Burscough boss settles for a point after frantic CMB battle

The West Lancashire club took the lead against Will Archer’s men but had to rely on a late equaliser to earn a share of the spoils.

It leaves Burscough – who host Lostock St Gerards in the 5pm Sunday Groundhop match – with two wins, two draws and two defeats in eighth place.

“It was probably our best performance of the season in the first half,” said Murt. “Then the second we have made a few mistakes and it’s cost us. But we’re happy to take a point in the end.”

Burscough went ahead on 17 minutes, Pat Bibby scoring from the spot after Lewis Corke was tripped just inside the box.

CMB got the equaliser they deserved in the second half when Dylan Winstanley pounced on a loose ball to fire home left-footed from 15 yards.

They then took the lead shortly after, Dan Crook with a penalty after Winstanley was felled by the home side’s keeper.

Burscough sub Will Sullivan stabbed home from close range four minutes from time when a high ball dropped to him six yards out.

Despite a frantic finish, neither side could find a winner in the gathering gloom to ensure it was a point a piece.

“You know what you are going to get with CMB,” said Murt, a former striker with Colne, Colwyn Bay, Skelmersdale and Runcorn Linnets.

“They have some good technical players in the middle but they often play direct. Grimmy (Carl Grimshaw) and Dylan (Winstanley) are a right handful and it was a tough ask for our centre halves.

“Dillon (Bosique-Green) has been out for nine months and this was only his second game back. But we needed him.

“It’s going to be a season of transition for us and we’ve a young squad. August is always difficult with games thick and fast – all I ask is we compete each and every game and if we can get a few players in we’ll pick up plenty of points along the way.”

Burscough Richmond won the league in 2022/23 (pictured above) and have finished in third in the last two seasons.

So who is his pick for the title this time round?

“Haslingden St Mary’s – they’ve got a bit of everything and the lad up front, Lewis Hanley, is brilliant. He’s a great kid too and has something about him.

“Ironically, we beat them 3-1 on the first game of the season but they’re still the best team I’ve seen.”

Elsewhere in the Premier Division, WHITEHAVEN are off and running with their first win after a 5-1 defeat of local rivals CLEATOR MOOR CELTIC, Robbie Swinburn with a hat-trick.

HASLINGDEN ST MARY’S also bagged the local bagging rights with a 2-0 win over ROSSENDALE while TEMPEST UNITED are into sixth after a 4-0 win over COPPULL.

Three sides remain unbeaten with EAGLEY coming from behind twice to earn a 2-2 draw at HURST GREEN.

Jordan Williams grabbed a late winner in MILLOM’S 2-1 victory at MILNTHORPE and POULTON go into Friday night’s Groundhop curtain-raiser in fine fettle thanks to a 2-1 win at LOSTOCK ST GERARDS.

Ewan Fanning’s double was enough to help ASTLEY & BUCKSHAW to a 3-2 win over BLACKPOOL WREN ROVERS.

In Division One, the top two sides had to make do with a point, PAUSE denied by two injury time goals as HOLKER OLD BOYS RES grabbed a 4-4 draw.

ULVERSTON RANGERS were held 2-2 at home by KENDAL UNITED, all the goals coming in the second half, while Ryan Close’s last minute goal secured a 3-2 win for KENDAL COUNTY over CROOKLANDS CASUALS.

It was another late goalfest at SLYNE with Owen Griffiths’ late leveller for ASKAM UNITED making it 3-3.

Joe Wilkinson’s penalty in the last minute gained CARNFORTH a point in a 2-2 draw at CHIPPING while FRECKLETON stormed back with two late goals to deny CROSTON, also 2-2.

TURTON are up to ninth after a 3-0 home win over LYTHAM TOWN.

Finally, in Division Two, Joe Wearing and Rob Wilson both scored hat-tricks in STOREYS 9-3 win over CATON.

Dylan Jackson-Cooney was another player to bag a treble to help FULWOOD AMATEURS RES make it six wins from six with a 4-0 win at LANGHO.

THORNTON CLEVELEYS RES came from a goal down to beat BAMBER BRIDGE RES 3-2 as did EUXTON VILLA RES who saw off MILL HILL by the same scoreline.

APPLEY BRIDGE enjoyed their first win in the West Lancashire Football League with a 3-0 success at GARSTANG RES.

Dan Metge got a double for CHARNOCK RICHARD RES in their 5-0 defeat of GALGATE and Scott McDonald was the only scorer to help DALTON UNITED up to ninth after a 1-0 win at HAWCOAT PARK.