LANCASHIRE Constabulary were robbed of victory thanks to the late, late show from Burnley Magpies.

The Police, playing the first game of their debut season in the league, dominated the opening half and raced to a deserved 12-point lead by the interval.

And they held a similar lead midway through the second period until the Magpies' swooped to make a dramatic late surge to seal the win that took them to the top of the table.

In the early stages the Police, with players mainly based in Hyndburn and Blackburn, completely controlled the match and by the 13th minute led 29-15 - with Alan Park showing he had an eye for goal as it was him who was causing most of the damage.

However, the Magpies staged a mini fightback just before the break when Michael Thompson got a couple of long range 'three pointers' to reduce the lead to 12 points as the Police went in 45-33 up.

Immediately after the break, the Magpies launched there first comeback and in a 15-point frenzy, where Glenn Dunleavy grabbed six of them, the Burnley team took a one point 51-50 lead by the sixth minute of the half.

But back came the Police, who at this stage looked like they were not missing their star player Dave Shaw who has experience of playing in the National League.

This time it was Mark Driver who was causing the damage and it was his sharp shooting that restored the Police's lead and with just seven minutes left on the clock they led 66-55.

Just when you thought the Magpies were down and out, they launched their second comeback thanks to Tom McEvoy whose three consecutive baskets put them right back in the game and now they only trailed the Police by just three points at 66-63.

By now the Magpies were in the ascendancy and their magnificent comeback was complete when they raced into the lead at 69-64.

The leaders then managed to close out the game and held on to win 75-71 in a pulsating match.

The Magpies have now won two of the three games this season having also beaten Tappers on the opening day before losing by eight points against reigning league champions Colne Cougars. Manager Michael Thompson, who clocked up 19 match-winning points, said that the game could have gone either way.

He said: "This may be the Police's first season in this league but they are a very experienced side. It was a hell of a battle and we are really pleased to have come back to win because at half time we really had our work cut out."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.