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WELCOME

The Brian Boys West View

Stadium, Cowtoot Lane, Bacup,

Lancs, OL13 8QE

Web: www.bacupboroughfc.co.uk

Twitter: @bacupborough

Manager: Brent Peters

Head of Development:

Coach: Jimmy Petruzzi

Chairman: Frank Manning

Business Development Executive:

Dave Edler

PA to Brent Peters: Debra

O’Connor

Welfare Officer: Mick Carr

Match Secretary: Wendy Ennis

Ground Maintainence:

Webmaster: Karl Stringer

Good afternoon everyone and

welcome to the Brian Boys West

View Stadium after what seems an

eternity as we finally look to play a

home league game, the last one

having been the first week of January

against Bootle. We are delighted to

welcome the players, officials and

supporters of AFC Darwen into The

Valley today for this eagerly awaited

League Challenge Cup tie and we

hope that they will enjoy their short

stay in our company before having a

safe journey home later this evening.

A lot has happened since we were last

here at West View, not least of which

w a s o u r e p i c L a n c a s h i r e

Co-Operative Trophy semi-final

victory over Padiham which sets us

up for a mouthwatering tie at the

Reebok Stadium in Bolton in the

Final. See Dave’s Desk for full

details of the arrangements.

Today, though, is of course all about

the cup that we already have sitting

safely in our Trophy cabinet, the

League Challenge Cup, which we

won in May. AFC Darwen arrive

sitting top of the First Division and

full of confidence that they can take it

out of our grasp. We must make sure

that we keep our focus and do not

allow that to happen this afternoon.

Enjoy the game.

.

Dave Edler—Editor.

St. James Square

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DAVE’S

DESK So, on the 11th March 2013 Bacup Borough FC will be trying to achieve

something that they have not managed to do since May 1911 when my

late grandfather would have been two months old!! Namely, to win the

Lancashire Co-Operative Trophy. Indeed when we last made the final 38

years ago in 1975 I was a mere 12 year old on the terraces at Vicarage

Road, Watford watching Mike Keen’s side slide into the old Fourth

Division.

It’s fair to say, then, that there will be a bit of history knocking around

when Boro stride out to face either AFC Fylde or Kendal Town at the

Reebok, the first Rossendale side to play on a stadium used for

Premiership Football. It is up to all of us to spread the word and make

sure that half the Valley is in attendance. After all, it might be another

102 years before it comes around again!! Tell all your friends, workmates,

schoolmates, wives, girlfriends, boyfriends and mistresses, the Reebok is

the only place to be.

Tickets for the game are now on sale and are priced at 8.00 for Adults and

4.00 for Under 16’s and Over 60’s. At the moment these can only be

purchased via the club. Coach tickets are priced at 10 pounds and are also

on sale this afternoon. The coach leaves the Brian Boys West View

Stadium at 5.45 pm and picks up at the Rose ’n’ Bowl shortly afterwards.

Please specify your pick up point at the time of booking. Payment can be

made by cash or credit and debit card. Bookings can be made during the

week to the commercial department number 01706 871733 or 07715

629525 or by calling at the ground during opening hours. A special com-

memorative shirt will be produced for the game and details of how to

purchase replicas and other merchandise will be made available shortly.

Please help us to make this Final a big success.

WELCOME AFC DARWEN

Today we welcome an AFC Darwen side proudly sitting top of the North

West Counties League First Division table. AFC Darwen have won 15,

drawn 1 and lost 5 of their 21 games played. They have a positive goal

difference of 24, having scored 59 goals and conceded 35 and are cur-

rently three points ahead of second place Abbey Hey, although they have

two games in hand. In the League Challenge Cup they beat Leek CSOB

3-0 at home in the First Round, before travelling north to record an em-

phatic 5-1 victory over Holker Old Boys in Round 2. In the Lancashire

Co-Operative Trophy Darwen enjoyed an excellent 3-2 away win at Pre-

mier Division AFC Blackpool, before going out 0-2 with a hard fought

battle away at Blue Square Premier outfit Southport at Haig Avenue. As

usual a full club history of our opponents follows later in today’s

programme.

