Non-League: AFC Telford United 1, Burscough 0

Oct 8 2007 by Neil Leatherbarrow, Liverpool Daily Post

BURSCOUGH had by far the majority of the goalscoring opportunities in a hotly contested game at the new Bucks Head stadium, yet they still returned defeated.

The game had all the makings of a thriller as the two teams promoted from the UniBond Premier last season again vie for a play- off berth in the Blue Square North.

Burscough dominated the first 30 minutes, Chris Price, Ciaran Kilheeney and Alan Moogan all going close to finding the net.

But Robbie Booth came closest to scoring as he rifled a 10th-minute shot from 20 yards that beat home keeper Ryan Young but thudded against the foot of the post.

The Linnets lost midfield anchor man Dominic Morley in the 35th minute with a knee injury. This had the effect of allowing Telford to finally get into the game.

Kevin Leadbetter twice came close to giving Burscough the advantage before Telford scored what, in hindsight, was surprisingly the only goal of the game in the 62nd minute when Richard Teesdale headed a free-kick back across the Linnets goal to present Jimmy Turner with a close-range winner.

Before the final whistle Leadbetter twice, Price and Booth all threatened to salvage the game for Burscough.

Burscough manager Liam Watson lamented: "You cannot miss chances like we did against a team like Telford."