Boro Edged Out By Daisy Hill FC

Bacup Borough made just one change from the side that defeated AFC Blackpool, with Tyler Williams coming into midfield for the suspended Jay Luker.

Borough started brightly and almost took an early lead when James Bartholomew's dangerous delivery from the right caught everyone by surprise, clipping the top of the crossbar in the opening few minutes.

Kaiden Barlow was causing problems with his runs into the channels, while Charlie Cowin continued to show his ability to find pockets of space, turning and driving deep into the Daisy Hill half.

Endless running from Kaiden Barlow

However, as the game progressed, the visitors began to grow into the contest. Daisy Hill started going more direct, looking to exploit the wide areas, with Leon Arnasalem and Hubert Nowacki causing problems for the Borough defence.

Daniel McLaughlin also proved a constant threat with his aerial presence, giving the Borough backline plenty to deal with.

Billy Blake was once again called upon to produce some excellent goalkeeping. A dangerous ball was driven hard and low across the Borough penalty area, but the Borough number one reacted brilliantly, getting a strong hand to the effort to keep Daisy Hill at bay.

Billy Blake was by far Bacup Borough's best player

At the other end, Harry Allen was also commanding in the Daisy Hill goal. Anything remotely close to his penalty area was swept up with confidence, ensuring Borough were unable to capitalise on their attacking pressure.

Borough were dealt a blow when Tyler Williams was forced off through injury, with Connor Morris coming on to replace him.

Blake then produced another moment of brilliance, saving a penalty to keep the scores level.

But the visitors finally broke the deadlock on 43 minutes.

Daisy Hill went route one, with Allen's long kick allowed to bounce on the edge of the Borough penalty area. McLaughlin reacted quickest, intercepting the ball before rounding Blake and calmly slotting into an empty net.

Borough went into the interval trailing by a single goal, but the second half was a completely different story.

It was all Borough as Brent Peters' side pushed forward in search of an equaliser.

Aiden Lancaster and Kyle Siddle were excellent outlets down both flanks, stretching the Daisy Hill defence and creating opportunities for Borough to get balls into dangerous areas.

Barlow came desperately close when he struck a wicked free-kick hard and low towards the bottom-left corner, but Allen produced an excellent save to keep it out.

Josh Walne then went close with a header from close range, only to see his effort brilliantly tipped over the crossbar by the Daisy Hill goalkeeper.

Siddle also had an opportunity to level the contest, but his effort was sliced narrowly wide of the visitors' left-hand post.

Despite sustained second-half pressure and a determined Borough effort, Daisy Hill managed to withstand everything thrown at them and held on to claim all three points.

Borough can now look to bounce back on Tuesday evening when they travel to face Uppermill FC at Mossley.