Bacup Borough stormed into the next round of the FA Cup following a scintillating second half performance against Evo-Stick First Division Opposition.

Bacup could have taken an early first half lead when what seemed a lack of understanding between Ben Proctor the Clitheroe keeper and his defender, had the Bacup striker have anticipated it would have almost certain led to an opening goal,

At the opposite end Clitheroe went close and really should have scored when the Bacup centre back John Luker did leave a trailing leg which had the lad have gone down it would have been an almost certain penalty but by keeping on his feet and creating space for himself somehow he managed to get the ball across the face of the Bacup goal requiring the vital touch to force the ball into the net.

Then Bacup Borough captain Davey Luker got onto the ball before spraying the ball out wide for Danny Hartley who did deliver a food quality cross, the Clitheroe centre back was put under real pressure from Lance Ogynyode but with a bit more self belief Lance would have got himself a goal as it was blatantly obvious the Centre Back was uneasy with the Bacup strikers pace.

On twenty eight minutes Clitheroe did take the lead but ironically Bacup could have had the ball had Lomas not have been indecisive in his decision making which resulted in the Clitheroe player taking the initiative but then there seemed a shout for handball from which momentarily the Bacup defenders switched off enough to allow clitheroe the chance of a goal which they gracefully did take.

On two occasions just leading up to half time Lance Ogunyode was in on goal but desperate defending from the visitors did ensure their slender lead was intact.

They say in football matches it is in the two halves of the game that the players do their talking and at half time is the platform for the Management team, well the work that Manager Brent Peters along with his Assistant Andy Hill did bring at the half time break brought out a rejuvenated Bacup Borough side, introduced were two substitutes of Martin Cosgrave & Daniel Cocks replacing Johhny Lomas and Danny Hartley, what a substitution these two turned out to be as with only two minutes into the half both players did have an hand in the equalising Bacup goal.

First of all Daniel Cocks won an header which found Cosgrave who inturn did take the centre back on, as Cosgrave went around him the Centre back tried to foul the Bacup player but to no avail, Cosgrave then repaid the passing compliment to Daniel Cocks who’s clever feet were too much for the Clitheroe defender who did trip the Bacup player giving the excellent Referee Mr Young no option bit to award a Bacup penalty, up stepped the Bacup skipper who was almost left embarrassed as his initial effort was saved by Ben Proctor but only as far as back to Davey Luker who did finish at the second time of asking.

From very much this moment on Bacup were rampant and although they did go onto score another four goals equally the same amount if not more were missed.

On fifty two minutes Bacup did take the lead again this came from Daniel Cocks being fouled and a free kick being awarded, Gareth Wager took the dead ball kick from which did find Davey Luker who showed great composure before firing the ball into the keepers left hand corner of the net.

Following this goal the Bacup skipper could easily have completed his hatrick when he produced an excellent strike that was only just over the bar from thirty yards out.

On fifty eight minutes Bacup were guilty of their own downfall when through one individuals stupidity of reacting to a challenge which not only got Martin Cosgrave a yellow card but also gifted the opposition a free kick which did result in this pulsating Cup tie being level, the ball was knocked long, John Luker the Bacup centre back was beat in the air enough for the ball to go in behind, with the Bacup rearguard being square that was enough for the visitors to get back into a game that should by this time have been easily out of sight.

On sixty minutes Lance Ogunyode the Bacup striker scored a goal out of nothing, a goal which is fitting of the magic of the FA Cup, all of twenty five yards out with his back to goal, as the ball comes into him at a good height, the Bacup player’s timing was perfection, he spun connecting with the ball which all the Clitheroe keeper Ben Proctor could do was move his head to catch sight of the ball sailing into his net, this was a goal fitting for the Final occasion of this great competition.

Following this goal Bacup continued to create several chances. Martin Cosgrave was lifted but the impressive official let the advantage go as Daniel Cocks latched onto the loose ball who played into space for Chris Ogunyode but his effort went well over the top of the Clitheroe cross bar, then Daniel Cocks had a superb opportunity when he broke through on the right but instead of putting some weight behind his effort he did try to lift the ball over the keeper which did give the keeper a chance, the right decision and the keeper as no chance.

