A COLLISION between Brian Pritchard and Gary Furnival bumped Witton off the winning trail on Saturday.
They had dominated the second half and ought to have been safe, when calamity struck the defence in the 89th minute.
Pritchard clearly called it was his ball, but Furnival also moved for the cross at the same time. It was an otherwise harmless centre, but the centre backs collided and the ball ran free to Mike O'Donnell who gleefully slammed home the equaliser.
The first goal threat came from Cables in the 20th minute but Sam McNutt aimed straight at Paul Gibson, who needed two attempts to gather the ball.
Albion stoked up their attack within a minute. Ryan Baker and Mike Moseley made the approach work and Lee Spike's volley just missed the angle of post and bar.
An Adam Foy effort was tipped over the bar by Ryan McMahon before Moseley turned his marker only to fire the wrong side of the far post.
McMahon saved easily when Pritchard met Baker's cross at the start of the second period while Gibson had to be more athletic to turn a Connolly shot over the top in the 54th minute before Witton produced the goalscoring move. Mike Mellon lobbed the ball over the defence to put Spike clear. His first shot was parried by McMahon but the rangy striker was first to the loose ball and turned home from a narrow angle.
Spike, Moseley or Foy could have made sure of the points before making Prescot a late gift of a point just when victory anyway seemed likely. WITTON: Gibson; Evans, Pricthard, Farley, Furnival; Baker, Mellon, Foy, King; Moseley, Spike.
Att: 195 Star Man: Lee Spike, so nearly a winner Next Best: Ryan Baker Team Rating: 3 Match Rating: 3 Witton Albion 0 Burscough 3: Witton were well beaten in front of their lowest ever league attendance on Wednesday.
Gary Martindale put Burscough ahead in only the second minute.
Martin Crowder toe-poked the ball home on 34 minutes while Lee Spike somehow turned a Mike Moseley cross around a post before the break.
On 55 minutes Matt Parry's cross was deflected beyond Paul Gibson.
Albion came closest to scoring with a minute to go when Micky Mellon's shot rebounded off the crossbar. WITTON: Gibson, Farley (Evans 45), Pritchard, Furnival, Tickle (Yates 45); Stannard, Foy, Mellon, King; Moseley, Spike.
Att: 179 Star Man: Brian Pritchard, reliable
