Burscough1 Radcliffe Borough 1

A MAGNIFICENT display by Burscough keeper John Bagnall denied Boro an automatic passage into the first round proper and a home tie with Nationwide League Third Division strugglers York City.

As it is, Kevin Glendon's men are in the box seat for the replay at Stainton Park on Monday November 6 (kick-off 7.45pm) against the UniBond Premier League outfit after ruling the roost at Victoria Park on Saturday.

Burscough must have felt mightily relieved to be given a second chance after a string of Boro efforts brought the very best out of Bagnall.

Boro could have grabbed two goals in the opening two minutes. Bagnall tipped a Simon Carden blockbuster over the bar within a minute of the kick-off and almost immediately Ian Lunt and Tony Whealing had efforts cleared off the line.

Burscough were content to keep their goal intact in the early stages, but gradually began to gain a toehold.

After 14 minutes McEvilly broke through to round Danny Hurst, but James Price got back quickly to clear the goal-bound shot.

Boro continued to look the more dangerous, but the elusive Robbie Talbot was causing problems, first firing over, then bringing a fine save from Hurst.

Boro responded through Lunt, but he couldn't find the target with two efforts. The best chance came after 27 minutes when neat approach work set up Neil Hardy, but Bagnall again produced a magnificent save.

Hardy tried his luck again two minutes later, but his wind-assisted 30-yarder drifted wide.

Burscough took the lead, rather undeservedly, in the 32nd minute after the Boro defence seemed to have dealt with a tricky run by Birch. The ball fell kindly for Steve Leahy though and he steered it past the unsighted Hurst into the bottom corner. Further first half efforts from Boro went unrewarded as Bagnall denied Hardy and Simon Carden and when Boro did find a way past him the full back cleared off the line.

Hurst was called into action just before the break when he spared Price's blushes, saving at Talbot's feet after the Boro defender had casually lost possession.

The second half saw Boro determined to grab the equaliser. Lunt's effort was parried and then cleared off the line, but Burscough continued to try to punish the visitors on the break.

Talbot headed over from close range, but it was Boro who looked the more dangerous. Carden hit the bar with a header before the equaliser finally arrived in the 59th minute via the penalty spot.

Lunt went down in the penalty area under Hanson's challenge and skipper Mark Dempsey stepped up to confidently convert the spot kick.

Lunt again got through shortly after that, only to be denied by Bagnall again, while, at the other end, McEvilly and Clandon both went close.

As the heavens opened, the game was played in torrential rain for a 10-minute spell during which Burscough began to exert some pressure.

It was now the Boro defence's turn to earn their stripes which they did with great credit. Hurst made a couple of smart saves and Simon Kelly made several valuable interceptions.

It was from one of these that Kelly made a surging run forward into the heart of the Burscough defence, but the final pass wasn't good enough.

The last bit of action saw Dave Collins, an 85th minute substitute for Lunt, find room in the box, but Boro claims for a penalty were denied when Collins was brought down from behind.

BORO: Hurst 7, Battersby 7, Whealing 7, S. Kelly 8, Bean 7, Dempsey 8, Lunt 7, Carden 7, Wilson 7, Hardy 8, Price 8. Substitutes: Collins (for Lunt 85 mins). Not used: E. Kelly, Callaghan, Edwards, Senior.