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Home > Archive > 2006-07 Season > Match Reports > Burscough (16.01.07)

2006-2007 Season

Match Reports

Bamber Bridge 1 Burscough 3

Lancashire F.A. Challenge Trophy 3rd Round

at Irongate

Tuesday 16th January 2007

By Dave Rowland

Burscough coasted through to the Semi-Final of the Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy at the expense of a much weakened Bamber Bridge side with a comfortable 3-1 at Irongate. The Linnets had the game sown up by half-time with all their three goals coming in the opening 30 minutes of the game. Bamber Bridge with their resources stretched to the limit, gave a good account of themselves despite the obvious gulf in class between the two sides and came more into the game during the second-half.

This tie had been delayed for seven days due to the Irongate Ground falling victim to the heavy rain last Tuesday. Bamber Bridge were hoping to continue the fine form which has seen the club lose just one game since Phil Entwistle took over the managerial reigns on New-Years-Day having won two and drawn one of the four games played. They were also keen to carry over the fine form which saw them successful at Gresley Rovers on Saturday.

The high-flying Linnets, currently placed fourth in the Premier Division table, were looking for a Semi-Final spot in the competition and must have felt confident of a good result following their superb win over their Conference neighbours Southport in the Second Round. Southport, led by current Burscough boss Liam Watson, won the competition last season when beating Lancaster City in the Final at the County Ground. Burscough without a game on Saturday, were on a good run having won five and drawn one of their last six outings in league and cup.

Brig boss Phil Entwistle was forced to make four changes to his winning line-up at the weekend with Paul Lloyd and Jon Smith cup-tied and Allan Fleming and Ryan Salmon suffering from a bout of food poisoning. Chris Gallagher stepped up from the Lancashire League side to make his debut in the heart of the defence replacing Fleming whilst in mid-field Mike Fletcher and Tom Ince replaced Lloyd and Smith. Jimmy King was brought out of retirement to replace Salmon.

The visitors got into their stride first and went ahead in the 8th minute when Ciaran Kileeny found Dave Roberts in space and the striker tucked his shot past Brig goalkeeper David Newnes from close in. There was more than a hint of off-side about the goal but it was allowed to stand despite the home players justifiable protestations.

However, Burscough were streets ahead of their gallant First Division opponents and played with great authority. A Neil Fitzhenry blockbuster zipped past Newnes left hand post after 15 minutes and three minutes later the visitors were two goals to the good.

A Robbie Booth corner-kick was headed home at the near post by full-back Michael Tomlinson and you felt that the game was already beyond Bamber Bridge even at this early stage.

Whilst Brig chased shadows the Linnets put together some fine one-touch combinations of real quality as they moved freely about the park. An enterprising run from deep in midfield by Booth took him through the Brig defence but he let himself down with a woeful finish that lacked power.

Brig were now being ripped apart and almost fell further behind when Roberts fired agonisingly wide after another sweeping Burscough move.

However, at the other end, a mistake by Ryan Bowen let in Alex Porter on the right of goal but Linnets goalkeeper Tony McMillan was quick off his line to deny Brig’s leading marksman. It was the nearest that the home side came to scoring in the first-half of the game.

Just to emphasise their superiority the Linnets ran in a third on 26 minutes and it was a real strike of quality.

After a neat combination of passes out on the left Burscough captain Dominic Morley sent in a pin-point cross from distance and Roberts glanced a fine header beyond the reach of Newnes and into the far corner of the net.

As half-time approached Danny Mahoney tried to find Tom Ince at the back post with a long raking pass but McMillan quickly closed the Brig wingman down and the chance was gone.

To their credit the South Ribble side came out with great determination after the interval and Porter came close on 53 minutes powering a free-kick narrowly over the crossbar.

The game was more evenly balanced at this stage with Burscough appearing to have taken their foot off the pedal. The visitors still remained dangerous with winger Matty McGinn causing problems for the Brig defence with some probing runs down the left. At the back George Melling was outstanding for the home side and Tom Ince came close on 70 minutes after an enterprising move.

Former Burscough man Newnes was called upon to make a fine save with ten minutes left on the clock when acrobatically keeping out a McGinn free-kick taken from the edge of the penalty box.

Brig’s honest endeavour finally paid off with a deserved consolation goal in the 89th minute. Substitute Danny Yongo did the spade work and his pass found Edmeads on the edge of the Burscough 18-yard line. The young midfielder neatly set up Neil Spencer and the veteran striker ran on to make no mistake firing past the advancing McMillan.

Bamber Bridge: Newnes, Myers, Horn, Gallagher, Melling, Fletcher (Yongo 77mins), Ince, Mahoney (Edmeads 56mins), Spencer, Porter, King (Campbell 63mins)

Goals: Spencer (89 mins)

Attendance: 153