Burscough’s tough test for Charnock

CHARNOCK Richard started Saturday as one of the two teams who could deny Skelmersdale United their place in the play-offs – they had to win and both Burscough and Wythenshawe had to lose. To stand any chance they had to defeat a determined Burscough and that did not prove easy to achieve.

Initially the hosts went onto the attack and forced Burscough back, but Manager Paul Bowes men were not to yield, especially with goalkeeper Joe Mason and central defender Mitchell Kinsella in top form.

Brad Carsley put a shot wide early on then teenage keeper Mason parried away another effort. Just after the quarter hour mark Carsley put in a particularly powerful shot that smashed against the crossbar before be cleared.

Finally Burscough were forced to succumb on 19 minutes. Experienced striker Carl Grimshaw was threaded through the Burscough backline by

Ashley Young and fired past Mason from the edge of the penalty area.

Burscough started to establish themselves in the game and Charnock Richard could no longer push forward in numbers as Tom McNamara threatened them.

McNamara was only kept out by a Marcus Haydock scramble off the home goal line, then he put one over the bar that maybe could have brought an equaliser.

The game opened up after half-time although Charnock Richard needed the second goal to retain their hopes, Burscough were not going to end their season with a weak defeat.

Linnets Zach Conway went close with a header then Luke Denson nearly took a defenders head off with a vicious shot. Charnock were equally on the offensive too and Grimshaw came close to a second goal.