BURSCOUGH 2 LONGRIDGE TOWN 1
By Neil Leatherbarrow
Two teams that had got off to a good start to the season brought the closely fought game that was predicted for a Tuesday night crowd at the Community Ground and it looked a tough one too as Longridge took the lead on 16 minutes, however unbeaten Burscough are a confident outfit this time around and by half-time the Linnets held a 2-1 lead, an advantage that remained the same at the end, but by then Burscough could or should have had at least one more goal to boast about.
Burscough began the game with more of the play possession wise and in the 12th minute went really close, Callum Laird getting free on the left only to see his shot curl fractionally wide.
Four minutes later Longridge grabbed the lead after their first spell of sustained pressure on the Linnets goal, a corner from the left was lifted to the edge of then six yard box and striker Liam Atkinson who had scored an opening day hat-trick ran in from the 18 yard line losing his marker and powerfully heading home giving Burscough goalkeeper Ben Barnes no chance at all. On balance it was probably against the run of play, but a well rehearsed goal.
Burscough soon recovered and within four minutes should have levelled, Steve Rigby and Matt Hamilton combined, only a tremendous save from Longridge goalkeeper Ollie Bellizia retaining his sides lead.
Just after the half hour Burscough did equalise, right-back Harry Cannon-Noren likes to get forward and when he was put through on goal by Callum Laird he grasped the opportunity to register a goal, it won’t be his last this season either.
Sam Turner is another Linnet who has made a good start to the season and he got on the score sheet again, Will Lawson getting a major assist accreditation for his part in the build-up to the second Burscough goal just before the break.
Five minutes into the second period Laird was desperately unlucky not to make it 3-1, his initial effort was blocked by defender Maddox Banks, then his rebound was saved by keeper Bellizia.
Burscough were now having the lion’s share of possession as they searched for a third goal, Longridge chances became rare but Barnes did well with one on 55 minutes getting down well at his near-post to keep out Jack Anderton.
Lawson was denied a goal by the crossbar at the Railway End 12 minutes from the finish, with a good header from a corner, but by the end Burscough were good value for their victory and although the margin was the minimum one it probably should have been more.
BURSCOUGH: Barnes, Cannon-Noren, Rigby, Devine, Duff, Bell ©, Hamilton, Cushion, Laird, Lawson, Turner Subs High J., Shearwood, Mukoko, Wildman, Zorbas
LONGRIDGE TOWN: Bellizia, Marshall, Anderton, Trafford, Banks, Fletcher ©, Hewitt, High C., Atkinson, Van Wyk, Smith Subs Dainty, Edmundson, Johnson, Markland, McCann
REFEREE: John Thomson
Attendance: 132
