BURSCOUGH
2-1
LOWER BRECK
Burscough : Monks, McMahon, Falloh, Middlehurst, Carnell, Elms, Riding, Boydell, Boden, Pellegrini, Korneliussen
Subs : Canache, Barrow, Johnson, Brewster, Ball
Burscough have won their opening two North West Counties Premier Division games and what a difference it has made to the club. Manager Richard Brodie controversially made the move from local rivals Skelmersdale United in May and the whole outlook at the club is changed. They are well aware that only two league games have been played but they currently sit third in the table on
maximum points, a complete contrast to last season.
Making just one change from the team that won so convincingly at Prestwich on Saturday it was clear that the Linnets faced a difficult night; their opponents from up the road from Anfield football ground were going to be a tenacious lot and weren’t going to make anything easy for the men in green.
The opening twenty minutes saw two enterprising teams who were determined to win but at the same time give nothing away and as a result clear cut chances in the first-half weren’t plentiful.
For Burscough Adam Boydell and Danny Boden made attempts from distance and Lower Breck had a couple of similar efforts themselves.
The game changed on 40 minutes and the goal was worth the wait, young Linnets midfielder Harry Middlehurst turned and unleashed a missile of a shot from more than 35 yards out, the ball swirling over Breck goalkeeper Theo Roberts to give Burscough the lead.
The advantage was however short lived, a poor bit of control gave the ball to Breck on the left side the ball was quickly laid across the Burscough penalty area and former Skelmersdale United man Conor Millington levelled matters confidently.
The interval scoreline of 1-1 was probably a fair one. The half had been one of differing styles Burscough playing an open footballing game that was stifled by a hard working Lower Breck.
BURSCOUGH
1-1
LOWER BRECK
Straight after the restart David Pellegrini put a shot wide of the target from 18 yards for Burscough but for a while Lower Breck pressed strongly.
Burscough suffered a blow on 56 minutes when full-back Dylan McMahon went off with an ankle injury and the visitors went on the take advantage, a host of other substitutions followed by both teams.
Lower Breck took the lead on 71 minutes and it came about because of pressure put on the stand-in right-back, a slip and Owen Jones sent the ball to the far post from where Conor Rankin had a simple tap in to make it 2-1 to his team.
For a while Burscough struggled but they always had a speed edge on the Lower Breck defence and Boden was fouled 20 yards from goal on 82 minutes, Will Riding lined up the free-kick and from the stand it was clear that Lower Breck had left a gap to the left side of their defensive wall, Riding spotted it too, accurately smashing the into the net just inside the post to equalise.
Burscough were now buoyant and three minutes later a flowing move brought about the winner, Lower Breck were pushing to restore their lead and lost the ball in the Linnets penalty area, the ball was helped on down the left side Delial Brewster set off down the left holding off two strong challenges on route for the goal line, he pulled the ball back across goal and substitute Alberto
Canache finished from six yards for the winner.
Burscough goalkeeper Charlie Monks saved at the second attempt from a thunderous Regan Jarrett shot on 87 minutes, then during the six and half minutes added time played Brewster headed away a dangerous looking free kick, but that really was the total of the Lower Breck fight back mainly due to some good defending by Burscough
BURSCOUGH
2-1
LOWER BRECK
After the match Manager Richard Brodie said: “I was pleased with that because although we didn’t play well we showed we can still fight hard for the win, it was another tick in the box by the players.”
#COYG
