Burscough are fighting cup competitions this season on a few fronts and Saturday saw them confirm a quarter-final place in the Macron Cup which in reality is the North West Counties League Cup, it is a cup that Burscough have experience in, having reached the final a few years ago before losing out to Widnes at Fleetwood Town.
Burscough began the day as strong favourites against the First Division North team and by just after the half-hour mark they held a 2-0 lead, but they still managed to make hard work of the job, allowing the visitors to pull a goal back before only sealing the game up with a goal in added time to make it 3-1.
Blackpool started the day having moved up their division helped greatly by a ten game unbeaten run, and early on the brought a good save out of Linnets goalkeeper Goodness Gospel-Eze, while down the other end only a brave block prevented an early Burscough goal.
Burscough’s opener came after 21 minutes, it was that man Christian Mukoko who was the architect lifting an excellent ball in from the right where it was met by an equally fine header from Callum Laird.
The second found the net on 32 minutes, Steve Rigby who was celebrating his 100th appearance for Burscough sent in another of dangerous corners from the right and from a yard Kian Bell crashed in to head home and make it 2-0.
It all looked pretty comfortable for Burscough, but how wrong can you be?
Blackpool put themselves right back into the game on 67 minutes with a goal from Anthony Topolski.
It could have become more scary for the Linnets supporters as when the game entered added time only a superb save from Gospel-Eze retained the Burscough lead, the teenager showing the benefit of his weekday work with England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
Three minutes into time added on Burscough finally secured victory, Matty Hamilton getting the crucial third goal.
After the game in his post match interview with BFC TV on You Tube, Burscough manager David said “We were too passive first-half, but took our chances; we were a lot better in the second-half but missed at least six good chances. They were big strong physical with plenty of long throws; they are a good side but should have put the game to bed a lot earlier.”
The draw for the quarter-final of the Macron Cup was made on Saturday evening and Burscough have a home tie on Saturday 14th February when Cheadle Town will travel to the Community Ground.
Cheadle will pose difficult opposition, they beat Chadderton in the last round on Saturday and back in September they won 1-0 at Burscough in a league game, so they will be up for the game; however they won’t be overly pleased to have drawn Burscough as well, so it could be a good game.
If the Linnets progress an interesting semi-final or final could take place, Division One South side Telford Town are still in the competition, their manager Burscough legend Matt Boswell.
BY NEIL LEATHERBARROW
BURSCOUGH: Gospel-Eze, Rigby, Devine, Duff, Bell, Mukoko, Ready, Peterson, Laird, Turner Subs Hamilton, Salkeld, Johnson, Lawson, Palfrey
AFC BLACKPOOL: Faiers, McLoughlin, Hooper, Smith, Hey, Shaw, Topolski, Hammond, Sailor, Robinson, Hughes Subs Banks, Stanley, Bailey, Ahens, Adams
REFEREE: Archie Banks
ATTENDANCE: 77
