Old Blackburnians 0 Burscough 5

LEEDS United reject Lee McEvilly shattered Old Blackburnians hopes of lifting the Lancashire Youth Cup for the first time with a display that just might give the Elland Road club second thoughts.

McEvilly scored one, made two and was a constant threat all night.

The tall striker showed all the qualities that could see him go a long way in the game - strength, speed and that annoying swagger that seems to accompany gifted players who know they have 'got it'.

Even his reputation came before him with tales that he had a trial at Celtic and scored a hat-trick against Rangers!

Unfortunately for the Old Blacks band of gifted players none of them really lived up to the occasion.

While Burscough ran out worthy winners and probably deserved their five goals, considering the amount of chances they created, it could have been a different story.

The Old Blacks were stunned by two early goals, conceded a third while enjoying their best spell of the game and let in another two in the closing few minutes.

But a missed penalty when they were just 2-0 down proved costly.

Old Blacks started well enough without really settling in to the style of play which they are normally accustomed to. Daniel Leathert fired wide from a narrow angle from Liam Lishman's cross then Andrew Haworth fired just over with dipping shot from the edge of the box.

But after a few early warnings of what McEvilly could do, the striker finally scored. Nobody picked him up from a corner and he volleyed home from close range. Burscough then went 2-0 up thanks to a cheeky header by Dave Jackson as Walsh raced out of goal.

In fairness to the Old Blacks they responded well. The speedy Leon O'Neil got a chance to show his pace when he fired just wide on the run then Lishman should have done better when he headed Mark Eddleston's corner wide.

But all the time the Blackburn side were growing in confidence and their hard work appeared to pay off when Daniel Leathert was pole-axed in the box and the referee awarded a penalty.

But Eddleston let the unsporting behaviour of McEvilly and Burscough keeper Matty Taylor get the better of him and his spot kick was weak and easily saved.

A goal then would have troubled Burscough and they knew it. After the break Old Blacks continued to search for a way back into the game but it was Burscough who looked more dangerous on the counter attack. And so it proved when they scored a killer third goal when McEvilly cut inside his marker and released Jackson who slid the ball under Walsh.

McEvilly was then instrumental in the fourth goal when his powerful shot was spilled by Walsh and Frankie Lacken rolled home the loose ball.

Old Blacks' substitute Paul Jackson tested Taylor with a fierce free kick but Burscough had the final say when Greg Fagan scored with a looping header.

OLD BLACKBURNIANS: Michael Walsh, Michael Berardi, Kieran Keigher, Adeyemi Adeshiyan, Sam Hayes (capt), Andrew Haworth, Daniel Leathert, Liam Lishman, Leon O'Neil, Mark Eddleston and Ryan Walsh. Subs: Daniel Shaw, Alex Campbell, Paul Jackson and Claudio Bellusci

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