In the top of the table clash in the Evo Stik League Division One North on

Tuesday night it was SKELMERSDALE UNITED who came out on top

with a 2-0 away win at fellow title chasers TRAFFORD, watched by a

bumper crowd of 250. Trafford’s Chairman is the father of our very own

Paul Nelson.

Talking of NELSON, MANCHESTER UNITED’s trip to play REAL

MADRID in the Champions League in midweek was an ideal opportunity

for the North West Counties League side to remind people that they were

the first ever English club to triumph over the Spanish giants when they

travelled on a pre-season tour of Spain in 1923. For the record the score

was 4-2 to the Admirals, then a Football League club. Pictured above is

the clubs former grandstand from its Football League days at its old

ground in Seedhill, Nelson..

PYRAMID PATTER Continues….

PYRAMID PATTER All The Latest From the Non League Scene

In the Uhlsport Hellenic League, David Cameron’s home town team

WITNEY TOWN this week resigned from the Premier Division after a

proposed groundshare agreement with their league neighbours CARTER-

TON TOWN collapsed bringing to an end a history stretching back to

1885. It is expected that the clubs results will now be expunged from the

Hellenic League table. The clubs trustees had fallen out with the owners

of their home ground the Marriotts Stadium (below) and had been refused

a new lease on the Stadium. The club itself had only reformed in 2001

after the demise of the original Southern League club Witney Town a few

years earlier. Despite being Patron of the club it is believed that Cameron

offered no assistance in preventing the clubs demise.

THE GAFFER Brent Peters Speaks….

Good Afternoon.

And welcome back to the Brian Boys West View Stadium which seems

an eternity since we last played here. In fact it is an eternity and rest

assured the clubs current bank balance is reflected by this. It is really hard

at this moment on all fronts, by this I mean it is hard for the players due to

the lack of games there is no continuity, we seem to play one or maybe

two games then miss two or three weeks. It really is difficult, one only

needs to look at how many teams are in the Premier Division and from

this how many games we have played. I think you will find that there are

forty two games from which we have played around twenty two, so that

tells me we have half of a nine month season to play in around twelve

weeks. Looking at a league table and viewing where we are sat will tell

you we are near the bottom. However, if you study the stats of the league

table, then the cruel facts are we are a lot of games behind a lot of teams.

Yes, we must pick points up to make ground but this can only come with

game continuity something we have not had.

Today we concentrate on our defence of the League Challenge Cup we so

proudly won in May. If we are going to have a repeat of that achievement

we must first of all get through today which believe you me will be a

really tricky game. AFC Darwen are doing well in our First Division, they

are one of our East Lancashire Neighbours and of course they are

travelling the short distance to play the current holders of the cup

THE GAFFER (CONTINUED)

So, I think it is fair to say their Manager will not need to do much of a

team talk as what I have presented in these notes basically says it all. For

us to be in the hat later today, we must produce a team performance of

our semi final win in the Lancashire F A Coop Cup. For those that have

short memories to progress to the final we had to beat Evo Stik League

side Radcliffe Borough. This we did, so let us not get complacent by

thinking we are only playing a First Division side, those are really

dangerous thoughts and no way will my lads be thinking this for one

moment. AFC Darwen will be a difficult demanding game. If teams are to

be successful, then winning those difficult demanding games are the only

way. Hopefully today again my lads will deliver.

May I take this opportunity of welcoming everyone from Darwen and

wishing them a safe return.

Enjoy the Game—Brent Peters

COMMERCIALLY SPEAKING

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to The Brian Boys West View

Stadium. We particularly welcome our visitors from AFC Darwen today

and hope that their supporters here today enjoy their visit to The Valley.

We are delighted to welcome two new Sponsors to the club since our last

home game with Bootle. Firstly, Anthony K Associates join us as new

Gold Sponsors and we welcome Tony Nugent and his team on board.

