No points, no goals but also no shame as Thornton were beaten by Cup finalists Burscough in a feisty but highly entertaining game on a pudding of sloping pitch. This was by far the furthest game to travel to all season taking just over an hour. We had planned to set off just after noon but a sudden burst of cry offs from certain players meant we had to take on one of the strongest teams in the league with only 11 players, not an ideal situation. The excuses not to play were wide and varied but none mentioned the United v Liverpool game on TV apart from one person, our most experienced supporter Lord Fox. Being a typical staunch United fan (yes he doesn’t go to any of their games) he decided that an afternoon of sitting in front of the box was more tempting than being verbally abused by a load of teenage boys from Burscough. I have it on good authority though from Lady Fox that his Lordship was also going to catch up on some light reading, his back catalogue of 1950’s Readers Wives. To be honest Lord Fox played a blinder on Friday Night when he answered the winning question for the unfortunately named Rod’s Camp Quiz team; thank god the question was on History as Lord Fox had been present in most of it.

 

Mark drove the mini bus with Bob navigating and I drove the supporters’ bus with all three supporters on board. I arrived twenty five minutes prior to kick off thanks to my not so trusty Tom Tom and the players were not too far behind despite nearly heading to Liverpool at one stage. The journey was quite a pleasant experience with some notable sites such as the place which had the Worlds Largest collection of Cabbages, I think the place was called Preston. Our changing room was a breeze block room with an ensuite disabled toilet, not quite as salubrious as Thornton’s plush surroundings but it was far better than the rat infested, p*ss soaked shed that invited us when we visited Penwortham two weeks ago. Anyhow we had approximately three minutes to warm up as the Referee thrust the Linesman’s flag into my hands (on Bob’s instruction), thankfully Mark took over as I had my reporting duties to do plus in hindsight it was a wise decision as I would have had the flag permanently raised to wind up the Burscough players, more on that later.

 

Eight seconds into the game the Burscough players were berating the Referee after he failed to give them a free kick for ……… well nothing. This was obviously a tactic they have used on numerous occasions as they claimed every decision going. The Referee was having none of it at first but would that continue, well we shall see! An early Burscough chance saw a cross sail over Billy’s head but also away from the goal. Thornton won a free kick 25 yards out much to Burscough’s annoyance but Jay’s effort was easily saved by the Keeper. Two minutes later the keeper made a remarkable save to divert a deflected shot out for a corner. Billy did well to hold onto a long punt upfield as the home side briefly threatened. Liam shot over from a corner on 15 minutes as both teams had to come to terms with a very bobbly pitch, which I might add was far better than Blackpool’s pitch yesterday, how they play scintillating, beautiful football on it is quite a miracle, however they are by far the greatest team the world has ever seen (I am talking about Blackpool not Burscough).  

 

The home team were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box but Billy saved with ease. On 25 minutes a huge Foxy throw was brilliantly punched clear by the Burscough keeper as he was put under pressure but at the other end Jay was awake to some danger as he cleared a dangerous corner off the line. On 30 minutes a wonderful flowing move saw Liam expertly flick the ball though to Matt and with only the keeper to beat he seemed certain to score. But no, despite no flag from the Burscough linesman the Referee blew for offside. Was the constant barrage of claims from Burscough taking its toll on the battered Referee, mmmm we shall see! The dangerous Burscough striker blasted a tremendous shot just over and another Foxy throw caused havoc in the home teams defence but this time they headed off the line. A horrendous tackle on James Neve left him in a heap and the Burscough player got a severe finger wagging, if that was Joe he would have been booked, then again the player would not have got up. Joe himself seemed to have beat the offside trap (no flag) when he headed just over from a Jay free kick but once again he was judged to have been offside by the Ref. Just before half time a stunning long range shot by, sorry I didn’t quite see who hit it, sailed inches wide. The Referee blew on a competitive goalless half.

 

We told the players at half time to be more vociferous like the Burscough team and claim for everything. However we always let the football do our talking and lets hope the Referee would not be intimidated. Burscough won a couple of early corners which Billy held well and at the other end Liam headed just wide from a Tom free kick. On 54 minutes a smart shot from a Burscough player seemed destined for the top corner until Billy arched his back and magnificently tipped the ball over the bar. Two minutes later another iffy free kick was awarded to Burscough, they insisted it was a free kick. The ball was bent round the wall but Billy sprang cat like and his finger tips tipped the ball onto the post. How would the Burscough side beat the Thornton Stopper today as he was in such commanding form. On 60 minutes we had the answer. A Burscough player tried to wriggle his way through the defence but lost control of the ball then flung himself to the ground, this was met with a tirade of screams from the Burscough side but at first the Referee did not respond until a Thornton player cleared the ball and then the Referee pointed to the spot. I have seen some dodgy decisions this season at Blackpool but this was so bad it was comical. Maybe all that intimidation had finally worked for Burscough and it did as Billys fine effort could not stop the spot kick. Now as everyone knows me I am a calm, unemotional person but this made my blood boil and it resulted in me throwing my William Hills pen to the floor. My mood was not helped as two of the Burscough players gesticulated in front of me and Bob that they would see us after the game. We responded by telling the young lads we were happily married and had to decline their amorous advances, well that’s what I think they were on about.

 

Foxy went on a mazy run despite a Burscough player trying to rugby tackle him he played a superb through ball to Liam then the Burscough player put his flag up for the first time all game. Did the Referee overrule him did he f? A minute later the ball hit Matt full in the face but play continued. Matt carried on but blood was now pouring down his face and he was forced off to get patched up, he had to carry on as we had no substitutes. We had to carry on for the next five minutes until the bleeding stopped and then Matt returned to a round of applause from the Burscough players which was a nice touch to be fair. On 80 minutes Jay fed Thornton’s speedy forward and his snapshot arrowed towards goal but agonisingly the wrong side of the post. Thornton were punished a minute later when Burscough broke away and a forward was unmarked to slam the ball passed Billy. A heartbreaking moment for a battling Thornton side. With only nine minutes remaining Thornton tried manfully to get back into the game. The Referee finally produced a couple of yellow cards to Burcough players, one for a late challenge and one for a hissy fit of epic proportions. Have you every seen that two year old in a supermarket who throws himself on the floor in temper; well today we met his older brother. He then went onto to tell Joe that he had only been on ten minutes and assisted in the second goal; Joe calmly responded in two words, Head and Dick (not strictly in that order). The Referee blew the whistle with Burscough the winners 2-0 which will make the return leg a tasty affair.

 

Credit to Burscough though who are an “in your face” team and very good at it. They are very physical and shout for everything which is a good attribute in my book. Individually they are very strong and no doubt will be up there at the end of the season. Thornton may have lost today but the performance was much improved on recent weeks and hopefully with some players to come back all is not lost. Once again the defence was magnificent with Sam Johnson back to his brilliant best. The midfield had their best game for a month against of very good Burscough midfield and the various forwards we tried throughout the game causing problems, with Matt Summers the pick of the bunch for a wholehearted performance.

 

A unanimous decision this week Billy Law. For the first time in probably 10 years Billy was quite pleasant. His performance was exemplary with some stunning saves and a truly commanding performance. He caught absolutely everything, his kicking was fantastic and for the first time this century he did not spout rubbish. Well done Billy and keep the good work up. That b*llocking last week must have worked wonders.