Burscough lose to Buxton 1-0 in UniBond Premier Division

Nov 26 2009 by Our Correspondent, Ormskirk Advertiser

All the latest reports from the Ormskirk and District Sunday Football LeagueBurscough lose to Buxton 1-0 in UniBond Premier Division

DEFENCES were on top at Victoria Park and with chances few and far between it was the Buxton blockade that held firmest.

Hence the three points go to Derbyshire and leave Burscough frustrated, not least because, Buxton’s 45th minute winner came from what was probably their only clear cut opportunity.

In such a tight game, a crucial moment might well have passed in the fifth minute. Darren Brookfield’s corner found Jay Connolly’s head, then via Cayne Hanley it dropped to Dave Roberts about six yards out, Roberts hit the ball so ferociously that it left the crossbar swaying after it smashed against it, Buxton keeper Scott Hartley not even seeing the ball. A great chance was gone, had it gone in, it could certainly be argued that Burscough’s fate might well have been completely different.

A fair assessment of the opening 44 minutes of the first-half would that Buxton had most of the possession, though, they did have the wind behind them, and Burscough created the most chances.

Buxton did have a penalty appeal turned away in the ninth minute after Ryan Bowen won a challenge with Kieran Lugsden, but it would have grossly unfair to Burscough if it had been given. The other scare for Burscough arriving in the 29th minute as Mark Reed put a header off target from a corner; however, neither situation caused any hearts to miss a beat.

From a Burscough perspective, their best chances were in the first-half. Roberts had hit the bar early on, it could be said Hanley had the two best openings, both set up by his devastating pace.

In the 27th minute, Matty Kay pushed the ball into the Buxton half and as Hanley was in his own half he was away, just on the edge of the 18 yard box, Hanley slotted the ball to Hartley’s left, but wide of the post. Then in the 38th in almost a carbon copy of the first break, Bowen put him through, this time Hanley’s shot was on target, but Hartley went low to his right and turned the ball for a corner.

As the game went into first-half added time it turned Buxton’s way. A long ball was headed behind Burscough’s defence; striker Gavin Knight went clear and showed Burscough how to finish, lifting the ball over Clancy as he left his line sending it into the net.