Tony was particularly helpful to us with our preparations for the

Lancashire Co-Operative Trophy semi-final against Padiham and joined

us at the Marriott Hotel in Leyland for our pre-match meal and team talk.

We hope that he felt suitably rewarded with the superb result we managed

to achieve on the night.

Next we also welcome our other new Bronze sponsors to the Bacup

Borough family. Raecan Marketing arrive in the shape of Sue Rooney and

her team and it goes without saying that we are delighted that Rooney has

signed for the Boro!!

Borough boss Brent Peters can be

seen welcoming Tony Nugent of

Anthony K Associates on board as

new Gold Sponsors at West View

last Monday when he visited to

attend the second Bacup Borough

Curry Club, which was a big

success with nearly 40 businesses

in attendance.

FIXTURES & RESULTS 2012/13

2012

SAT JULY 7TH OLDHAM ATHLETIC (H) FRIENDLY P-P

SAT JULY 14TH St. Johns Isle Of Man (A) FRIENDLY D 2-2 Cocks (2) (2 pens)

SAT JULY 21ST Fulwood Amateur (A) FRIENDLY L 0-2

SAT JULY 28TH MOSSLEY (H) FRIENDLY L 1-3 (41) Dale

SAT AUGUST 4TH WINSFORD UNITED (H) NWCL L 1-2 (61) K.Williams

WEDS AUGUST 8TH Silsden (A) NWCL L 0-1 (205)

SAT AUGUST 11TH Winterton Rangers (A) FA CUP W 3-0 (49) Cocks, Maden,

K.Williams

WEDS AUSGUST 15TH BARNOLDSWICK TOWN (H) NWCL L 1-3 (58) Cocks

SAT AUGUST 18TH Runcorn Town (A) NWCL L 0-2 (98)

WEDS AUGUST 22ND AFC BLACKPOOL (H) NWCL W 1-0 (64) Dale

SAT AUGUST 25TH Maine Road (A) FAC PRELIMINARY ROUND L 1-2 (69)

Luker

SAT SEPTEMBER 1ST AC Liverpool (A) FA VASE 1ST Q R D 0-0 (111)

WEDS SEPTEMBER 5TH AFC LIVERPOOL (H)FA VASE 1ST Q R r L 0-1 (65)

SAT SEPTEMBER 8TH STONE DOMINOES (H) NWCL W 4-0 (33) Cocks (3) (2

pens), O.G.

SAT SEPTEMBER 15TH Stockport Sports (A) NWCL L 0-2

TUES SEPTEMBER 18TH Squires Gate (A) NWCL W 2-0 Edwards, Cocks

SAT SEPTEMBER 22ND RUNCORN LINNETS (H) NWCL W 4-1

SAT SEPTEMBER 29TH Norton United (A) NWCL L 0-1

SAT OCTOBER 6TH ALSAGER TOWN (H) NWCL W 2-1 Paul (2)

SAT OCTOBER 13TH Padiham (A) NWCL D 2-2 Cocks, Limabrooke

SAT OCTOBER 20TH Congelton Town (A) NWCL L 2-4 K.Williams, Paul

WEDS OCTOBER 24TH Nelson (A) LCT W 2-0 Maden, Birtles

SAT OCTOBER 27TH Ashton Athletic (a) NWCL C CUP W 5-1

SAT NOVEMBER 3RD Bootle (A) NWCL L 0-2

SAT NOVEMBER 10TH RUNCORN TOWN (H) NWCL L 1-2 (67) Maden

TUES NOVEMBER 13TH Radcliffe Borough (A) LCT D 2-2 (103) Bryan,

K.Williams (won 4-3 on penalties)

FRI NOVEMBER 16TH AFC LIVERPOOL (H) NWCL W 1-0 (126) Cocks

TUES NOVEMBER 20TH Colne (A) NWCL L 0-6 (65)

