Tuesday 27th September 2022, NWCFL Premier Division

Burscough 1 (Awe 82)
West 6 (Elliott 9, 37, 52, 56, Lewens 63, Swift 90)
Att: 82

Ben Elliott’s four-goal haul set West on the way to a big win at Burscough.

Elliott’s 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th goals of the season established the platform for a fourth successive win, with Max Lewens and Joel Swift adding further gloss as West moved back into the NWCFL Premier Division top seven.

The home side, who slipped into the relegation zone after this defeat, may have felt aggrieved to go into the interval two goals behind after a competitive first half. But there could be no arguments about the full-time scoreline as West took total control after the break.

Burscough’s artificial surface ensured a fast-paced game, and the action flew from end to end in the opening period. The Linnets spurned two big chances either side of Elliott’s opener – the home side were off-target from good positions on both occasions, but the West number 9 was more clinical when he collected Liam Delaney’s pass and finished past goalkeeper Ciaran O’Loughlin.

West began to wrest control of the game as the first half wore on, and Lewens had a shot tipped round the post by the goalkeeper. Elliott added his second seven minutes before the interval – his pressing won the ball back inside the Burscough area and his shot wrong-footed O’Loughlin, sneaking inside his near post.

The visitors had further chances as they looked to wrap the game up before half time, but it only took Elliott seven minutes to complete his treble following the restart. He found space to connect with Darren McKnight’s corner, powerfully heading past O’Loughlin from inside the six yard box.

Number four followed moments later – Elliott linked up with Delaney again, and his finish was that of a striker coursing with confidence as he emphatically found the roof of the net.

It was now a case of how many West were going to score, and Lewens added a fifth just after the hour mark, proving too quick for the Linnets defence and sliding the ball past the onrushing keeper.

Further chances for Lee Gavin and McKnight followed, but the Linnets’ Mosopeoluwo Awe provided the only blot on West’s evening with eight minutes remaining, punishing a failure to clear a set-piece.

However, Joel Swift ensured that West had the final say in the final minute of normal time – Andrew Jones claimed a rare assist, as his ball hoisted into the Linnets half found both Swift and Rhain Davis unmarked and onside. Swift won the argument and tapped home to complete the night’s scoring and round off a second rout in as many league games, following the 8-0 win at Longridge ten days earlier.

West: A. Jones, Cook, Hancock (Graham 70), Delaney (Swift 68), Hampson, Foulds, Eme (Gavin 61), McKnight (C. Jones 74), Elliott (Taylor 78), Davis, Lewens.

Eckersley’s Plumbers & Locksmiths Player of the Match: Ben Elliott.

What it means

Our fifth league win of the season, coupled with Congleton Town’s defeat at Irlam, sees us leapfrog the Bears and Padiham to move back into 7th.

What’s next

A fifth away game in six matches is on the horizon, as we travel to Padiham on Saturday 1st October (3pm).