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Tuesday 4th April - Burscough  0-1  Frickley Athletic

Chris Adam's first half goal was enough to see the Blues beat Burscough this evening and move four points clear at the top of the table. Chances went begging at both ends during the second half but the Blues ought to have added a second goal as they repeatedly breached the Burscough defence.

With Alex Callery still not fully fit Gary Marrow kept faith with the same side that defeated Matlock Town on Saturday.

Burscough made the better start to the game, forcing the Blues back for most of the opening ten minutes or so and they had a good chance to open the scoring after 16 minutes but Tony Gray put his angled shot into the side netting. However, the Blues took the lead against the run of play after 20 minutes with their first real attack of note. Lee Pugh won the ball in the centre of the Burscough half before feeding CHRIS ADAM who burst through the home defence to fire a low shot past David Newnes from 18 yards. This saw the game turn on its head as it was now the Blues who looked the more likely to score, no more so than after 33 minutes when Adam's free kick from the right was cleared to Peter Duffield some 20 yards out and he hit a first time volley through a crowded penalty area that Newnes somehow managed to block with an outstretched leg. The ball was cleared back to Duffield who again returned a low first time shot and again Newnes denied him. Just before half time Adam fed the overlapping Martyn Woolford down the left of the box but Newnes again saved well.

The home side started the second half in much the same way as they had started the first and Gary Ingham had to be alert to catch a curling 187 yard shot from Gray. However, despite enjoying spells of pressure they were failing to really trouble Ingham's goal. The Blues had chances to extend their lead with Woolford glancing a header straight at Newnes following a Calum Selby corner after 71 minutes whilst a minute later Mark Ward sent Woolford clear but Newnes tipped his 18 yard shot around the post. Gray again threatened an equaliser on 75 minutes after wriggling his way into the box but the Blues' defence closed ranks and denied him a shooting opportunity. Minutes later a great run from half way by Woolford saw him released Ward on the edge of the box but he shot inches wide of the left hand post. On 85 minutes Woolford was again clear but, after pushing the ball past Newnes, Lee Dames managed to get back and clear off the line.