They say Lightening Does Not Strike Twice, Well it certainly did for Bacup Borough who have now registered four points from a possible six.
New Signing Jason Finch who on his last debut for Bacup some four seasons ago scored then and he came off the substitutes bench in this game to score and have a major impact in the home sides final minute equiliser. Bacup started the game well, full of confidence on the back of their mid week victory, two opening half chances fell to Jon Stephenson and then following good work from Repullo Danny Hartley struck the bar with Runcorn Keeper Rob Holcroft well beaten, it was then Phil Melville the Bacup keeper that was brought into action following a free kick from which the Runcorn player got the better of Slavin for Melville to produce a top drawer save.
On twenty five minutes Bacup Captain Matthew Cross gave away a needless free kick at the edge of the Bacup Penalty area, the quality of the kick made the opening goal which Dave Thompson got accross defender Stuart Shepherd to glance the ball into the net giving the vistors a lead they could perhaps feel fortunate to have.
Bacup continued to get into good areas particular Danny Hartley who was unlucky not to have got the home side a deserved equilser on two occasions before the break.
At half time Bacup were forced into a change when Davey Luker had to withdraw due to a Groin injury Jon Borg replaced him.
The home side had a let off at the start of the half when Cross was easily disposessed of the ball which Melville produced a good save which was pushed into the path of an advancing player but Repullo cleared off the line, on fifty five minutes Runcorn went two goals up, but what a bizare goal, it was a long kick from the Runcorn Keeper Rob Holcroft which was assisted by the strong wind, with no danger the ball was dropping to Bacups last man Matthew Cross who inexplicably did allow the ball to bounce which not only decieved Cross but Melville in the Bacup goal.
In an attempt to get back into this game Bacup Manager Brent Peters introduced two strikers in Jason Finch and Tony Carroll replacing Jon Stephenson and defender and Captain Matthew Cross, the formation was also changed, going into the final twenty minutes of the game Bacup having plenty of the ball without any creativity, this was until Bacup won a free kick in a wide left position, Lee Stott whipped in a quality ball which Jason Finch ghosted in away from his marker to give Bacup a valuable life line, however it was almost a different story when Lee Stott was in good posession of the ball, a clip forward into the channel would have been the perfect ball however Stott held onto the ball to long ended up he lost possession Rucorn broke bringing two top drawer saves from Melville before Chadwick headed against his own cross bar before being cleared, had this have gone in it would have been game over and an injustice to Bacup for the way they had played, Bacup still battled and were still pressing forward in numbers striving for the break their play deserved, Danny Hartley did well winning his side a corner, with only minutes remaining Lee Stott delivered another quality ball in which Finch attacked goal bound with a powerful header, Holcroft was well beaten but his effort was well saved with a defenders hand, all the Bacup players were at the Referee claiming the handball which he was looking at his linesman to his right, amazingly the Linesman was none the wiser and the handball was almost not given until his other linesman flagged to assure the official that the ball was handled preventing a goal scoring opportunity, Bacup were awarded a penalty, Stuart Shephered stepped up to take and convert the pressure kick giving Bacup a share of the points they overhaul deserved.
Brent Peters Managers Comments " The final incident of this game does come at a time when the FA are appealing for zero tolerence to officials, this is fine and dandy but what the FA must realise (and I am sure they do) just what pressure there are on teams that are pushing for promotion or engulfed in a relegation dog fight as we are, In this game the lads have worked hard to get something from the game, their second in three days, yet all their hard work, determination could easilly have come to nothing because first of all the Referee seemed to bottle the responsibility of giving the penalty which was that blatant and a top save that a keeper I once recall being called the flying pig would have been proud of, the official looks to his right to his assistant who was away with the fairies and looked back as though to say he was not taking responsibility, by this time the Referee is being surrounded by frantic Bacup Players which could easilly have brought yellow or even red cards so much were my players incenced of what seemed like they were going to be denied a perfect penalty claim, this was until the Assistant on the opposite side who was awake did have the bottle to take the responsibility in ensuring the Referee did award the kick. My point is that blatant decision does not get given (which was almost the case ) then when Promotion and Relegation issues can be decided by incompetant officials, Managers could loose their livelyhoods on the back of this, yet the FA are looking for Zero Tolerence? this will come when players and managers have respect for the officials, this will only come when it is earned, it will only be earned when the FA (which I am sure they are trying to do) and that is to ensure what ever it does take that money is spent on the officials development and we then get officials that when the Referee is looking to his Assistant for further guidence on a situation, that the Assistant is totally switched on to what is happening.
Thankfully justice and the intervention of the other Assistant proved that in a week when the FA are promoting Zero Tolerence Bacup Borough were able to cooporate."
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