Bucks Held In Burscough

Late goal denies Joe Doran and Phil Stafford's side all three points. Image: Paul Moran

Bootle’s frustrating start to the new season continued at Burscough on Tuesday night after Liam Diggle’s last-gasp strike earned the Greens a point.

In a tight first-half which saw the hosts sit deep and play on the counter-attack, neither side managed to carve out any clear-cut openings - with Bootle’s best chance of the half falling the way of Ryan Cox.

Returning Bootle captain Liam Loughlin fed the forward who turned and let fly with a curling effort that went narrowly wide of the top corner. While at the other end, Terry Cummings saw his effort comfortably saved by Paul Willis in the Bootle goal.

Ten minutes into the second half though, and the hosts were handed a golden opportunity to take the lead when they were awarded a penalty. Tony Rendell brought down the lively Cummings with the referee having little hesitation into pointing to the spot. Josh Dunroe stepped up the hosts' but Willis guessed correctly to palm the midfielders spot-kick away.

Bootle’s best chance of the game came with ten minutes remaining, when Michael Ordish swung in a free-kick from right which found Joel Powell at the back post, but the centre-backs header was somehow kept out by Louis McCarthy.

Two minutes later though, and McCarthy was helpless in preventing the Bucks from taking the lead. Derek Szanto swung erratically at Ordish’s low-cross from the left with the ball looping over McCarthy and into the back of the net.

But in the final minute of stoppage time, Joe Doran and Phil Stafford’s side were hit with the ultimate sucker-punch when the hosts levelled. John Cheatham’s long-ball was headed back across the face of the goal by Cummings for the unmarked Diggle who had the easiest of finishes from six-yards out.