BACUP were disappointed to return from Formby empy-handed after the crossbar denied them a share of the spoils

There was little to separate the sides in the first half, although recalled Bacup keeper Adam Potts had to make a couple of decent saves to keep the scoresheet blank at the break.

But a below-strength Bacup side were caught napping just moments after the re-start when Potts conceded a corner when trying to deal with a firmly hit back-pass from Brian Winrow.

The initial danger was cleared but with Karl Stanley unable to cut out a cross back into the box, Mark Wilson rose to glance a header beyond Potts for what proved to be the winner.

Manager Brent Peters made a couple of changes to try and spark a fightback and substitute Alex Binnie saw a shot cleared off the line. Sixteen-year-old debutant Chris Skarrett then kept Bacup in the hunt by clearing off his own line. and they almost capitalised following their best move of the game three minutes from time, but Nicky Taylor saw his shot come back off the bar.

Great Harwood's Floodlit Cup quarter-final at home to Salford will be played tomorrow night.

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