SAT NOVEMBER 24TH Winsford United (A) NWCL L 1-3 (106) Cocks

SAT DECEMBER 15TH Glossop North End (A) NWCL L 0-2 (160)

WEDS DECEMBER 19TH DAISY HILL (H) LCT W 2-0 (28) Cocks, McKeown

SAT JANUARY 5TH BOOTLE (H) NWCL L 2-4 (62) Oldham, Nelson

SAT JANUARY 12TH Maine Road (A) NWCL L 1-2 (80) Oldham

WEDS JANUARY 30TH PADIHAM (N) LCT W 2-1 Cocks (2)

SAT FEBRUARY 2ND Ashton Athletic (A) NWCL L 1-2 (30) Morgan

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NWCL ROUND UP

New Management Team At Eccleshall

Eccleshall have appointed a new management team at Pershall Park. Dean Sibson,

assisted by John Mayer, will be taking the managerial reins starting with this Saturday’s

game at Holker Old Boys.

Liam James, who was previously manager of Eccleshall’s Staffordshire County Senior

League team and has been in a caretaker role since October, had steadied the ship,

brought in some new players and results had improved under his leadership.

Initially, it was thought that he might take the role on a permanent basis but, for family

reasons, this was not possible and he recently informed club Chairman Andy Mapperson

of his intention to stand down after the Leek game. In light of his decision, Andy acted

quickly to recruit Dean and John for the post.

Dean has experience of the North West Counties League, having managed at both Con-

gleton Town and Stone Dominoes, whilst John knows the Eccleshall set up well having

played for the Pershall Park club for two or three seasons some years back. They are

both looking forward to the challenge of improving Eccleshall’s league position in the

remaining games of the season.

Chairman Andy Mapperson said: “We are grateful for the work Liam has put in since

stepping into the caretaker role. After a rocky start to the season in terms of league re-

sults, he had begun to turn things around and results had improved.

"We had hoped he would take on the manager role permanently but this was not to be.

Clearly we wish him well and he will always be welcome to return to Pershall Park in

some capacity in the future, family commitments permitting”. In welcoming Dean Sib-

son and John Mayer to Pershall Park, Andy said: “We wish both Dean and John well as

our new management team and feel sure that their previous experience at this level will

help to take the club forward and further improve on our current league position.

NWCL ROUND UP

Bits And Pieces

Cheadle Town – the club are hosting a 5-a-side League at Park Road

starting on Friday 15th February.

The League will run on every Friday evening, and is Open Age (16 year

old+). It will cost £20 per team each week, to enter, with up to 8 players

per team being allowed.

For more information, contact Chris [07711 670782] or Jordan [07747

607532].

AFC Liverpool – the Reds’ 6-0 win at Stone Dominoes last Saturday saw

two club records being established.

Jack Sinnott’s goal, the Reds’ fourth of the day was the club’s 300th

league goal.

In addition, Steve Jones’ brace saw him become the club’s outright lead-

ing league goalscorer, and he now has twenty six goals to his name. Dean

Thurston is second on the list with twenty four, while John Lawless

comes in third with eighteen.

Runcorn Linnets – the overhead kick scored by Matt Cross at

Barnoldswick continues to attract attention. Linnets fan James Eastwood

captured the strike on video and it has now been viewed over 17,000

times on YouTube, as well as being featured on the website 101Great-

Goals.com.

Alsager Town – the Bullets Under 17s team had a taste of life on the in-

side when they travelled to Werrington Young Offenders Institution at

Stoke-on-Trent to play a game behind closed doors.

