Burscough FC 0 Bury AFC 1

By Neil Leatherbarrow

A big turnout on Saturday were treated to a close game at the Community Ground as Burscough didn’t let their well supported visitors go home without knowing that they had been in a battle, although losing out to the only goal of the game the Linnets might even have grabbed a point but the Shakers goalkeeper Jack Atkinson pulled off a terrific penalty save to thwart their hopes. The game started fairly evenly, Bury’s Connor Comber having a shot blocked by a Linnets defender, while at the other end keeper Atkinson gathering a long ball at the second attempt under pressure from Burscough’s Xenon Bahula.

Lewis Willingham was having a busy time at the heart of the Linnets defence, heading clear a couple times, the latter from an excellent cross from the right side. For Bury number seven Sam Unwin was proving a handful with his pace on the right and on 14 minutes he won a free-kick just outside the penalty area, the left footed Jack Tinning lifted the ball to the far side of the home penalty area, where former Burscough centre-forward Niall Cummins steered the ball home with a good header to make it 1-0. 35 year old Manxman Cummins had been the mainstay of Burscough’s latter days in the Northern Premier League before playing in the National League North for many years and also starring for Marine against Tottenham in the FA Cup. At this period in many ways Burscough were causing themselves problems by giving too many silly free-kicks away and from another Tinning again almost set up a carbon copy goal only for goalkeeper Charlie Monks to save the day.

In the 24th minute Monks was at it again flinging himself to his right to finger tip away a shot from Charlie Doyle. Gradually Burscough got themselves going as an attacking force and in the 32nd minute gave Bury a right scare by hitting the post with keeper Atkinson nowhere near a save, Willingham getting on the end of a left wing corner and flicking a header on.

After going close again via Bahula, Burscough got a great chance to equalise just on half-time Nuno Silva Costa looked to be favourite to win a bouncing ball on the left of the penalty area but was clumsily charged by Bury right-back Matt Williams, it was an absolutely cast iron penalty, Eddie Servuts sending the spot kick to Atkinson’s left but credit to the goalkeeper for a superb diving save.

The first-half had been entertaining but the second period didn’t live up to the same level of expectation, possibly due to both managers getting their players to close the opposition down a lot more.

Comber forced a good palmed clearance out of Monks early on but down the other end a left-footed shot from Bahula brought a good diving save out of Atkinson.

Chances were few even though Burscough did their best to create some pressure on the Bury goal; it is fair to say that defences were on top in the second-half at both ends of the pitch.

Bury got their win and extended their unbeaten league run to 20 games, Burscough given a little not necessarily lots of luck could have grabbed a valuable point from a game that must leave them with a level of confidence of what they can achieve.

BURSCOUGH: Monks, Manouchehr, Fry, Boydell, Koehler, Willingham, Bahula, Amankwah, Servuts, Pellegrini, Silva Costa Subs Ruffer, Middlehurst, Mills, Monthe, McMillan

BURY AFC: Atkinson, Williams, Tinning, Rowney, Hunt, Denman, Unwin, Holt, Cummins, Doyle, Comber, Subs Smith, Gilboy, Kenny, Wharton, Higgins

REFEREE: Jacob Vierra

Attendance: 450