 up thanks to a first-half Jordan Casey goal, they were fending off any moves the visitors made to equalise and if anything they were looking the most likely scorers.

Then as five minutes added time was announced they lost forward Yves Zama to an injury and because they had used all their substitutes they were reduced to ten men, the situation boosted Squires Gate who equalised three minutes into added time.

After a cagey start to the game matters burst into life in the eighth minute. Squires Gate leftback Jordan Salthouse missing the ball and putting Casey in on goal, the visitors were saved by a fine save at the number seven’s feet by goalkeeper Ben Fletcher.

Burscough were beginning to have the better of things by the 14th minute when Peter Henerty put a dipping volley just over the Squires Gate crossbar.

In the 27th minute Burscough took the lead, Henerty setting up Casey and he beat Fletcher from inside the box.

In the 36th minute Whyte set Will Doherty up but his thunderous shot was held onto by Fletcher.

In the opening three minutes after the break both teams went close. For Squires, Ryan Riley cut in from the left but Povey managed to push his shot for a corner.

Then on 48 minutes a Clark free-kick was met by a Whyte header that was helped over the crossbar by Fletcher.

So it went on, there were two evenly matched teams.

In the 59th minute there was action at both ends.

Zama was put away down the left, but his shot was charged down by Fletcher, the ball ran to Casey but his attempt was cleared. The ball went straight up the other end where Joe Booth shot over the crossbar.

Burscough suffered their second injury of the night on 68 minutes when Casey exited to be replaced by Don Eumessi, the first had been when Adam Owens was replaced by Zama.

Squires started to have a spell on the offensive but Burscough were generally holding them well, while looking dangerous on the counterattack.

One header going close from a corner before Brett Dawson had a shot saved at his near-post by Povey on 82 minutes with a rocket shot from 35 yards, but then things started to go wrong for Burscough.

Zama went down by the corner flag after a fairly innocuous piece of play, then the ten men of Burscough fell back onto the defensive, it proved fatal. Dean Boyd fought his way down the left and put the ball across the face of goal, Dean Ing forcing the ball home. BURSCOUGH: Povey, Grier, Clark, Brady ©, Gibson, Ekpolo, Casey (Eumessi, 68), Doherty (Ward, 56), Whyte, Henerty, Owens (Zama, 45) Subs (not used) Lorde, White