This Weeks

Fixtures

Saturday 16th February 2013

League Challenge Cup 3rd Round Abbey Hey v Cheadle Town

Alsager Town v AFC Liverpool

Bacup Borough v AFC Darwen

Barnoldswick Town v Formby

Bootle v West Didsbury & Chorlton

Congleton Town v Maine Road

Padiham v AFC Blackpool

Runcorn Linnets v Winsford United

Premier Division

Colne v Runcorn Town

Glossop North End v Norton United

Squires Gate v Stone Dominoes

St Helens Town v Silsden

Wigan Robin Park v Stockport Sports

First Division Atherton LR v Holker Old Boys

Chadderton v Irlam

Nelson v Atherton Collieries

Northwich Villa v Eccleshall

Oldham Boro v Leek CSOB

Fourways Motorcycles

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Tel: 01706 873231

MOSTON TROPHIES Suppliers to Bacup Borough FC

Trophies for all sports and leisure activities

Very competitive prices Telephone Colin on 0161 203 4352

e-mail mostontrophies@hotmail.com

A neat through ball found Wellstead in space 30 yards from goal, and spotting the

keeper out of position he opted to float a chip shot over the keeper that agonisingly

crept just past the post.

The remainder of the first half was played without any other clear opportunities being

created, and as the half time whistle blew, both sides could justifiably feel that the game

was theirs for the taking.

Rocester enjoyed the better of the early exchanges after the restart, although for all their

pressure they failed to really test Karl Wills in the visitors’ goal, the closest effort com-

ing in the 62nd minute when a cross from the right was headed goalwards by Ryan

Pirrie.

However, the last 15 minutes saw Runcorn step up the pressure, and after the ball

ricocheted around from a Ste Latham free kick, the defence cleared just before Keddie

pulled the trigger. McShane then had a glorious chance from Scott Burton’s throw in,

but shot weakly at the keeper from the edge of the box.

The winning goal came on 81 minutes, and the move began when Paul Shanley did

superbly to keep the ball in on the left and advanced goalwards. His shot from five yards

was saved by the keeper, only for the ball to rebound to James McShane two yards out,

and the striker’s 20th goal of the season was possibly the easiest of his career.

Rocester inevitably threw men forward in search of an equaliser, and Jack Langston

fired a 25 yard effort just over the bar, but Runcorn comfortably saw out three minutes

of added on time to progress to the last 16.

An ecstatic Runcorn manager Simon Burton said afterwards: "It was a scrappy game,

and as expected the pitch cut up as the game went on.

“We always knew that it was going to be a battle against a big and physical side. On the

balance of play, we created enough chances to win the game. I felt that we were good

value for the win overall.

“It’s a great achievement for the club to reach the 5th Round of the Vase. The lads are

hungry for more, and hopefully we can keep progressing in the competition".

NWCL ROUND UP Weekend Round Up by Harry Patterson FA Vase Fourth Round – Rocester 1 Runcorn Town 2

A James McShane goal nine minutes from time sent Runcorn Town through to the Fifth

Round of the FA Vase at the expense of Midland Football Alliance side Rocester.

A spirited performance from Town saw them battle back after going a goal down, and

they can now look forward to a home tie at the Pavilions against Walsall Wood or

Hanworth Villa in the next round.

On a bright but chilly afternoon at the neat Hillfields ground , both sides made a cagey

opening to the game, although Rocester had a scare in the 5th minute when a Scott

Burton free kick glanced off the head of a defender and flew just wide of the far post.

But it was Rocester who opened the scoring from the first clear cut chance of the game

on 18 minutes. Ryan Grocutt swung a corner in from the left, and the towering figure of

centre half Darren Bullock rose to glance a header just inside the far post.

It was a bitter blow to Runcorn but they responded in perfect fashion with an equaliser

two minutes later.

After a foul on Jon Egerton wide on the right, Paul Shanley got his head to the free kick

played in by Sam Bailey and when the ball squirmed out of the hands of Rocester keeper

Richard Froggatt, Mark Keddie pounced to force the ball home from close range.

The goal galvanised the visitors and they proceeded to create three chances in as many

minutes.

Centre half Danny Dalton was unlucky to see a header just miss the target before Stuart

Wellstead fired a shot straight at the keeper, and the Town striker came even closer a

minute later.

