Northwich Victoria 2 Burscough 2

COMPETITION -North West Counties Premier Division.
DATE - Sunday 7th April 2019.
VENUE - Wincham Park, Northwich.

Referee - Tom Elliott.

LINE-UP’S -
Vics’ -
Taberner, Camozzi, Barski, Kenny, Fleming, Winder, Cooke (C), Whyte (Whittle 86’), Doran (Matthews H/T), Connolly (Brownhill 71’), Ennis.
Un-used subs’ - Darr, Fitzgerald.

No cards shown to any Vics’ players.

Burscough -
Fletcher, Parkes (Iddon 76’), Brady (C) (caution), White (Eumessi 86’), Doherty, Gibson, Cummings, Ekpolo, Whyte, Owens (Finlayson 78’), Lorde.
Un-used subs’ - Greer.

GOALS - Vics’ - Robert Doran 25’, Brandon Barski 32’.

Burscough - Terry Cummings 30’, Luke Gibson 90+2’.

The visiting Linnets’ started this game much the brighter in the warm spring sunshine and should have taken the lead in the second minute, Adam Owens got a clear sight of Daniel Taberner’s goal but could only snatch his right-foot shot wide of the far post from the edge of the box.
On 6’ Vics’ John Connolly fired a shot wide as Doran layed off to him well in the penalty area.
On 19’ there was another let-off for Vics’; the probing Terry Cummings sent a great cross in - and picked out Chad Whyte whose rising header hit the post and the ball bounced straight into a grateful Danny Taberners’ hands.
Vics’ took the lead soon after against the run of play somewhat, Rob Doran’s excellent diving header found the far bottom corner of the net from seven yards out. Jack Fleming had sent in a precise swerving cross from the left-hand side after a barnstorming run. The Linnets’ were undeterred though and equalised on the half hour; the prodigious Terry Cummings lobbed the onrushing Vics’ glove-man Danny Taberner from an angle around eighteen yards out after the Vics’ rearguard had pushed up for an offside flag thar never came. Jordan Lorde prominent in the build-up.
Vics’ didn’t let the goal rock them, and promptly re-gained the lead just two minutes later; game-star Brandon Barski glanced a header into the top right corner of the Linnets’ net from eight yards out from an inch-perfect John Connolly corner.
On 35’ Vics’ missed a golden chance to extend the lead when Brad Cooke split the Linnets’ defence with a slide-rule pass, Harvey Whyte initially lost the ball, but battled well to win it back and drove into the box, he was clean through but dithered it and the ex-Clitheroe centre-back made a tremendous tackle to deny him before he could pull the trigger and keeper’ Ben Fletcher retrived the loose ball.
Burscough were stung, but not down and out and continued to probe to try and again level the game up as the half drew to a close, a Paul Ennis sighter for Vics’ just clearing the bar before the H/T whistle blew.

HALF-TIME - Vics’ 2-1 Burscough.

Burscough came out firing again upon the resumption and on 49’ Taberner saved Vics’ with a fantastic save down low to his right, palming out a drilled shot from Prince Ekpolo and dived on top of the loose ball at the second attempt.
Vics’ responded on 51’; Ennis collected the ball in the box, producing some nifty footwork to get past Danny Brady and tried a snap-shot with with the outside of his foot from twelve yards. The keeper’ was struggling to get across but fortunately for him and his visiting Linnets’ team-mates the ball went just wide of the far upright.
On 65’ Vics’ should have sewn the game up, a long raking ball by Brandon Barski caught the Burscough defence out and Matthews raced through, He shot early from fourteen yards but the ball went just past the post with glove-man Fletcher sprawling.
Burscough wouldn’t go away and a jinking run by wide-man Jordan Lorde ended with him flashing a shot just wide from fifteen yards on a tight angle.
The Linnets’ kept plugging away and on 87’ hit-man Chad Whyte flashed a fizzing shot just wide after Terry Cummings had crafted an opening.
The game ticked into the additional three minutes of stoppage time and Vics’ three points looked secure but the Linnets’ were not to be denied on 90+2’ and earned a point that their efforts had deserved when Luke Gibson thumped home a header from eight yards under huge pressure from the Vics’ centre-backs and the points were shared in a thoroughly entertaining game.

FULL-TIME - Vics 2 -2 Burscough

Vics’ MOM - Brandon Barski. The usual unflapabble, unruffled performance from Mr.consistency at the heart of the Vics’ back-line. Cute in possession, and always an outlet for starting the attacks from the back. Another great headed goal to boot, too.

Vics’ boss Steve Wilkes’ post-match verdict on the draw -

"Im quite Disappointed with the overall performance and the fact we conceded in the last minute.
We weren’t quite at the races today despite the fact that we created enough chances throughout the game.
I think Burscough thoroughly deserved the point they got. They might think they deserved more. It looked like the 3 previous games in 5 days had finally caught up with some players, if I’m being honest.
We go again on Thursday night for the big Mid-Cheshire District F.A Challenge Cup Semi-Final.

Match report & interview by Jamie Dewsbury.

Up next for Vics’ is the Mid-Cheshire District F.A Challenge Cup Semi-Final at HOME on Thursday 11th April - K.O is at 19:45.
Usual league match admission prices apply but please note that Season Tickets do not.

Thanks go to The Red Alligator Group and S & I Hodgkin Ltd for their continued support in sponsoring this match.