LOWER BRECK 3, WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON 1
Lower Breck are determined to keep the heat on North West Counties League, premier leaders Bury.
The Liverpool side’s emphatic win against play-off rivals West Didsbury & Chorlton lifted Breck to second. They are nine points behind the Shakers but have played two less matches.
And with an early kick off against FC St Helens at home on Saturday, the lead could be cut to six by the time Bury next take to the field.
“Yes, it was a big win against a very good side,” explained Breck manager Gary Moore.
“We feel we are the only team which can catch Bury as Ramsbottom have had a wobble at the wrong time.”
It was a huge match in the shadow on Anfield, Liverpool’s home which is less than one mile away.
It was a case of lucky 13 as that was how many minutes it took Breck to make the breakthrough as Liam Morris hit his first goal of the season, a wonder strike from almost 30 yards into the top corner.
Midfielder Morris was once on the books of Everton and Bolton and had a spell playing professionally in Greece and joined Breck earlier in the season from Warrington Rylands.
Breck doubled the lead at the end of the half when West Didsbury’s Jake Kenney headed into his own net from a corner by former Blackburn Rovers player Sam Burns.
It got even better for the hosts who added a third goal in the 57th minute, another spectacular effort, this time from striker Tom Croughan, his 15th of the season.
Croughan, a former Tranmere Rovers youth player, cut in from the left before firing into the far top corner of the net.
West Didsbury reduced the deficit mid-half when Billy Matthews’ cross from the left was sliced into his own net by substitute James Cooper who was making his debut for the club having signed on dual forms from Widnes.
The goal sparked the visitors belatedly to life as they suddenly put Breck on the back foot and had a couple of great chances to further reduce the deficit and possibly make it a twitchy finish.
They failed to find the net again and in the latter stages Breck had a couple of near misses which could have given them an even wider margin of victory.
The loss leaves West Didsbury still clinging on to the last play-off spot in what looks like being quite a scrap for a top five finish.