Burscough 4-2 Cammell Laird

Nov 26 2009 by Our Correspondent, Ormskirk Advertiser

Burscough 4

Cammell Laird 2

A GREAT example of how to finish in front of goal by hat-trick hero Gary McEvatt put Burscough into the next round of the Unibond League Challenge Cup.

But it was not a game that was quite as easy as the scoreline suggests. The visitors grabbed a fourth minute lead, before equalising after the interval and looking likely winners for a period.

Lairds started the game like a whirlwind and had the ball in the Burscough after just four minutes. Ryan Wignall going down the left before pulling the ball back to the near-post area of the six yard box, striker Aaron Bowen lost his marker and with a first touch directed the ball smoothly past Kyle Clancy.

In the 36th and 41st minutes Burscough took control of the game, thanks to McEvatt’s first two goals. The first came after a Darren Brookfield corner was headed down to the far post by Ashton Bayliss, McEvatt stroking the ball home. The second was preceded by a hurdling run down the right by Lewis Field that was more akin to Cheltenham than Victoria Park, after evading at least two lunging tackles Field put a delightful ball low into the box, where McEvatt was able to sweep the ball home from a few yards.

Straight after the restart Burscough went close again, McEvatt made a good run down the right, but just as a pair of Linnets players looked like getting on the end of the ball, it was hacked clear.

Lairds then took charge and had a goal disallowed for offside in the 61st minute after Aaron Bowen and Rob Courtney combined. Finally the equaliser came in the 69th minute, though it is debatable what effect the weather had on the goal. After a throw-in on the left, Andrews was set up behind the Linnets defence, slotting home as he approached the goal from an angle.

The rain eased from the 70th minute and after 75 minutes Burscough retook the lead. The ball found Byers, who hoisted it into the goalmouth, Whiteside came out and collided with defender Stuart Jones, the ball fell to McEvatt who was able to walk the ball into the net, before wheeling away to celebrate his hat-trick.

Burscough finished the job off two minutes into added time. A well judged through ball from James McCulloch put substitute Tommy Taylor into the clear, as Whiteside left his line Taylor squared the ball to Brookfield, who had a simple task in finding the net.

This was not an easy win for Burscough, Lairds are a footballing side, who carried the game to Burscough, but thanks to a great performance from McEvatt and some solid defending, Andy Gray’s team were able to weather the storm and ran out deserved winners.

BURSCOUGH: Clancy, Field, Standley, McCulloch, Connolly (c), Bayliss, Brookfield, Roberts, Byers (Taylor, 87), McEvatt (Goulding, 87), Wilson Subs (not used) Kay, Parry, Bowen R.