IN TOWN TODAY AFC DARWEN

At the end of the 2008/2009 season Darwen Football Club ceased to exist

after the club was wound up due to bad debts. One of the previous owners

had systematically destroyed the club financially but, also discredited its

reputation within the town which resulted in lower attendances and a

reduction in the number of volunteers that gave up their valuable time to

help keep the club running. With debts in excess of £60.000 it was

inevitable that the club could not survive; fortunately the team managed

to fulfil all of their fixtures in the 2008/09 season before the club was

wound up. It was decided that Darwen still had the desire to field a town

team, and although various people had left the club; meetings began to

take place to discuss the future of Darwen Football Club. Derek Slater,

former club secretary and reserve team manager of Darwen FC, had

already set the ball rolling by forming AFC Darwen, a not for profit

organisation. The lease was then secured back from the local council and

AFC Darwen rose from the ashes.

T H E WE S T L AN C AS H I R E FO O T B AL L L E AG U E

The F.A. instructed that AFC Darwen would start life at step 6 in the

football pyramid, so their inaugural season began in the West Lancashire

Football League. The aim of the club was to gain its place back in the

North West Counties League, and go on to compete at a higher level. The

club now had a good solid foundation, with 13 youth teams representing

the club; which out of those 10 played on a Sunday in the East Lancashire

Alliance and 3 teams competed on a Saturday in the Accrington and

District Football League. With the age range from 7 to 15 year olds and

with new teams to follow the infrastructure of the club was in a sound

position to move forward. The club is now in the hands of people that live

and breathe football, but more importantly understand what it takes to run

a club at this level.

AFC Darwen’s first ever competitive game took place at the Anchor

ground on Saturday 11th July 2009 in a pre-season friendly against AFC

Liverpool from the North West Counties League. With Darwen winning

3 - 0 t h i n g s l o o k e d b r i g h t f o r t h e f u t u r e .

With high expectations of a good season AFC Darwen soon realised that

life in the West Lancashire football league wasnt going to be easy.

Results over the first few games were inconsistent up until October 2009,

after which the team went on a disastrous run of 8 straight defeats. With

the realisation that the team was not progressing as expected, it was

decided that a change in the management team was required. The difficult

decision to replace Dennis Hill was made and Kenny Langford took over

the reins as the first team manager. Results immediately picked up and

although the title was out of reach, at least the team could push on and try

and finish in a respectable position. AFC Darwen finished 8th, with a

record of 13 wins, 3 draws and 14 defeats, goals scored 42, conceded 54.

At the end of the 2009/10 season AFC Darwen gained re-election back

into the North West Counties Football League after achieving the

required ground grading standards to compete at that level. The main aim

of the club back in the NWCFL was to steady the ship and cement their

place in the league. AFC Darwen finished 13th,, with a record of 9 wins,

10 draws and 12 defeats, goals scored 37, conceded. 62. A respectable

p o s i t i o n f o r t h e i r f i r s t s e a s o n .

During the close season before the start of the 2012/13 campaign the

structure of the club changed. Due to personal reasons and business

commitments Derek Slater decided that he could no longer run both the

senior and junior sides.. It was decided that Kenny Langford would

become the sole director of AFC Darwen The structural change resulted

in Kenny taking over the day to day running of the club, and the

responsibility for the first and reserve teams. This allowed Derek the time

to focus on the development of the junior teams within the club.

The additional running McKeown had been asked to do after Birtles departure had taken

its toll on the striker and he was replaced by Gray at the interval. Boro made the worst

possible start to the second period as a midfield lapse let in Neil Chappel to beat Ryan

Jones at his near post for a 46th minute leveller. With Borough understandably tiring

Maine Road were enjoying more possession but the front two of Tom Bentham and Tom

Bailey were being well marshalled by the Bacup defence and didn’t manage a shot

between them all afternoon. However, the visitors were handed a lifeline in the 60th

minute when Chappell, who had also been booked earlier, was shown a second yellow

and joined Birtles in the dressing room. This allowed Bacup to revert to a more

expansive game and they started to ask questions of the home defence once again.

