Positive Point for Boro Against Laird

Bacup Borough produced a positive performance to earn a deserved 2-2 draw against second-placed Cammell Laird at the Brian Boys Stadium. Goals from Kaiden Barlow and Kyle Siddle put Borough in a strong position to claim all three points, but a late equaliser from the visitors ensured the spoils were shared.

Borough started the game brightly and created an early opportunity when a close-range effort from Kyle Siddle was brilliantly tipped over the crossbar by Cammell Laird goalkeeper Josh Brooks. However, the visitors were also showing their attacking threat, with Adam Smith becoming a constant danger up front.

The opening goal arrived on 35 minutes when Liam Owen gave Laird the lead. Borough's response, though, was almost immediate. Within seconds, Kaiden Barlow produced a moment of real quality, unleashing a superb strike from around 25 yards that flew perfectly into the bottom-left corner to bring Borough level. It was an outstanding finish that demonstrated Barlow's quality from distance.

Kaiden Barlow netted his eighth goal of the season

Laird nearly restored their advantage before the interval when a rebound off Billy Blake's body fell invitingly to a visiting player, whose effort crashed against the crossbar. Borough had shown plenty of promise going forward, but the visitors remained dangerous whenever they found possession, ensuring the contest was finely balanced heading into the second half.

After the break, Blake was again called into action, producing an excellent save down to his left before showing fantastic agility to tip another effort over the crossbar. His interventions kept Borough in the contest and provided the platform for the home side to push forward in search of a winner.

That decisive moment appeared to arrive through substitute Toby Wright, who played an excellent ball into the path of Kyle Siddle on the left-hand side. Despite the tight angle, Siddle showed great composure to steer his effort past Brooks at the goalkeeper's near post, sending the home supporters into celebration and putting Borough 2-1 ahead.

Kyle Siddle continued his goalscoring with another against Laird

With time running out, Borough looked capable of holding on for an impressive victory against one of the league's leading sides. However, Cammell Laird had the final say in the closing minutes. A ball initially blocked by Callum Hewitt was fired back into the penalty area, where James Fee was on hand to head beyond Blake and secure a share of the points for the Wirral club.

There was understandably a feeling that Borough had let two points slip away after working so hard to take the lead so late in the game. Nevertheless, against a confident Cammell Laird side sitting second in the table, a point was a respectable return and one Brent Peters would likely have been happy to take before kick-off. Borough can take plenty of encouragement from the performance, particularly their attacking threat, Barlow's outstanding strike and Siddle's clinical finish.