Linnets luck out as Macc come to town

BURSCOUGH made a big effort on Saturday as they entertained North West Counties Premier League leaders Macclesfield.

However it could be said they were rather unlucky on the day – unlucky to go down by a four-goal margin and unlucky in that many of the expected large crowd didn’t materialise, probably down to the bad weather.

Macclesfield came out and had the early possession but a sound defence and home goalkeeper Joe Mason weathered that and in the space of two minutes Burscough might have taken the lead off Tom McNamara crosses.

In the 19th minute former Sheffield United and Southport star Mark Duffy was the first to really threaten Burscough with a free-kick that curved just over the crossbar.

In the 25th minute though Burscough went very close, a Chris Lomax corner found the head of Mitchell Kinsella and he could count himself unfortunate to see his header go inches off target, a goal for Burscough then might have made it a completely different game.

There might have been a goal each in the five minutes before half-time, first Macclesfield took the lead on 42 minutes, the experienced Neil Danns heading into the net off an excellent cross by James Berry from the left hand side.

Just as the half-time was expected Burscough won a free-kick and Danny Brady thundered a shot from 25 yards, it beat Macclesfield goalkeeper Dan Wallis but also the post, the latter by fractions of inches.

It was only in the last half hour of the game that Macclesfield got away from Burscough, beginning by making it 2-0 on 64 minutes and it took Danns a man with a massive amount of Football League experience to do it, smashing a 25 yard effort right into the top corner of the Burscough for a spectacular second goal.

Macclesfield lifted by the security their two goal lead allowed them pushed on for the kill and goals in 72 and 77 minutes did just that.

Berry notching up the third goal with a chip over keeper Mason, former Skelmersdale striker Andy Owens making it 4-0 after a precise long ball split the Burscough defence.

Macc were arguably rather flattered by the margin of success – if Burscough had taken one of those first half chances who knows what could have happened?

Mason, McNally, Fleming, Brady, Kinsella, Pollard ©, Sinnott, Williams, Lomax C., Quarless, McNamara Subs Denson,

Smith, Christiansen, Martland, Henarty

Wallis, Hanson, Grimshaw, Fensome, Jackson, Mendy ©, Pinto – Maleco, Danns, Clare, Duffy, Berry – McNally Subs Fofana, Adams, Freedman, Ashton, Owens

Lee Budworth

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