Greaves then raced onto a ball from Ben Fletcher in midfield and placed it across goal to Atkinson whose close range effort was clawed away by Barnes.

Town looked to close to opening the scoring anytime soon.

However then, disaster struck.

Connor Newton was then sent off for what seemed like a stamp on Burscough striker Callum Laird.

Town now had to battle away with ten man.

The hosts now began to control proceedings.

Matthew Hamilton curled one towards the top left corner but Barry sent it over with a finger tip touch.

Ten man Town then had a massive chance out of nowhere, as Atkinson intercepted a ball across the box but his effort was kept out by Barnes.

Longridge then reaped the consequences, as Sam Turner smashed the ball in off the bar from the edge of the box to open the scoring seconds later.

The hosts then almost made it two, as Laird sent a square ball way over the bar from close range on the brink of half time.

At the break, Lee Ashcroft replaced Luke Smith with Daniel Cunningham.

Kier Barry was called into action again, as he held a low driven effort from the edge of the box.

Barry then made another save at his near post, despite a Burscough attacker then leaving one in on him as he went for the rebound he was a fine to continue.

Laird then booted Barry off his feet in another terribly mistimed challenge on the 'keeper.

He was booked for his troubles.

Burscough's Owen Cushiom struck the crossbar moments later, from all of 30 yards.

Ashey then went to his bench again, bringing on Jack Arrowsmith in place of Carson Greaves.

Not long later and he switched things up again, replacing Lewis Richmond and Leighton Hewitt with Jordan Dainty and Jenson Carter.

Carter got straight into the action.

First his lofted the loose ball over the Burscough defence to find Atkinson.

The attacker surged in from the left hand side, and had a shot deflect into the path of Carter, whose first time effort was held by Barnes.

Burscough almost punished a Longridge change immediately again, however Hamilton's finish was disallowed by the offside flag.

Arrowsmith managed to get a run going, cutting inside before being clattered on the edge of the box by two Burscough defenders.

Arrows then stepped up and fired the free kick goalwards.

Unfortunately for Town, Ben Barnes was on hand again to palm it away from goal.

Burscough substitute Charlie Ball saw yellow for a late challenge on McLean.

With ten minutes to go, Ethan Edmundson managed two key challenges in the danger zone before clearing.

However, the defensive efforts would be in vein, as James Salkeld soon doubled the hosts lead, firing into the far corner from the left.

Following three additional minutes, the referee called time, condemning Town to another defeat without scoring.

A tough run of results to end the season but we always go again.

It could always be worse, and given the ten man fact for so long, the performance and effort was there.

We now rest and regroup before travelling to promotion chasing West Didsbury & Chorlton next Saturday.

Another very tough but no doubt the effort will be there like always.

A massive thank you to those who joined up and supported the boys brilliantly as always.

A reminder that we now have just two games left, with the finale coming on Saturday 19th April at home to Prestwich Heys.

The Goals:

Burscough: Turner (37'), Salkeld (85')

Longridge: N/A

The Teams:

Burscough: Barnes, Cannon-Noren, McCullough, Sheen, Duff, Cushion (Coughlan 79'), Rigby (Preece 67'), Salkeld, Turner, Hamilton (Walsh 67'), Laird (Ball 67')

Longridge: Barry, Critchley, Newton, Edmundson, McLean, Fletcher, Richmond (Dainty 67'), Smith (Cunningham 46'), Hewitt (Carter 67'), Atkinson