Bacup Borough continue their impressive unbeaten run at their Brian Boys West View Stadium and with the amount of possession the home team had throughout the game three points should have been secured but the hard working Staffordshire side and a keeper in fine form ensured their trip up the M6 Motorway was not for nothing.

Bacup Borough once the game settled ten minutes into it were very much the dominant side, Josh Greenhalgh answered his managers call of full backs influencing the game high up the pitch when he made a terrific run from the full back position into the Bacup Borough’s attacking third where he provided the pass for Davey Luker to shoot goal bound from which the Stone keeper Barry Weston pulled off a very good save.

It was once again the Bacup defender that did get onto the ball from deep before shooting goal bound but into Weston’s hands.

Bacup had a let off when their keeper Matthew Wrigley did fail to concentrate and by not doing so his attempted short goal kick to his full back was intercepted but luckily for Bacup the lad took a bad touch and the danger was averted.

Bacup replied with a good flowing move that involved Arran Spencer and Luke Hargreaves from which Arran Spencer shot just wide, then following a Stone Dominoes attack Bacup very quickly counter attacked down the right when Martin Cosgrave had beaten the offside trap, Cosgrave finding himself in a very good position for some reason did check back which by doing so certainly let the visitors off the hook, some more thought and inventiveness would most certainly have caused Stone a major problem.

Thirty minutes into the game Davey Luker delivered a good cross from the left which Arran Spencers header did unluckily come back off the underside of the cross bar before being cleared.

Minutes later despite Bacup Borough’s dominance it was the visitors that did take the lead when a left wing cross was not dealt with by the Bacup keeper allowing James Curley to head in at the far post area.

Stones lead was short lived as five minutes later the game in terms of the score was level again, Kingsley Williams did well getting onto the ball before pushing forward supplying the pass to Arran Spencer who in turn did play an intelligent ball in for Martin cosgrave who had drifted in from the opposite side did produce a clinical finish.

With half time fast approaching and Bacup now even more increasing the pace of the game were suffered a set back when the lively Arran Spencer was caught with a late challenge, Spencer was motionless on the ground from which several minutes delay was inevitable in order to make Arran comfortable before having to be taken off to casualty, Arran Spencer was replaced by Daniel Cocks who did almost give his side an half time lead when he advanced into the box before shaping his effort which went just wide of the far post.

At the half time break Bacup did make their second substitute when Lance Ogunyode did take to the field replacing Luke Hargreaves.

The second half was constant Bacup pressure from which they did keep knocking on the door but sadly could not find that vital break through to get themselves in front, although for the second game un a row the officials have played parts in this, Daniel Cocks did well chasing down an hopeful ball which by his persistence did keep the ball in play from the bye line, Cocks then with his quick feet did advance in the box before being brought down, the Assistant with the clearer view did award the penalty but the Referee quickly over ruled him much once again adding to Bacup Borough’s frustration of officials getting the important decisions wrong.

At the end of the game the Bacup Borough Manager Brent Peters first of all paid tribute to the Stone Dominoes Management team when he had this to say

“Following the injury and the traumatic situation Arran Spencer was in I cannot heap enough praise for the help and assistance the Stone Management team gave to me and my Physio in making Arran as comfortable as possible with the lad suffering traumatic shock, equally their concern was such several hours after the game with telephone calls, reference the game itself Peters added, I thought we played very well and did have long periods of good possession without on the day of having that cutting edge to have got the three points, but credit must go to the work rate that this young Stone side did put in and their effort fully endorses my point of if every member of your team work hard through out, then rewards will come, Stone got a point due to their tireless effort, this along with a keeper that ensured the door would stay closed for Bacup”

Peters went on, I thought our keeper should without any doubt in my mind have dealt with their goal, whilst it was an excellent cross it was very much the keepers all day long, I was impressed with the efforts of Josh Greenhalgh, his influencing the game high up the pitch was something we have been missing, I was also impressed with Matthew Hampson, Arran Spencer was also doing well up until having to go to Hospital, Peters finished by saying, “ We looked well organised, a tight unit and did play some excellent football, whilst it was only one point and not three points, the performance did please me “

Team: Matthew Wrigley, Adrian Bellamy, Gareth Wager, Marc Taylor, Josh Greenhalgh, Matthew Hampson, Kingsley Williams, Davey Luker, Martin Cosgrave (Chris Ogunyode), Luke Hargreaves (Lance Ogunyode), Arran Spencer (Daniel Cocks)

Subs Not Used: Haydn Paul, Steve Dryden

Goals: Martin Cosgrave 35

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