Droylsden F.C.-The bloods on the net!

DROYLSDEN 3 – 1 BURSCOUGH

Blue Square North – Tuesday 20 January 2009

Report by Colin Donald

Dave Pace’s men will be relieved to have taken all three points from this game as Burscough were in danger of putting a dent in the Bloods play-off hopes.

Droylsden certainly started in positive mood when, in quick succession, Tony Gray made his intentions clear after heading just over the bar, followed by a 25 yard strike that Burscough keeper Steve Dickinson could only parry into the path of Jamie McGuire who forced a point blank save from the Linnets custodian.

Dickinson was on hand again saving Liam Brownhills near post strike and Sean Newton’s low drive after good work from McGuire who had broken free on the left.

After a shaky start Burscough came more into the game and as Droylsden broke out, Matthew Parry caught Steve Beck in possession just over the half way line but a combination of Colin Cryan and Craig Mawsons eventual smother thwarted the Burscough midfielder.

The Linnets then had a succession of corners to no avail but went closest on the 25th minute when Ryan Wades cross was headed by Michael Grogan but Mawson saved well. Peter Heler was prevented from firing home the loose ball after a timely tackle by Brownhill.

On 37 minutes Burscough Captain Brian Moogan was lucky to stay on the field and was shown yellow after a lunging tackle on Neil Prince as the Bloods frontman skipped past the initial challenge along the touchline.

The first half closed as Gray fired well over the bar to add to Droylsdens frustration.

After an even opening to the second half, Droylsden went ahead in controversial circumstances after 58 minutes.

After winning a corner on the right, Colin Cryan’s looping header was taken under the crossbar by Dickinson but, under pressure from Cryan and other players around him, released the ball which then appeared to cross the line from Cryans final touch.

The Burscough players surrounded Referee Greenwood but to no avail, as the goal stood.

6 minutes later Burscough were level when a free-kick from the left was controlled inside the area by Jordan Stepian who turned and fired past Mawson.

Just as Burscough were threatening to gain the upper hand, substitute Kevin Townson was introduced, followed soon after by Carl Lamb, changing the course of the game for the Bloods.

Townson , looking lively as in the previous game at Gainsborough, received the ball just inside the area after playing a one two with returning player, Ian Fitzpatrick, drilled a low hard shot but Dickinson managed to save with an outstretched leg.

Mawson returned the compliment when he parried away a 25 yard drive from Sean Clancy and minutes later Brownhill swept away a Craig Davies shot near the goal line.

Droylsden hit back immediately when Brownhills deep cross was fumbled by Dickinson, Fitzpatrick was on hand to square the ball back into the path of Townson who turned and half volleyed into the bottom corner to restore the lead.

The Bloods were on the ascendancy, exploiting the space Burscough were leaving as they strived for the equaliser.

On 86 minutes Townson rifled home a spectacular overhead kick after receiving the ball from Lamb, just inside the area, but the effort was ruled out for offside.

A minute later Lamb chased a lost cause toward the corner flag and managed to turn and cross for Townson whose angled header was just wide of the upright.

In injury time Droylsden killed off any hope of the Linnets getting back into the game when Newton made strides to the edge of the Burscough area and powered in a superb curling cross to the far post for Fitzpatrick to head home.

Although this was a below par performance from the Bloods, Burscough deserve credit and on this battling display, they could well stave off relegation come the end of the season.

Droylsden face a stern test when they entertain fellow play-off hopefuls Hinckley Utd this coming Saturday.

TEAMS

DROYLSDEN: Craig Mawson, Liam Brownhill, Sean Newton, Colin Cryan, Mike Byron, Neil Sorvel (Ian Fitzpatrick 62), Steve Beck, Jamie McGuire, Tony Gray (Carl Lamb 76), Neil Prince (Kevin Townson 70), Alex Brown

UNUSED SUBS: Lee Roche Steve Halford

BURSCOUGH: Steve Dickinson, Jonathan Goulding, Michael Grogan, Brian Moogan, Ged Brannan, Tony Evans, Matthew Parry, Sean Clancy, Jordan Stepien (Craig Davies 79), Ryan Wade, Peter Heler

UNUSED SUBS: Paul Shanley Josh Wilson Eddie Stamford

REFEREE - A.H.Greenwood (York)

ATTENDANCE 295