Damage in the Box!: NORTH FERRIBY UNITED (Church Lane)

For the second Saturday in succession, it was to be the rain that would have the biggest influence on where I would be heading for today's action. Fortunately, the east coast usually gets off lightest when it comes to iffy weather, so a quick call to the secretary of North Ferriby to confirm the game would go ahead was met with a firm yes, so it was along the M62 I trundled.

North Ferriby is a small village 8 miles west of Hull and the football team is well established in the Northern Premier League, after being promoted in 2005. Burscough were relegated from the Conference North last season after finishing second bottom. This season has been indifferent for both teams The Villagers were in 10th position on 23 points (but with games in hand) whilst The Linnets were a point behind in 12th (but having played 3 games more).

The actual game was a pretty insipid affair, which was settled by a goal from Gary Bradshaw on the half hour. The striker slid in to challenge the 'keeper, who looked to have the ball comfortably under control, but he allowed it to squirm from his grasp and Bradshaw was left with a simple tap in. This was no more than North Ferriby deserved after totally dominating the first half, but unfortunately their attempts at goal caused more trouble to the spuds in the allotments behind the goal than it it did to Linnets custodian Kyle Clancy.

The heavens opened at half time and the second half was played in driving rain and, to be brutally honest, was total rubbish. The Villagers had a couple of chances to extend their lead but Clancy saved well. Any chance Burscough had of salvaging a point disappeared when Thomas Moore was sent off for a needless elbow.

You can't have a good game every week, but my run of not seeing any 0-0's this season continued and with the bad weather I was just happy to get a game in.