Match report: Bacup Borough

Thornton-Cleveleys are left in defeat during their return back to Gamble Road in a scrappy affair against travelling side Bacup Borough that won 2-1.

Despite Luke Noble firing home for the Reds early on in the first half, they weren’t able to hold on and Bacup relished in the glory as they scored twice to win the game.

It was a positive start to the game from the Reds as captain, Oliver Wilkinson, won a free-kick in a dangerous area straight from kick off.

It only took 8 minutes for Luke Noble to be at the right place at the right time to receive a clever cutback from tricky, Jacob Aspinall, to slot the ball in the back of the net.

Paul Gregory’s side, showed brilliance after the goal to carry on creating chances, Jon Fraser set one up nicely from a free-kick, Josh Eccles reached the ball from the back post but couldn’t generate enough power to convert it to goal.

After already assisting today and scoring a brace last week, Aspinall was eager to get onto the scoresheet this time around, this proved when the winger cut the ball onto his left foot and curled one in towards the back post, the ball travelled only slightly wide.

Bacup gave the home side something to worry about as their attacker got a shot away in a busy box, but the cat, Mark Smith, managed to get down quick to make a good save.

Jordan Beavers was in two minds when he was played through on goal by a brilliant flick on from Wilkinson, the attacker decided to play the ball over to Noble instead of taking the shot himself and Noble wasn’t able to reach the ball after he was full stretch.

In the 37th minute Bacup were able to capitalise on the Reds dropping their guard as their rebounded free-kick was slotted in by their striker.

Wilkinson tried to end the half with something to cheer about as he was played through on goal but the opposition goal keeper beat him to the race and the two clashed together as the first half whistle blows.

The second half began with both teams eager to take the lead as they both come out the blocks with a couple chances each, including a Bacup crossbar hit.

Noble had a chance to take the lead in the game and double his own scoring as Jordan Moran raised above the rest to flick it onto him but the striker missed the target as his volley travelled wide from a few yards out.

Mark Smith was then called upon to stop a flurry of chances from Bacup and the keeper was more than equal to them.

It was another good move from Beavers as he dropped his defender to win a free-kick in a dangerous area.

Oliver Wilkinson looked confident as he stepped up to take the set piece and the crowd were on their feet as he hit the woodwork at a crucial time.

Manager, Paul Gregory, decided to make a triple attacking change mid-way through the second half to try and unbalance to scoring in his team’s favour.

The substitutes and chances created from the home team didn’t phase Bacup in the 71st minute after the ball was blasted up the opposition attack and after another good save from Smith, he wasn’t able to make it a double this time when the traveling side punished the Reds with a curling effort.

The hosts struggled with the aggression that Bacup brought with them and the whistle became the referee’s best friend.

Through all the disciplines, Beavers was able to create himself a chance but despite being through on goal, the youngster couldn’t convert when he needed to most.

After a lacklustre second half, the Reds ended the game in defeat as they couldn’t pull a goal back and Bacup went home with all three points.