Burscough 3 Sandbach United 1

Sandbach travelled to Premier division side Burscough in the second round of the Macron cup on Saturday, however two early goals and a late penalty sent them crashing out writes Jack Beresford.

Sandbach were the underdogs and would have liked to get off to the best possible start to put the pressure on the home side, they came very close to taking the lead very early on when Jake Chadwick did well down the right before crossing to Billy Buckley at the back post who was unmarked but his first touch was poor and it was easy for the keeper. Moments later Burscough took the lead before many spectators had taken their seats when Chad Whyte put his side in the lead after just two minutes. A cross from the right was cleared as far as Jamie Clark who then fired in a shot from the edge of the box, but his shot fell to Whyte who was unmarked in the box, he then turned and fired the ball into the bottom left corner from 10 yards out.

Minutes later Sandbach found themselves 2-0 down, Alberto Canache found space in the opposition half and then drove at the Sandbach defence, he got into the box and shifted the ball onto his right foot before firing the ball low and hard across goal towards Whyte who was on hand to tap the ball home at the back post.

Sandbach had started the game in a poor fashion, Burscough flew out the blocks as they looked to settle any pre-game nerves that they had. The away side had a mountain to climb, however they couldn’t think that the game was over, there was still 85 minutes of the game to play, so plenty of time for them to get back into the game.

Five minutes later Sandbach nearly pulled a goal back as Ryan Allcock got down the right flank and sent in a low cross for Dean Twigg who blazed his shot over the bar from ten yards out.

In the 16th minute Sandbach halved the deficit as Ryan Allcock again did well down the right side, he got to the by line and pulled the ball back to Billy Buckley who took a touch and then fired into the top right corner of the goal. Sandbach were back in the game, despite two early goals the game was now very much there’s for the taking. After pulling a goal back Sandbach were now on the front foot and they almost equalised after 30 minutes as Jordan Davies got down to the left by line and then cut back in before shooting past the keeper, however unluckily for him it was cleared off the line by a Burscough defender.

Since scoring their first goal Sandbach had had the better of the game, they came close once more as Buckley cut in from the left flank before shooting from just outside the box, this shot was well saved by the keeper who tipped it out for a corner. The resulting corner was cleared as far as Allcock on the edge of the box who volleyed towards the top right corner, but it was superbly saved by the keeper who tipped the ball over the bar.

Sandbach were really piling on the pressure and half time came at a good time for the home side as United looked likely to level the scores.

Ten minutes into the second half Chad Whyte almost completed his hat trick as he bent a free kick from around 25 yards around the outside of the wall, but it just went the wrong side of the right post.

Ten minutes later Burscough again came close from a set piece when Jamie Clark fired struck a free kick from 30 yards out that looked destined for the top corner, but Ryan Moss was on hand to tip over the bar and out for a corner.

Three minutes later Sandbach then had a goal disallowed when first half substitute Aaron Knight glided into the Burscough box, as he lined up to shoot the ball took an awkward bobble which meant that Knight was forced to pull his shot, however it fell to the feet of Allcock who tapped home from a marginally offside position.

Sandbach had been the better side in the second half but they just couldn’t seem to find that defence splitting final pass. This became frustrating for the away side, in the 91st minute Sandbach’s task got a lot harder as they saw Ryan Allcock sent off for dissent.

It went from bad to worse for Sandbach as in the 93rd minute Yves Zama ran through towards goal and was bought down in the box by a tired defensive lunge to no avail. Whyte stepped up to the spot and dispatched his penalty leaving Moss with no chance and winning the game for his side.

The game ended 3-1 to the home side and despite Sandbach having the better of the game, their poor start left them with too much to do. However there are plenty of positives to take from the game, that’s now twice this season that they have faced a premier division side and matched them, however the score lines in both games have not reflected United’s all round performance.

Match Report: Jack Beresford.

More match photographs can be viewed by clicking here.