However, in the 68th minute they were caught cold when Matty Warburton showed

good feet to go on a jinking run that ended with him firing low past Jones into the corner

of the net. The relief amongst the home players was such that Greg Hall in the home

goal was booked for over celebrating. Paul Arrowsmith and Martin Cosgrave joined the

action as Peters shuffled his pack once again and it was the latter that turned his man

well in the box in the 81st minute but could only shoot tamely at Hall. The last half

chance fell to Gray in the 90th minute but he fired over and once again Bacup were left

to reflect on another close encounter with one of the leading sides that ultimately yielded

a pointless return.

FULL-TIME: Maine Road 2 Bacup Borough 1

Bacup Borough: Jones, Birtles, Wager, Morgan (sub. Cosgrave 77 mins), Gorman,

Ogoo, Cocks, Oldham, McKeown (sub. Gray 45 mins), Kirk (sub. Arrowsmith 62 mins),

Bryan. Subs Not Used: Limabrooke, Nelson. Attendance: 80.

MATCH STATS:

SHOTS ON TARGET: Maine Road 4 Bacup Borough 2

SHOTS OFF TARGET: Maine Road 6 Bacup Borough 4

CORNERS: Maine Road 1 Bacup Borough 2

MATCH REPORT

MAINE ROAD 2 BACUP BOROUGH 1

Borough were left to reflect on a refereeing decision that ultimately cost them victory

after coming close to causing an upset at league leaders Maine Road on Saturday. As

expected Brent Peters chose to shuffle his pack after the disappointing display against

Bootle a week earlier. There was no place in the squad for Haydn Paul despite

completing his three match ban, nor for Steve Maden who had previously been ever

present. Gareth Wager slotted back into defence after completing his own one match

ban, leaving Arron Kirk to move back into midfield. Luke Morgan earned his first start

at the back, Jimmy Ogoo continued in midfield, and Peters recalled Graham McKeown

up front at the expense of David Gray, who went on the bench.

Playing a new formation Boro took the game to their high flying opponents and got an

instant reward. Shane Birtles was freed down the right by team captain Daniel Cocks and

he sent in a superb cross that evaded McKeown but not Lee Oldham, who stole in at the

far post to open the scoring. Oldham has certainly made an instant impact since his

return from a long injury and he was in the thick of the action again three minutes later,

heading Matty Bryan’s free-kick narrowly wide. Birtles was causing the home defence

all sorts of problems down the right flank and his 23rd minute cross was again almost

met by McKeown. However a minute earlier he had been bizarrely booked for

simulation. Cutting in again from the right he clearly lost his footing and fell to the floor.

Nobody appealed for a penalty including Birtles but referee Dominic McDonald ruled

that he had dived and brandished the yellow card. This meant that when Birtles went in

over enthusiastically for a 50/50 challenge six minutes later, he found himself walking

back to the dressing rooms.

This changed the nature of the game as Cocks had to drop to a much deeper position and

Bacup could not pose the same kind of constant threat. However, for all their numerical

advantage Maine Road rarely threatened and it was only a speculative long range effort from Matty Russell that caused a moment of discomfort for Boro as they watched the

ball cannon off the crossbar to safety.

HALF-TIME: Maine Road 0 Bacup Borough 1

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‘Bucks’ advantage. There was still an opportunity to reduce the arrears for Boro before

half-time but Dean Porter was equal to Bryan’s well struck free-kick, turning it around

the post. HALF-TIME: Bacup Borough 1 Bootle 3

Spectators were expecting Peters may shuffle his pack at the break but he entrusted the

same 11 with the job of turning the game around. However, the pattern of the game re-

mained the same and Bacup’s task became even harder in the 59th minute after the de-

fence failed to clear the ball properly and Fowler poached his second of the game with a

fine first time strike to put Bootle 4-1 up. It could have been worse four minutes later,

but this time Jack McCase flicked his effort wide of the target. On 70 minutes goalscorer

