Chasetown FC completed their second league victory over Burscough this season with a 3-0 success at Victoria Park.
The vast majority of the action came in the second half, Richard Teesdale entering a fine performance in charge of the Scholars against a Linnets side reduced to ten men for a large portion of the game while two late goals sealed the points and made up for disappointing results in midweek for the side.
The first half began fairly quietly with both defences on top, Scholars keeper Ryan Price only having to collect a couple of crosses and through-balls. Things picked up after 13 minutes when Burscough forced four successive corners but again the Chasetown defenders won out each time.
The visitors enjoyed their first chance soon after, Ben Jevons firing over the bar after Danny Smith headed on before the latter saw a shot blocked on 22 minutes and Linnets keeper Paul Willis palmed the follow-up cross from Mark Branch away.
Burscough’s first clear chance did not come until the half hour when Matt Parry forced Price into a fingertip save with Chris Slater clearing for a corner, while Smith’s hard work again went unrewarded as his cross flew behind for a goal kick.
Phil Quirk then found space for the Linnets on the left but his cross went into the crowd before Richard Davies and Matty Cohen enjoyed chances for the Scholars in the closing stages of the half but still the target couldn’t be found.
Mark Branch forced a shot from Parry wide seven minutes into the second half before a Price clearance was charged down by Darren Brookfield but his follow-up shot went over the bar.
On 58 minutes Scholars substitute Gary Birch was brought down while through on goal and a penalty was awarded with Birch’s assailant Zak Riley red-carded. Skipper Teesdale stepped up to take the spot-kick and blasted the ball to Willis’s right to put the Scholars ahead.
Burscough tried to fight back and Parry went close again but was met by Price running off his line to block, the keeper taking a knock in the ensuing challenge but able to continue after treatment.
Six minutes from time Mark Branch curled a corner to the edge of the six-yard box and Ramone Stephens was in place to hammer the loose ball into the net for Chasetown’s second.
The Scholars put the lid on it five minutes later when a fine flowing move from midfield saw Birch lay the ball for Davies to fire into the roof of the net and complete a fine Scholars victory.
Next up the Scholars take on Northwich Victoria on Tuesday evening (7.45pm kick-off) before Whitby Town visit the Scholars Ground next Saturday (3pm kick-off).
Burscough: Willis, Barlow, Quirk, Riley, Connolly (c), Tyson, Parry, McCulloch, Lawless, Leadbetter, Brookfield. Subs: Hoskin (Lawless 59), Matthews (Quirk 78), Judge, Moore (McCulloch 72), Ghanvir.
Chasetown: Price, J Branch, M Branch, Slater, Cohen, Teesdale (c), Bridgewater, Davies, Abbott, Smith, Jevons. Subs: Stephens (Smith 74), Birch (Abbott 53), Parsons (Jevons 92), Lloyd, Hulin.
