SPENNYMOOR TOWN v BURSCOUGH

FA Cup Second Qualifying Round

Expectation is high at the Brewery Field as Spennymoor, unbeaten in their eleven games so far, take on fellow NPL Division 1 North team Burscough. The Moors defeated last season’s NE cup heroes Blyth Spartans in Qualifying Round 1, so they hope to take on the mantle for this season but their biggest hurdle today may be that expectation.

The afternoon is pleasant for early autumn, and the pitch looks good, though not quite as green as Burscough’s strip as they line up opposite Spennymoor in their familiar magpie stripes. The Lancashire team must have won the toss and decided to play downhill first (an unusual choice as this slope can play a big part).

Spennymoor are careless of possession in the early stages, conceding a couple of corners and also caught out by a long, low trajectory, kick from the Burscough keeper that gives Caddick an opportunity he doesn’t take. In contrast it is 15 minutes before the home team threaten; a cross from the left finds the diminutive Peacock on the far post and his header is on target but clawed out by keeper Hare. Spennymoor claim it has been clawed out of the net, but with no goal line technology here the ref waves play on.

By the half hour Burscough’s early threat has receded and Spennymoor’s passing game is finally working, but no more chances are created before the break. The half will not live long in the memory, it is always a bad sign when balls kicked out of the ground (at least ten) as a result of wild shots or unsophisticated clearances exceed attempts on target (maybe two).

At the start of the second half, the ball remains largely in the park as Spennymoor exert some control. They are awarded a free kick about 25 yards out; full back Griffiths curls it on target but with insufficient power to really trouble Hare who, diving to his left, catches it in fine style.

Two minutes later it is Burscough who have the free kick opportunity. The ball is delivered from the right and although dealt with initially, it then falls invitingly to Jewell, still inside the box, and he leathers an unstoppable volley into the net.

A goal down with half an hour to go is not irretrievable for Spennymoor, but they have lost through injury the dominant presence of Tait at the back and more importantly the influence of Peacock in midfield. Shuffling his pack manager Jason Ainsley pushes Risbrough upfield and the most likely route for a goal looks to be via him. Indeed he latches onto a through ball and lofts it over the advancing keeper into the net, only to see a linesman’s flag raised for offside (to the consternation of the crowd and the bench).

Burscough, though on the defensive, are coping well with Spennymoor's not very imaginative attacks. And five minutes from time left back Devine suddenly surges forward on a fifty yard diagonal run, drawing out the Spennymoor defensive line, before shifting the ball to the right wing. The winger crosses immediately and centre forward Jones stoops to head firmly past the again helpless Lowson in goal.

It is a fine goal and one that puts the tie to bed. Spennymoor huff and puff for the remaining minutes (including five added) but without bothering the Burscough keeper.

Burscough go through having had just two efforts on target (a shot and a header) that produced two good goals; but Spennymoor can’t complain much as their one shot and one header on target were not of the same quality and were both saved.

So the expectations are dashed, and the cup run that looked rosy a couple of weeks ago, is prematurely ended.