OK let's not get too carried away. This was only the FA Trophy First Qualifying Round…oh sod it, let's get carried away! With three quarters of Salford's normal back four missing through injury, suspension and unavailability, this was a fantastic victory against a team from a higher league.
With centre forward, Danny Heffernan playing centre back, and winger Scott Metcalfe filling in at left back, Salford City's makeshift defence didn't allow Burscough one clear shot at goal during the whole match.
Burscough, bottom of their own Evo-Stik Premier League and having to play at Skelmersdale's ground, offered almost nothing, bar a melee in the Salford goalmouth that ended with the ball being headed off the line at the end of the first half. By that time, the Ammies were already a goal up, courtesy of Gavin Salmon sweeping home the rebound after Cayne Hanley's superb free kick from the edge of the area had hit the post.
The second half was notable only for handbags between Salford's Glyn Barker and Buscough's centre half which resulted in them both being sent off. Other than that `action', Adam Morning went close twice, the Burscough keeper palming his first shot over the bar, then catching his free kick just under the bar.
As the wind that dominated a scrappy game, half a dozen Skelmersdale supporters who'd "only come for your hubcaps" were asking how much it was to get out. Yes, it wasn't pretty. But who cares? Salford City go marching on in the non-league FA Cup.
And, having stuffed Clitheroe in the previous round and now Burscough from a higher league, anything is possible. So let's get carried away…until the draw for the next Qualifying Round on Monday…
`Wem-ber-ley… Wem-ber-ley…We're the famous Salford City and we're going to Wem-ber-ley…
…Wem-ber-ley…Wem-ber-ley!'
Photos by Andrew Goudie
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