Dunn’s last match in charge of Burscough ends in victory over Hinckley

Oct 9 2008 by Our Correspondent, Ormskirk Advertiser

Hinckley 0-1 Burscough

FORMER Burscough manager Joe Dunn was happy after his third away success of the season, writes Neil Leatherbarrow

But little did he know it would be his last game in the Linnets hot seat.

The spirit within the Burscough youngsters had been obvious for all to see, the fact that Ryan Wade snatched a late winner being no fluke at all, after the Linnets matched their highflying hosts for the whole ninety minutes.

Burscough certainly had the latter in truckloads, outfighting the hosts for long periods.

James Olsen was only on the field for 17 minutes, but he played a valuable part on the day, his early enterprise setting the standard for his team-mates to follow, before he had to bow out with an injury. In his short stay he had a penalty turned down, would have broken through clear on goal but for a cynical tackle, then thumped a shot over the bar.

Hinckley are aiming for promotion and victory over the Linnets would have fired them into the Blue Square North play-off zone. So, it was no surprise when they turned the pressure onto Burscough. In the 18th minute there was a real scramble in the Burscough area, new signing from Halesowen Daryl Taylor created problems with a move down the right and found Callum Lloyd in the middle, Lloyd’s shot produced a fine response from Burscough keeper Aaron Grundy but the ball went into the air, as it dropped in the six yard box, Adam Webster used all his strength to hold off Ryan Bowen then overhead kicked an effort that went just over the bar.

Despite Hinckley’s attempts to break the deadlock, Burscough looked just as threatening at the other end. In the 27th minute Matt Parry went on a run down the right and pulled the ball back in to the box, only to find Tony Evans not getting a clean connection with the ball from a great position. Then a Brian Moogan free kick was knocked down to Chris Amadi, but his first time shot went wide.

Then home keeper Chris MacKenzie almost opened the scoring with a spectacular free-kick taken some twenty yards inside his own half, spotting Grundy off his line the former Peterborough keeper’s 70 plus yard shot going inches over the bar, and it was debatable as to whether Grundy would have reached it.

Burscough made a storming start to the second-half. Pinning the home team back for about ten minutes. Soon, Armstrong got forward and had a shot deflected wide after Amadi set him up, then Brian Moogan was kept out by Mackenzie after a shot from 20 yards.

In the 51st minute Amadi went close after MacKenzie fended away an Owen Roberts free-kick, before play switched and Grundy made a quality save from Hinckley danger man Lloyd.

Hinckley were reduced to ten men in the 80th minute. Platnauer had not looked comfortable all afternoon when he was attacked on the floor, and when Ryan Wade set off with the ball down the right Platnauer challenged late, arguably leaving referee Mr Smart no option other than to wave a yellow card, as Platnauer had earlier received a yellow for a similar foul on Matt Parry, he was sent to the dressing room.

Burscough took heart from their good fortune and continued to sweep forward; it was in one of these attacks that Burscough finally broke through with three minutes remaining. Owen Roberts swung the ball into the area from wide on the left, Wade received it with his back to goal, after swivelling his shot was parried by MacKenzie, Wade followed up and despite the attentions of Dominic Roma was able to force the ball over the line.