Hay became the latest man to collect a yellow for bringing down Cocks and at that point

Peters made a double substitution, bringing on Morgan and Paul Nelson for Shane Bir-

tles and Steve Maden. Shortly after another caution was handed out, this time to Otis

Gorman. With the change in system Borough finally started to look dangerous and en-

joyed their best spell of the match in the final 20 minutes. First Cosgrave was denied by

Porter at point blank range before Nelson produced an excellent low strike that flew like

a dart into the bottom right hand corner of Porter’s net to reduce the arrears and give him

his first goal for the club. Paul Socha replaced Cocks as Bacup continued to press for a

way back into the game but time got the better of them and they were left to reflect on a

disappointing league defeat.

Bootle looked a good solid unit and will prove difficult to beat in their title quest and

with leaders Maine Road losing yesterday it was a great day at the office for them. How-

ever, Boro will no doubt reflect that they were architects of their own destruction for

most of the goals and there will doubtless be a lot of work to do on the training ground

this week ahead of another tough ask away at league leaders Maine Road next Satur-

day. FULL-TIME: Bacup Borough 2 Bootle 4

BACUP BOROUGH: Jones, Birtles (sub. Morgan 70 mins), Bryan, Kirk, Gorman,

Maden (sub. Nelson 70 mins), Cosgrave, Oldham, Gray, Agoo, Cocks (sub. Socha 88

mins). Subs Not Used: Limabrooke, Arrowsmith. Attendance: 62.

MATCH STATS:

SHOTS ON TARGET: Bacup Borough 7 Bootle 8

SHOTS OFF TARGET: Bacup Borough 3 Bootle 10

CORNERS: Bacup Borough 3 Bootle 6

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MATCH

REPORT BACUP BOROUGH 2 BOOTLE 4

Boro returned to home league action for the first time since November as high flying

Bootle arrived at the Brian Boys West View Stadium yesterday (Saturday). With Gareth

Wager serving a one match ban for an accumulation of bookings, Arron Kirk reverted to

a defensive role. He was replaced in midfield by the returning Lee Oldham, who made

his first start since being injured in the second game of the season at Silsden in August.

There was also a debut for new signing Jimmy Agoo, who came in for Kingsley

Williams. Another recent signing, Luke Morgan, was on the bench whilst Haydn Paul

finally got to sit out the last match of his three game suspension.

Despite having had an intensive fitness session at a local Boxing Club this week the

home side started showing signs of rustiness compared to the visitors, who had been in

action over the festive period. The warning signs were there for Bacup in the 12th

minute when Joe Fowler fired over from a good position on the right but these signals

were not heeded. Four minutes later Borough committed the cardinal sin of allowing a

ball in to bounce inside the box and Jamie Hay needed no invitation to head the ball

comfortably into the net past the stranded Ryan Jones. This setback seemed to

momentarily galvanise the home side and shortly afterwards they equalised with the

best move of the match. Matthew Bryan broke down the left with a fine surging run and

his dangerous cross was met salmon like by Oldham with a superb leaping header to

remind Bacup fans what they have been missing for the last five months during his

injured spell.

The game was being played on a heavy pitch with both sets of players highly committed

and asking lots of questions of the match officials. Martin Cosgrave was the first man

into the notebook for a late challenge and on the half hour mark a battle of the two captains saw Paul Byrne booked for a rash tackle on fellow armband wearer Daniel

Cocks. Four minutes later another Hay header restored the visitors advantage and once

again manager Brent Peters will be disappointed at the soft manner in which the goal

was conceded. He could have had no complaints, however, had Lee Madin’s fine

swirling effort found the back of the net on 38 minutes, but on this occasion Jones pulled

out an acrobatic leap to tip the ball over the crossbar. However, the keeper will be less

happy at not getting something on Fowler’s speculative effort from distance a minute

before the interval that crept beyond him into the corner of the net to increase The