Nantwich Town 3
Burscough 4
League (NPL Premier Division)

Match Report

Nantwich Town 3 – 4 Burscough FC
Attendance: 203
Nantwich succumbed to their second 4-3 defeat in a week as Burscough took all three points at the Weaver Stadium on Tuesday.
Two goals from Mark Beesley and a goal each for Kevin Leadbetter and Will Jones secured the Linnets their first win of the season.
The Dabbers started the brighter of the two sides and should have taken an early lead through Ben Mills but the Nantwich striker put Michael Lennon’s cross just wide.
Burscough took the lead on 20 minutes after Leadbetter hammered Liam Blakeman’s flick on into Jonathon Brain’s left hand corner.
Nantwich almost equalised within a minute as Niall Maguire’s 25 yard half volley looked destined for the top corner only to be superbly saved Chris Thompson.
Jimmy Quinn’s men equalised just after the half hour mark when Sean Cooke glanced home Chris Flynn’s cross.
The West Lancs outfit restored their lead on the stroke of half time, Leadbetter’s deep cross was headed in by Beesley for his first of the night.
Things went from bad to worse for Nantwich just after half time, Will Jones capitalised on the Dabbers defensive frailties before rounding Brain to make it 3-1.
Again Nantwich had the chance to reduce the deficit after hard work from Michael Lennon, Sean Cooke could only place his effort straight at the goalkeeper.
On 66 minutes Burscough scored what turned out to be the winning goal, Darren Brookfield crossed for Beesley and the centre forward volleyed home leaving Brain with no chance.
The Dabbers reacted quickly though and pulled a goal back only a minute later, Cooke’s speculative 25 yard effort took a massive deflection and rolled into the bottom left hand corner of Thompson’s goal.
It was only a further minute before Nantwich reduced the deficit further, Lennon cut back for Mills who slotted in his sixth goal of the season.
Nantwich failed to find an equaliser though and only Jimmy Kelly’s 25 yard strike tested Thompson in the final 20 minutes.
DABBERS MAN OF THE MATCH: Sean Cooke (Two goals for the young midfielder who has made quite an impact at the Weaver Stadium, looked lively throughout causing multiple problems for the Burscough backline)
Nantwich: Brain, Lowe (Jack 57), Flynn, Maguire, Bailey, Moss, Cooke, Kelly ©, Mills, Lennon (Adaggio 76), Solojovos (Carter 57). Subs not used: Prince, Worrall
Burscough: Thompson, King, Crowder, Farley, Connolly ©, Holden, Brookfield, Blakeman (Quirk 77), Beesley, Jones, Leadbetter (Roberts) Subs not used: Ashton, Ellison

Referee: Gary Hilton
Assistants: Bob Richards and Michael Crushaul

Match report written by Ashley Houghton