Report

BURSCOUGH BAG THE BRAGGING RIGHTS AS DIV 4 FAVOURITES MEET IN THE CUP

Sunday 21^st August: BAE Warton 1 (0) Vs. Burscough 2 (0)

Venue: Moor Park

Preston churches will have noticed a significant drop in attendances this week which can only mean one thing….the return of the LEP Sunday Football League. As always, the first game of the season is allocated to round one of the Syndicate Trust Cup, and BAE Warton played host to Burscough. With Bank Lane still being groomed for the opening league game, the fixtures fairy had arranged a last minute hop across town to Moor Park for this one.

BAE Warton have been busy in the close season, with several players coming and going. With all the excitement surrounding the new international signings it was no surprise that nearly 4 fans made their way to watch from the side lines. The new look side lined up as follows:

GK: Hall. Defence: Moran (Captain), Partington, Hamill, Austin.  Midfield: Slater, C.Gallagher, P. Wilson, James. Forwards: Marraffa, Gregan. Subs: Iacovelli, Flache.

Progressing  as runners up from the youth leagues, Burscough are hottly fancied in division four this season and looked wide eyed and bushy tailed at the start.  Richard Seed had tinkered with the BAE formation for the new season, with the top two goal scorers from last year moving into midfield.

From kick off, it was Warton who looked the more sprightly. Despite the knee length grass, plenty of fitness and passing drills over the summer looked to have paid off. It was not long before Guiseppe was given an opportunity to show his worth and perhaps should have found himself on the score sheet early on. But it was Mal who missed the opportunity of the half, knocking it over the open net from 2 yards. At the other end, the defence looked fairly strong and coped with all the Burscough had to offer in attack. Captain for the day, Pete Moran looked eager to get forward whenever he could and even managed a shot himself before the break. Despite all the chances at half time the scores were still level at 0-0.

With BAE targeting league success this season Seedy used the opportunity at half time to give the substitutes a chance to shine. Denis Flache replaced Gallagher in midfield and Marco Iacovelli joined fellow Italian Marraffa upfront.

Gallagher’s impact in the first half became more apparent in his absence at the start of the second. BAE looked more cumbersome and it was no real surprise when Burscough made them pay. On 55 minutes a scrappy clearance fell to the Burscough striker who could nothing but score. 0-1.

Conceding the goal seemed to kick start Warton into life and some of the stylish play from the first half returned. With ten minutes to run it looked like the time was ticking away for BAE, when Marco was rewarding for his determination. It was an opportunistic first time shot which zipped into the net. Excellent finish for the striker making his BAE Warton return following a few seasons in the Italian leagues.

With the game starting to look like it was heading into overtime, Burscough struck again to finish off the tie. Some disappointing defending from a corner was well punished by an unmarked Bursconian at the back post. Final score 1-2.

All in all not a bad start. We all know we’re not bothered about the cup but I don’t think that prevented any of us trying to win the game. We were by far the best team in the first half, but must be more clinical in front of goal. However if we play like that on Thursday it should be enough to see off the Typhoons at The Bank.

It’s great to back playing footy on a Sunday, it’s easy to forget all the good things that come with it. Here are some of the highlights:

2 Good :

• Guiseppe arrives as if he’s going to Milan fashion week. Red shoes, a Ferrari T-shirt and no doubt Armani sunglasses, there was no guessing who the Italians in the side were.
•  Marco celebrating a goal in the only way he knows how….GOOAAAALAZIO!!
• Bastardo! Marco avoids the ref’s attention with some continental swearing.

2 Bad:

• CG is poleaxed by a ball straight in the crown jewels at short distance
• Sporting behaviour from Ash sees him half volley a drop ball straight into the Oppo’s chops at close range.
• Burscough player booked for shouting at BAE Dog.

Finally, new for this season:

Wilson’s washroom review: 2/5 “good facilities but cold water”

Photos

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