Millom 1 Burscough Richmond 3

Nov 22 2012 by Our Correspondent, Ormskirk Advertiser

BOTTOM placed Millom, whom Richmond had beaten at home 6-0, made the visitors battle for the three points in this West Lancs First Division match at the western end of the Lake District.

Richmond, who set off at a blistering pace on a heavy pitch, put pressure on the home defence in the opening encounters.

Anthony Murt, back from suspension, was given a good ball by fellow striker Michael Mason and crossed for Ian McKinty, who rushed his shot and fired well over.

A minute later, Mason brought a good save out of the Millom keeper. Then Jimmy Moore in the Richmond nets had to be on his mettle to keep out the Millom strikers Walters and Edmonton.

With most of the play going Richmond's way in the early stages, they were rewarded with a lethal finish by Mason, who rammed the ball past the hosts’ keeper Hanna after 30 minutes.

Several more efforts rained in but Hanna was having a good game. He denied Mason a second after good work by Mike Clandon and Murt.

Then Moore, who had been a spectator for a fair potion of the first-half, was called upon to make one of the finest saves seen at this level from Edmonton’s header.

At the other end, Hanna made a double stop to keep the score 1-0 at half-time.

And Millom were level soon after the restart thanks to a defensive mix-up, Towler collecting a loose ball and tucking it under Moore.

Richmond started to try to force the play but the heavy pitch was having an effect.

Eventually, Murt unleashed a super strike that Hanna could only watch fly into the back of the net on 80 minutes. And five minutes later, man-of-the-match Mason was on the end of a Murt cross to head home the third and final goal.

Millom thought they had a way back into the game when referee Mr Leslie awarded the hosts a late penalty, but Walters’ kick was blasted high and wide.

It was a lesson for Richmond not underestimate the opposition.

Manager Chris Clandon said: “It was not as straightforward as the league table would have suggested. Millom battled hard for their manager and to their great credit never gave up. In possession terms it was probably 80/20 but unless you put your chances away any team in this division will keep coming at you. The pitch was heavy and had an effect but despite Millom’s hard work we deserved the points with some good displays by Taylor, McKinty, Jones and Mason.

“As much as we would like every week to be great scintillating football, conditions and opponents differ every week and we must be adaptable and dig out results when necessary.”

BURSCOUGH RICHMOND: Moore, Disley (O’Toole), Taylor, Clandon (Abbott), Caine, Jones (Hanson), McNabb, McKinty, Morton, Mason, Murt.