Happy New Year for Burscough as they beat Bamber Bridge

Jan 3 2013 by Our Correspondent, Ormskirk Advertiser

BURSCOUGH kicked off 2013 with a fully deserved 1-0 home win against Bamber Bridge.

Liam Caddick grabbed the only goal of the game, to cap off his own excellent individual performance, on 62 minutes when he slammed home from 12 yards.

In a scrappy first half, it was the visitors that created the first real opening; Gregg Johnstone was put through on goal and smacked the bar on 13 minutes.

This seemed to wake up Burscough and they began to press Brigg and after good work from Liam Caddick down the left, Darren Brookfield found himself in space and curled an effort just wide from distance.

Caddick was at the forefront of all of Burscough’s early opportunities and showed his class again when he flashed a teasing low ball across the face of goal after ghosting past the Brigg defence. The tricky forward looked like he would be the one to break the deadlock on 28 minutes but for a fantastic block as he went to pull the trigger.

Brigg were by no means out of the game and gave the home side a timely reminder when Phil Quirk’s mistimed back pass played in Alastair Waddecar who cut in side and shot straight at Horn.

Burscough though, should have gone in at half time a goal up and will feel unlucky not to. Paul Williams delivered a great cross from the right hand side and Niall Cummins was only inches away from turning it home.

The Linnets came flying out of the traps in the second half and thought they’d taken the lead on 51 minutes when Will Jones held off his man, turned and stabbed home, only to be denied by the referee who blew for a foul.

After constant pressure though, Burscough did break the deadlock 11 minutes later and it was star man Caddick who picked up a knock down from Jones on the edge of the box, worked a yard of space and drilled home and unstoppable shot past Dovey at the near post.

Brigg pressed for an equaliser throughout the second half but for all their possession, weren’t able to break down stout Linnets defending with Joe Camozzi putting in a heroic shift, seemingly getting in the way of everything.

The game wasn’t won for Burscough though and they had chances to extend their lead but David Lynch and Paul Williams weren’t able to convert their opportunities.

It looked like Brigg may have stolen the cruellest of points in the 92nd minute when Waddecar capitalised on a loose ball and his shot forced Horn into action but it was the Linnets who took a well-deserved home win.