BURSCOUGH 1 FC ST HELENS 2
By Neil Leatherbarrow
Burscough suffered their first league defeat of the season on Saturday and in many ways they were trapped by the visitors from up the Rainford Bye Pass, Saints took a calculated chance by playing a strong press on Burscough that they knew would leave them vulnerable to being tired in the latter stages, Saints got into a 2-0 lead, as predicted Burscough finished strongly but the men in green could only generate one goal, much of that due to a top class performance by St. Helens goalkeeper Joe Mason.
Burscough started the game quite well, a long throw from Harry Cannon-Noren caused chaos in the Saints backline, as the ball bounced Tom Peterson lashed a shot at goal and only a brave blockprevented him from giving the men in green an eighth minute lead.
The visitors quick closing down game was strangling Burscough’s footballing style and in the defence they were well organised, it was one of those defenders that turned the game in St Helens favour on 14 minutes, a corner from the right was dropped on the far post, Linnets goalkeeper Goodness Gospel-Eze was briefly obstructed and away defender Michael Ibeto stooped to head the ball just inside the post to give his side a 1-0 lead.
St Helens had their tails up and their tactics were working, they won another corner on the right on 25 minutes, this time the ball was curled just under the crossbar, again Gospel-Eze was blocked getting only a weak fist to the ball which dropped in the six yard box and was turned into the net by Josh Briggs.
Two set piece goals down certainly set Burscough a mountain to climb but at the back of their minds was the thought that St Helens with their hardworking play were either extremely fit or would tire later in the game.
Matters tightened up towards the interval, Burscough were still well in the game and a goal would change everything.
Gradually as the second-half progressed Burscough got a stronger grip on the game, St Helens falling more and more back onto the defensive, it was clear now that they had taken the chance of getting in front and hanging on.
On the hour an excellent cross from the right saw Peterson at full stretch but former Burscough and Macclesfield goalkeeper Mason dived and saved.
On 67 minutes Burscough got a goal back and it was the highly promising 17 year old Christian Mukoko that got it, he had come on as substitute for Callum Laird ten minutes earlier, taking possession with his left foot just outside the penalty area he sent a right foot shot curling inside the far post, it was a goal from the moment the ball left his foot.
It became like “The Alamo” as play entered added time, a number of Burscough players maybe at fault for not finishing better but also a credit the St Helens defence and goalkeeper Mason who had a blinding game.
On 92 minutes one more chance to the Linnets, youngster Declan Wildman seemed to have rounded Mason, but somehow he reached back to agonisingly claw the ball off Wildman’s toe, it won his team the game.
St Helens are a good team and arrived at the Community Ground with a plan, it worked, just as they tired noticeably late on, most players only have so much petrol in the tank and many of their team were on empty. Burscough must finish better but it is early days yet and the Linnets are very much in the chase for honours in April.
BURSCOUGH: Gospel-Eze, Cannon-Noren, Bell, Devine, McCulloch ©, Duff, Hamilton, Sheen, Laird, Peterson, Rigby Subs Mukoko, Turner, Lawson, Palfrey, Wildman
FC ST HELENS: Mason, Hagan ©, Whittaker, Ibeto, Hill, Cuthbert, Murphy, Sharp, Barker, McNamara, Briggs Subs Orhenomare, Flight, Glennon, Ferry, Nicholson
REFEREE: Oliver Holland
ATTENDANCE: 142
