Linnets undone by long ball

Nov 19 2007 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

IN a Blue Square North game of contrasting styles at the Valley Stadium, Burscough had to succumb to the long ball game of the home team and conceded three goals in the last 19 minutes.

The first half failed to develop into much of a spectacle and the highlight was giant striker Carl Heggs being denied by Burscough keeper Tony McMillan.

The second half was more eventful with Burscough’s Robbie Booth being kept out by a one-handed reaction save from home keeper Danny Lewis before his team opened the scoring in the 52nd minute, Matt McGinn pouncing to drill a volley into the bottom corner.

Redditch equalised in the 71st minute, Danny Spencer’s flick from a long ball presenting Heggs with an opportunity he could not miss.

Spencer gave Redditch the lead in the 75th minute, finishing well after James Johnson set him up with a ball from the right wing.

The goal that killed off the Linnets’ challenge arrived from an 85th-minute counter attack. Johnson and Chris Murphy worked the ball through to Heggs, who rounded McMillan.

REDDITCH UNITED: Lewis, Clarke, Edwards, Walker, Geohaghon, Softley (Deakin 68), Murphy, Downes, Heggs (Rea 86), Spencer, Johnson. Subs not used: Forinton, Taylor, Cowley.

BURSCOUGH: McMillan, Flynn, Clancy (Noone 75), Roberts, Kilbane, B Moogan, Booth, Price, Parry, Kilheeney, McGinn Subs not used: Smart, Dunn, C Robinson, Hibbert.

Referee: O Yates (Newcastle-under-Lyne).

Attendance: 361.