Daisy Hill’s interest in the Macron Challenge Cup ended in heartbreaking fashion at the First Round stage, when they exited the competition following a penalty shoot-out loss to Burscough at the Ginge Power Stadium on Saturday.
After a fiercely fought and goalless 90 minutes, it took penalty kicks to decide the outcome, with Burscough substitute Christian Mukoko coolly converting the decisive fifth penalty to give his side a 3-2 win in the shoot-out.
It was, none the less, an impressive display from Daisy, who more than held their own against a team from a higher division.
The first half saw both sides enjoy an equal share of possession, although clear cut chances were few and far between with neither keeper seriously tested.
Burscough’s best chance came on 34 minutes, when a run into the box by Joshua Quarless set up a shooting chance for Matthew Hamilton, but both his efforts were blocked at close range by desperate Daisy defending.
Daisy hit back and after a neat build up down the right, a cross into the box set up Laim Shappard with an opportunity but his shot on the turn was blocked.
In first half stoppage time, Sheppard was unlucky with the last chance of the half, when good work by Kris Smith down the right led to Sheppard firing in an effort that was saved by Burscough keeper Goodness Gospel-Eze down to his right.
After the break Burscough began to apply pressure, and four minutes in, Daisy had two narrow escapes in succession, first when Declan Baldwin deflected a cross onto his own crossbar, and from the resulting corner kick Burscough’s Kian Bell saw his header rebound off the post.
Daisy goalkeeper Jude Smith had rarely been tested up to that point, but he pulled off a stunning save just after the hour when he tipped over a well struck volley from Burscough striker Thomas Peterson, and ten minutes later made a good block from a Peterson shot.
A volley wide of the target from substitute Ntumba Massanka was the best Daisy could offer in response, and in the closing stages of the game, Daisy spent most of the time camped in their own half and under the cosh, as Burscough pushed forward applying pressure.
But the Daisy defence stood up well, although they had to rely on keeper Smith to keep a clean sheet, first with a fine tip over the crossbar from a Harry Cannon-Noren shot, and then blocking a Peterson effort with an outstretched leg.
The ninety minutes and five added minutes of stoppage failed to produce a goal, and ultimately defeat for Daisy came in the harshest possible way, losing narrowly in the penalty shoot-out after a valiant performance.