Burscough bow out of FA Cup after 1-0 defeat at Buxton

Oct 2 2008 by Neil Leatherbarrow, Ormskirk Advertiser

Buxton...1

Burscough...0

BURSCOUGH made changes for Saturday's trip to Derbyshire, some enforced, but most in an effort to freshen up the team.

Sadly, and in spite of manager Joey Dunn’s best efforts, they still returned from The Silverlands with their FA Cup hopes dashed.

Perhaps even more significantly, accounting for the Linnets reported financial problems, they left Buxton without a £4,500 bonus for progressing in the competition.

The game itself had started with both teams looking to establish an early psychological advantage, hence, the opening period was one of switching play as each tried to set up swift counterattacks.

The problem was that it became increasingly obvious that neither team had the flair to open up the other’s defence to create a real goal scoring opportunity.

Burscough’s Mike Grogan, in the eighth minute, then Matt Parry, in the 12th, both shot wide from distance, then Tony Evans did likewise with a more spectacular effort from 30 yards in the 17th.

Buxton won a number of corners, only to find Linnets keeper Aaron Grundy at least the equal of any balls delivered into the middle. , ched off a strikers head.

Burscough’s best effort of the half was after a foul on the energetic Parry in the 23rd minute, James Olsen’s free-kick almost sneaking in over home keeper Scott Hartley, but he reached the ball stretching to his absolute limit.

If Evans had been a bit sharper just before the interval then he might have taken advantage of a slip by Hartley, as the keeper took two attempts to gather a low cross from Parry, but he pounced on the ball before Evans could get a foot to it.

Burscough started the second-half on the offensive and Evans was soon denied by the touch of a defender’s head after a free-kick from the right, the touch on the ball making it impossible for him to direct it accurately from the far post.

At the other end, Gregg Anderson had a shot bravely blocked by Ryan Bowen and as play quickly switched again, Allan Smart had a header saved by Hartley following Owen Roberts’ cross.

The crucial goal arrived in the 50th minute and credit must be given for the quality of its creation.

Buxton’s Reuben Wiggins-Thomas was allowed the space on the right to cut inside and after exchanging passes with Towey, he was clear of the Linnets defence at a slight angle.

Using his time well he paused and drove the ball across Grundy, low into the far corner.

The goal stunned Burscough and for a period the now buoyant home team set about killing the game off, but the Linnets defence, with Bowen at its hub, held firm.

Dunn introduced Ryan Wade and Dave Brookes and it coincided with Burscough looking more of an attacking force.

Wade’s 71st minute cross from the right found Smart’s head. However Hartley again thwarted him.

The game became a little heated in the later stages and Burscough’s Olsen, as he lost patience with Buxton holding the ball by the corner-flag, earned a second yellow and was dismissed.

In added time one last half chance came Burscough’s way, Smart knocking the ball down to Bowen, whose half-volley from 20 yards went inches over the bar.

Buxton: Hartley, Black, Maxfield (Smith 39), Lees, Anderson, O’Brien Griffiths 81), Wiggins-Thomas, Towey, James (Balfe 69), Turley, Agus. Subs not used: Brodie, Walker.Burscough: Grundy, Bowen, Roberts O., Armstrong , Roberts D., Grogan (Stanford 81), Parry, Olsen, Smart, Evans (Brookes 69), Clancy (Wade 69) Subs not used: McCulloch, Bowes.Referee: Nigel Murphy (Mansfield).Attendance: 442.