Clitheroe once again almost scored with a long range effort that obviously caught the Bacup keeper by surprise , dealing with the ball at the second attempt.

On eight five minutes Bacup broke down their left the incoming goal bound effort was well defended for Clitheroe by Bacup Borough’s Martin Cosgrave, however saving the players blushes his team mate Daniel Cocks did pick up the loose ball before picking his spot to make the score line 4-2.

On eighty nine minutes Bacup had got their fifth when Lee Oldham collected a loose ball before passing wide to Cosgrave who then did return the compliment back to Lee who then shot past Ben Proctor for his first goal of this season, however on the basis of the Borough’s last two games previous to this it would not be boro if the self destruct button was not implemented, yet again the did let the opposition back with a goal when Martin Cosgrave did fail to defend his man anticipating the ball was going out of play, the Clitheroe player did just the opposite by anticipating, from this he did keep the ball in play before drilling across the front of goal with pace which Johnney Luker got an unlucky touch to put the ball past his keeper, however this goal did come to little too late, had Bacup have taken all their chances this game would have been over a long time sooner on what could so easily have been an even bigger embarrassing score line.

Following the game an obviously highly delighted Bacup Manager had this to say

“First of all I must congratulate the Clitheroe Management team & players in the sporting manor they did accept defeat, it is not easy at any time when one looses a game, it is even harder to accept when your team are in a league higher although I have said for many a season that in my opinion the North West Counties Premier Division is a tougher proposition than the Evo Stick First Division, this apart the magnitude of the prize money at stake, being the highest placed cluband being well beaten as Clitheroe were, they were all an absolute credit as were the three officials that did take charge of the game,

Peters added, with reference to Bacup Borough I was quietly confident that we would win this game but this would depend on which team turned up, the Bacup team that were going to be fully focussed by playing as a team and playing to our strengths or would it be the Bacup team that could easily create their own self destruct and pay the price, it was a bit of the both Bacup team’s, on a positive note our finishing and creativity was very good whist on a negative note we still did make an attempt to self destruct at times, something we must get out of our game, take the situation when we have come from being one goal down to then taking a two one lead when Martin Cosgrave does get himself involved with something stupid resulting in him receiving a yellow card, conceding a free kick from which through one centre back going to contest the ball which was correct but the other centre back fails to drop off which was wrong meaning that the slight nick that their lad got onto the ball was enough to drop into an area where we cant contest it and they score, all because one piece of indiscipline had a knock on effect,

Peters added it is in games like this game that a good number two like I have got in Andy Hill is worth his weight in gold, whilst I was going to make a change at half time it had not crossed my mind to change the shape of the side, Andy planted a seed into my head which we implemented, from this it turned out that the player I was putting on at the break and the player Andy dropped in my ear along with a change of shape, both had major contributions on this game in the second half , Peters continued “ we really believe in this excellent squad of players we have but they must believe more in themselves, it is no coincidence that prior to the season with no pressure the lads expressed themselves really well in games, since the start of the season some individuals seem to have been playing with a fear which I believe was there in the first half today, once myself and Andy got amongst the lads at half time and stressed to them too relax and believe in themselves more, then despite being one goal down at the break we told them we were confident we would turn the game around,

Peters finished by saying “ if we can get out of the players this self destruct situation we execute onto ourselves, then this team could be a formidable side, I do believe then that not many teams will live with us at all, we have an excellent bunch of lads that can only get better, as for today an excellent second half display capped with a stunning goal from Lance Ogunyode”

Team: Jon Paul Lewis, Adrian Bellamy, Johnny Luker, Gareth Wager, Josh Greenhalgh, Chris Ogunyode (Lee Oldham), Josh Lynch, Davey Luker, Johnny Lomas (Martin Cosgrave), Lance Ogunyode, Daniel Hartley (Daniel Cocks)

Subs Not Used: Robert Fox, Arran Spencer, Luke Hargreaves, Tommy Allen (GK)

Goals: Luker D 47p, 50, Ogunyode 60, Cocks 84, Oldham 88

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