Two goals from debutant Liam Nethercote weren’t enough for the Reds to bring anything away from the Brian Boys West View Stadium.

Behind at the break to a hugely controversial penalty, two goals in ten minutes from Nethercote put the Reds into the lead and the possibility of the elusive first win of the season looked to be on. However, suicidal defending, as quoted by AFC Liverpool manager Paul Moore, was the be their undoing once again. After Liam Turner had brought his side level, an off the ball incident saw Bacup awarded a free kick on the edge of the box presenting Daniel Cocks with an opportunity to find the top corner.

The Reds started brightly and Francis Barry fired the first shot in anger, requiring strong hands from Max Johnson to turn the ball over. A further shot from Stephen Groves was a more comfortable affair for the goalkeeper and later he gratefully gathered the ball after a last heavy touch from Shaun Chart had prematurely ended a wonderful twisting, mazy run.

Having shown no threat, Bacup won a penalty when Cocks picked the ball up just inside the area, looked to attack the defence but lost possession before tripping over his own feet. Davey Luker snapped up the gift presented to his side, sending Josh Molloy the wrong way.

Ten minutes later, Molloy produced a fine reaction save to palm away Haydn Paul’s header from Cock’s corner but it was the Reds who finished the half the stronger. Nethercote, who was a constant threat and had previously had two shots deflected that favoured the home side, almost drew the Reds level on the stroke of half time with the aid of anther deflection. He effort looped up over Johnson after striking Edward Williams but the keeper did well to scramble back, flinging himself to scoop the ball to safety.

Two minutes after the re-start the home side should have doubled their advantage when Kingsley Williams met Cocks free kick but his bullet header flashed past the wrong side of the upright as far as he was concerned.

Nethercote finally got his reward on fifty one minutes when, with striker’s instinct, he turned the ball home from six yards after Barry had flicked on Chart’s free kick. On sixty minutes, the striker doubled his tally with a fine solo effort. Picking the ball up ten yards in the Bacup half and out on the right touchline, he drove purposefully inside into the area before guiding the ball beyond the reach of Johnson.

Having come from behind for the first time this season, the Reds unfortunately could hold onto that lead and the home side equalised seven minutes later. Paul got in behind the Reds back four and he squared for Turner who finished with a simple side foot.

Steve Corris came close to restoring AFC Liverpool’s lead with a fine long range drive but as has been the case previously this season, the Reds handed the opposition an opportunity for a goal. Anthony Brown and Cocks rose together to challenge for a header and fell entangled but Brown reacted foolishly and though the referee didn’t spot this incident, his linesman did and after a quick consultation, the referee booked Brown and awarded Bacup a free kick on the edge of the area. Cocks himself struck the dead ball, finding the top corner.

Perhaps deflated at losing the lead, AFC Liverpool couldn’t rise up again and the home side comfortably saw out the remaining fifteen minutes.

Bacup Borough 3-2 AFC Liverpool
Luker (p) 18′                 Nethercote 51′, 60′
Turner 67′, Cocks 75′

Attendance: 75

Photo courtesy of Dave Williams