Bromyard Town 2 Ellesmere Rangers 4

FORMER Port Vale and Nuneaton striker Richard Burgess admits that silly mistakes are hurting Bromyard Town this season.

The ex-Aston Villa youngster believes Bromyard are owed a slice of good fortune and is hoping lady luck will smile on them at lowly Bustleholme on Saturday.

Burgess, who is enjoying his maiden campaign at Delahay Meadow, scored twice and struck the top of the crossbar as Bromyard slipped to a seventh successive defeat last weekend.

Bromyard’s last victory was a 2-1 home success over Bustleholme on November 2.

“We haven’t been playing that badly – we keep making some silly mistakes,” said veteran Burgess, who lives in Stourport.

“We need a bit of luck and, at the moment, the luck is not with us.

“I was at Bewdley last season but I know a couple of lads at Bromyard and the manager is a nice bloke. I am enjoying it - it’s just ashame we are losing.

“I always aim to get over 20 goals this season and I am half-way there. I enjoy the banter I love playing. I love scoring, and as a striker, that’s gives you the buzz.”

“If we get a win, I know we can turn things around.”

The Herefordshire side showed plenty of spirit, particularly, after Ellesmere had made a whirlwind start and romped into a 3-0 lead after just 29 minutes in Saturday’s West Midlands League Premier Division match.

But the dismissal of Ash Morris for his second booking after 66 minutes ended 13th-placed Bromyard’s challenge and former Worcester City striker Marco Adaggio completed a hat-trick for Ellesmere.

The Shropshire side took the lead in the 19th minute when Malaga-born Adaggio, who was at AFC Telford United last season, raced on to a through ball and slotted his shot past Dan Joyner.

And the visitors extended their advantage soon afterwards, skipper Steve O’Reilly drilling a stunning goal into the top corner from the edge of the box.

The outlook look bleak for Town four minutes later when Adaggio raced through to beat Joyner and put Ellesmere three goals in front.

But Bromyard started to string passes together and reduced arrears with a well-worked goal in the 32nd minute.

Alex Taffe released Dan Horton down the left and his excellent run and cross was neatly tucked away by Burgess.

And Bromyard struck again in first-half stoppage-time after another neat ball from Horton to the experienced Burgess.

The former Port Vale made had plenty to do but he cut inside a defender and drilled a right-foot shot into the top corner of the net.

Burgess admitted: “My legs are going – so I was a bit surprised I managed to race on to the ball and then turn the defender.”

Ellesmere were the brighter side in the early stages of the second period and Joyner somehow kept Bromyard in the match with an outstanding reflex save in the 48th minute.

Bromyard huffed and puffed and were a foot away from drawing level after Burgess produced a lob from a narrow angle which bounced down off the top of the bar.

Morris’ red-carded for a second booking knocked the stuffing out of Bromyard and Ellesmere finished the stronger, Adaggio sealing the points for the visitors – and completing his treble – from free-header in the 76th minute.

Burgess admitted: “It’s hard when you are losing – everyone starts to get tired of losing but that’s when you have to stick together as a team.

“I haven’t got much pace now but I have enjoyed playing non-league football and I will keeping going until I know when to stop.

“Football has been my life since I left school and I have a child on the way.”

“I think my debut for Port Vale against Millwall and I had good times at Villa and Stoke City.

“I was a bit low on confidence at Nuneaton and I wasn’t enjoying it and that was probably my worst spell in football. Steve Burr was the manager.

To watch video footage and interviews from Saturday’s match, go to: herefordtimes.com/video