AFC Liverpool v Burscough, 9th October 2021

The previous week we lost 6-1 at Congleton Town. All goals had been in the second half and we had even shaded the first half. So hopefully there would be an improvement for the home match against Burscough.

Meanwhile at the upper echelons on the game, Liverpool FC had now introduced the new NFC technology for entry to Anfield. The season ticket I had been on the waiting list for 13 years prior to 2012 was now transferred to my brother. But he had transferred the Man City game to me and I was having difficulties accessing the ticket on Google pay. Prior to the Congleton game Chris Stirrup kindly had a little look at my phone. But he couldn't work out what was wrong. So I had to get to the ticket office early the next day to sort it out.

Fast forward a week and it was international week. The international week did raise the attendance slightly to 166. After I finished my turnstile duties there had already been a goal at both ends. As I had almost made it to the Crossender Road end, new Reds Keeper Harvey Passant had a nightmare of kicking the ball against an oncoming Burscough forward for it to ricochet into the net. Things then went from bad to worse!

Over the next 26 minutes we conceded 3 more, and there were another 3 or so efforts which were somehow kept out by keeper or woodwork. Oh and we also had Jon Croasdale sent off just minutes after coming on for Luke Stephens. For Jon it was one if them. He was showing his studs but he won the ball without injuring an opponent.

Just before half time their keeper spilled a shot and Callum Schorah slid in to make it 2-5. The goal was not a hint that we could about to build momentum. We were a man down and had just shipped 11 goals in two halves.

I was having conversations with other supporters about the need to recruit some new defenders. Unfortunately the step up was looking a step too far for some of them. By the way I included Lee McConchie in that category. The way he played in the second half showed I was wrong to include him. He came out in the second half bandaged after a  head injury, and he played with real courage. As well as the Croasdale substitution we also had Billy McCarthy subbed in that first half. In normal circumstances Lee would have gone off. We were very fortunate he soldiered on.

The second half began and we were suddenly competing better with just 10 men!  Any fears we were heading for our worst ever defeat were quickly dispelled. On the hour mark, new signing Declan Gallagher headed home from a corner! Surely it could not be game on could it?

Callum Schorah was playing out of his skin. Soon his endeavours earned him a great chance which saw him hit the post! But Callum was not to be denied on the 75th minute. After an initial effort was saved by the keeper, the ball came back to him and he slotted into an empty net.

It really was nearly one way traffic by the men in red. In between Callum's effort against the post and his goal, Rhys Hardacre drew a superb save. His effort was defo heading into the top corner.

But Burscough's game management did get better in the final 10 minutes. We hardly threatened. The visitors did finish off the game in injury time with us pushing forward. We sure showed character in that second half and a pride in the shirt. But like so many games so far that season, we had given  an opponent a head start.