Pilkington 2-1 Bacup Borough - Match Report

After Joseph Fallon put the travelling Bacup one goal to the good in the second-half and the game reaching the final minute, Pilkington stage an unbelievable late fight-back after strikes from Liam Paton and Yacin Amarzou.

In a start to a game with nothing to hammer home about in terms of chances, both sides inferred they were up for it as lots of rough challenges and gritty displays painted the picture of the opening twenty minutes. In one for a kick-out, Bacup’s Bradley Hancock was sent for an early shower.

From then, the game continued to have needle throughout however, the closing stages of the first period brought goal-mouth action. Pilkington began a spell of domination, with the first effort coming from Bebeto Gomes. The ‘Greens’ winger rose highest from an in-swinging ball into the area to meet it on his head, but he couldn’t keep his header down as it despairingly flew over. Callum Preston also saw an effort drift over the bar before Mason Walker was called into action for the first time, saving George Lomax’s flicked header and Bruno de Almeida Severino rattled the bar.

Bacup’s effort in the first half was calved out by Anthony Hall, who drove at the ‘Greens’ defence before his shot landed at the grateful grasps of Jake Hilton.

HT: Pilkington 0-0 Bacup Borough

The visitors began brightest in the second half as Aiden Lancaster’s free-kick stung Hilton’s palms. From the resulting corner, Joseph Fallon took the ball down before arrowing an effort into the right hand corner, putting Bacup in front.

More gutsy tackles flew in and as the game began to liven up, Pilkington could be forgiven for scratching their head as to how they never buried a few efforts in the second half. Chris Lomax was a bright spark in the Pilkington attack, almost turning provider and scoring in a matter of moments after each other. A teasing ball by Lomax’s was flicked wide by the head of George Lomax before the ‘Greens’ 10 thought his goal had come. Gomes’ ball to Lomax was unbelievably smothered by Walker.

Kyle Siddle revitalised Bacup’s attacking prowess after forcing Hilton to save before the ball was in the net again, as already goalscorer, Joseph Fallon, thought he had his and Borough’s second but the goal was swiftly ruled out to cut short the premature celebrations.

Despairing efforts from Gary Kenny and George Lomax didn’t nestle in the back of the net - and as time ran out, it looked as if time had ran out for a way back into the contest for the hosts before they dramatically equalised. Liam Paton spun in the box before firing into the corner to rescue sanity for the hosts.

With virtually the final kick of the contest, the remarkable turn around was complete. It was a scrape to try a get a long ball hauled into the area however, Yacin Amarzou reacted to the loose, scuffed clearance to smash home.

FT: Pilkington 2-1 Bacup Borough