Curtain falls on Alliance League

Tommy Taylor - scored the equaliser

Following the midweek reserve exploits for three of the 1^st year defenders along with a number of injuries to attacking players the squad was stretched a little thin. The centre half pairing was plucked from the U-16 team, with Tom Anderson partnered by Alex Coleman. Steve Edwards was employed in an unfamiliar left back role, while Dom Knowles was dropped back into the midfield in the absence of Joe McKee.

The first half hour was largely forgettable stuff, with neither side carving our much of note. The goalkeepers were mere spectators as both defences won their respective battles with the forwards. The first real chances came on the half hour mark and it was Wigan who had it and Wigan who took it. A left wing cross was met by the unchecked leap of a visiting player and he guided his header just past the diving Danny McDonald, and inside the post.

It sparked us a little and we finally managed a shot of our own, but the long range drive from Tommy Taylor fizzed over the bar. It was the tricky winger who drew things level just before the half time break though, and what a goal it was. We broke from the half way line through Dave Lynch. He clipped a ball to the left of the box and onto the run of Michael King. It ran a little too far for his left leg so he did a quick pivot and spun it onto his right, swinging over a cross. A defender leapt but it slid off his head and continued to the back post where the waiting Taylor struck a wonderful right foot volley past a despairing keeper.

The 2^nd half was much the same of the 1^st, with little to get too excited about from the Clarets point of view. There was some baffling decision making from the ref, though I'm not complaining as the decisions largely went for us. Tom Anderson escaped a booking that the whole crowd (and probably even himself) expected after appearing to commit a foul on half way. The whistle went and everyone drifted into our half, but the ref informed us all he'd seen the foul a different way, giving us the free kick and booking the Wigan 8.

Wigan also felt that they should have had a penalty following an Edwards challenge. It was at the other end so I couldn't see, but it didn't look like we'd won the ball. They also appealed for handball when the ball was smashed at a defender but that was rightly waved away.

As for chances in the half, Wigan had the lions share as we rarely looked dangerous. Our sole effort came from Joe Jackson as a through ball was slipped through a static defence for him to run on to. He clipped it over the keeper, who just managed to get a slight touch which diverted it wide. Wigan had a couple of long range drives, the first saved by McDonald and the second deflected wide. They also headed over unmarked from the subsequent corner.

The general consensus was that it was a fair result but I'd have to say I thought we were a little fortunate, but the game did have an end of season feel. With some attacking options on the bench we may have been able to create more with some changes to the system, but as it was the game and season ended with a draw.

Team:- Danny McDonald, Dean Overson, Steve Edwards, Alex Coleman, Tom Anderson, Dave Lynch, Dom Knowles, Michael King, Tommy Taylor, Ross Wilson, Joe Jackson.
Subs not used:- Ed Williams, Curtis Woods, Neil Yadolahi, Josh Cook