Burscough v AFC Liverpool, 9th August 2022

I had previously been a couple of times to Burscough's old place Victoria Park, just next door to the Community Ground. We had won in dramatic fashion earlier that calendar year with an Ollie Sanderson winner. Now known as Oliver Sanderson-Rigby, he had a new chant about his name being too long!

Before kick off I was about to ask Mr Chairman if he needed money the following Saturday for a new shirt. He jokingly cut me short at the money bit indicating the money would be very welcome indeed!And we got flying out of the traps. Within a couple of minutes Tom Douglas made a run at the Burscough defence from the right.  He set up Elliott Hughes who fired us into the lead. The talk on the terrace that first half especially amongst Steve Fraser and Chris Brooks turned to new chants. Elliot Hughes apparently had an Ian Rush look about him!
For most of the first half, the Reds were second best. Burscough were getting a lot of joy down their right with Rich Wincer deputising at left-back. They twice hit our woodwork and forced one particular important save from Jackie McGovern. Steve Fraser was convinced we would need to score three as they would be likely to score two.We weren't creating much on the break. Elliot Hughes had one effort easily saved by the keeper when the angle was not with him when played in the left-hand side of the box. 

On 40 minutes, we got what I thought was a lucky corner. When it was played in they initially cleared. It fell nicely for Kyle Schorah who extended our lead. As we walked round the pitch at half time a well known local non-league photographer indicated Kyle's goal should really be an own goal as his shot was going to be saved comfortably by the keeper, if it weren't for the deflection by a Burscough defender.Burscough had what was a talented but young team. In the early stages of the second half it was beginning to look like that the extra experience of some of our lads was going to be very crucial hopefully in seeing the job done.We had lost 6-0 at Trafford the previous Saturday in the FA Cup. With table-topping Barnoldswick Town were facing a midweek Cup Replay, we could sense our opportunity to go top after three games having won our previous two league games.As part of our game management, Midfielder and Club Captain Jay Howell came off the bench for Elliott Hughes. Not long after, a through ball found Kyle Schorah who ran in on goal, turned a couple of defenders, before slotting past the keeper. That was on 62 minutes.With 15 minutes to go Burscough got one back following a corner. I must admit at the time I thought it was only 10 minutes. Thankfully this goal did not herald a massive wobble from our lads.A brilliant Jay Howell beauty into the top corner restored our three goal advantage eight minutes later. A minute later another shot from Jay cruelly deflected off a defender to send the ball the opposite direction into the net from the diving Burscough Goalie. In the final minute Kyle Schorah completed the scoring to complete a hat-trick, assuming that first goal was not be taken from him.What a turnaround from a few days earlier in the FA Cup!

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