Cup final preparations pick up pace for Bacup
BACUP Borough enjoyed a 2-0 win against Atherton LR at the Brian Boys Stadium on Tuesday evening. Goals from Kyle Siddle and Lewis Byrne were enough to see off the challenge of Atherton who are still looking to seal promotion through the playoffs.
Borough came into the game off the back of a narrow 1-0 defeat at the weekend to Runcorn Town and were fully focused on putting on a display as they gear up for the final of the Edward Case Cup final which takes place on May 6th.
Brent Peters made several changes to the team that faced Runcorn at the weekend and gave valuable game time to Lewis North in goal and Connor Morris on the right hand side. On the bench, Peters had reinforcements in Ryan Siddle, Callum Hewitt and Alex Mellor.
As for the visitors, they were without their leading goalscorer Lewis Rawsthorn who is currently serving a suspension ahead of their play-off semi-final at the weekend, but it did give their manager David Jones the opportunity to play several of their fringe players.
Borough started the game on the front foot with Kyle Siddle playing an instrumental role with powerful runs into space down the left hand side. And within the first few minutes it was clear to see that the Atherton LR full back Benni Wilkinson would have his work cut out trying to contain Siddle.
The visitors did venture forward in the early exchanges with balls played into wide areas for Robinson-Murray and Alexander Moloney, but everytime they did so the Borough fullbacks Mason Fallon and Ben Langley were on hand to flush out the danger.
On eight minutes Borough took the lead through excellent build up play down the left hand side. Byrne was able to flick the ball into space for Siddle who made a driving run into the penalty area before being fouled by Wilkinson. Referee pointed to the spot and Siddle brushed himself down to net his sixteenth goal of the season. Excellent tally for a player who is improving with every game.
Borough continued to press forward in search of a second goal with Byrne being the main source of concern for Atherton LR. The quick feet and bursting runs into the channels from Byrne were causing issues for Owen Hooten and captain Connor Ikin at the back.
Peters side had further chances to increase their lead when SIddle brought out a fine save from Blake in the Atherton LR goal. And Malachi Clarke almost converted when a shot from Siddle went agonisingly close with Clarke attempting to make contact with an outstretched right foot.
David Jones’ team were causing problems for Borough on the counter attack, but it seemed that any joy they would have would come through a set piece. On several occasions they were able to deliver quality into the box for Luke Nicholls, but the courageous and solid defending from both Gareth Wager and Scott Johnston kept Borough’s lead intact.
In the second half Borough continued to press forward with excellent link up play through the middle. Michael Gervin and Ben Thompson were finding white shirts with ease and the fluency and purpose of their passing was creating spaces for Borough to exploit.
Peters made changes with Morris making way for Alex Mellor down the right, and Ryan Siddle being introduced at the back. Since his return to the squad several weeks ago Siddle has shown the same level of quality he possessed before that horrific leg break last season away at Atherton LR.
Borough kept up the pressure on the Atherton LR goal with Thompson firing a fantastic low shot from twenty-five yards out which deflected off the goalkeeper’s left hand post. A brilliant strike from the former Fleetwood Town midfielder who had been a constant thorn in the side all evening.
Both sides made further changes late on in the game, but it was Borough who would grab the second goal of the evening through Byrne.
A driving run down the right hand side involving Langley and Mellor found Byrne with an inside ball twenty yards from goal, and with the precision of a player bang in form he was able to pick out the bottom left hand corner giving the Atherton LR goalkeeper William Blake no chance. Byrne has now netted twenty-five goals for the season and is hoping to add to that tally with two more games remaining.
Boss Peters said: “That
was a very good team performance against a quality side. From the outset we looked to press forward especially in the wide areas. I thought that Kyle Siddle was tremendous all evening, and the workrate of Ben Thompson created problems for Atherton.”
“We now need to continue
with that workrate tomorrow evening against Shelley and then take it into the final with Euxton Villa. Places for the final squad are still up for grabs and the entire team needs to prove to me that they’re worthy of a shirt. The quick turnaround of the game with Shelley means that I’ll need to rotate some of the players. It’s a big game for Shelley in regards to relegation and fighting to stay in the league. Our lads will not be holding back I can assure you of that. We will look to finish the season on a high before preparing for the final.”