LUFFS 3 BURNTWOOD 1 (17/1/04) LOUGHBOROUGH put an end to a legacy of league games without a win dating back to August with a 3-1 win at home to Burntwood Town, a win which lifted them precariously off the bottom of the division. It needed the cheekiest goal you'll ever see, a penalty, a bizarre mix-up in the Burntwood defence and two saves from 'keeper Paul Springthorpe which were simply out of this world, but it was a win this newly formed squad of players have been working towards and a credit to coach Steve Wilkinson. Saturday saw the return to the club of Steve Aylward, transferred from Shepshed to cover for the injured Clayton Penny and it was Aylward who first tested the Burntwood keeper Dixon. Matthew Kearns was next to trouble Dixon while at the other end Scrivens shot just past the post. It was an impressive start by the Loughborough side they looked quite capable of holding the Burntwood side in defence and looked to break down the visitors defence when they could. The Luffs took the lead after half an hour of nothing much to choose between the two sides, Aylward tempted the defender to put Matthew Kearns in who chipped the ball over the keepers head from a tight angle. The Luffs were in strange territory and it lasted for five minuets before Scrivens broke clear and levelled the score. At 1-1 it hung in the balance again with Gareth Rogers shooting just wide and Stretton thinking he had put his team in the lead, but a backward dive a a flick over the bar saw Paul Springthorpe perform wonders to keep the ball out of the net and they went in level pegging at half time. Loughborough had the dream start as the referee awarded them a penalty and Matt Kearns tucked it away for his second of the game. Burntwood applied the pressure, Springthorpe saved again and Danny Brailsford cleared one off the line but there was that feeling this was the day of the Luffs and at last things were going their way. Loughborough defended well and Burntwood became frustrated, vented their wrath upon the officials bringing them a couple of yellows and a red card and with ten against eleven Loughborough were in the driving seat. There were a few anxious moments for those of little faith but when Sul Morina laid the ball off for Adam Barrigan the Liverpool lad squeezed the ball between keeper Dixons legs and rolled the ball into the net and it was all over bar the shouting. There was just time enough for keeper Springthorpe to perform another acrobatic save to keep the scoreline clear at 3-1 and time for a long awaited celebration. Off the bottom of the league, but it still looks precarious and this week sees The Luffs back on the road away in the Black Country to Blackheath (Kick Off 2.00 PM) but that area of the country has been a good hunting ground in the past and the team is beginning to look the part. TEAM:  Paul SPRINGTHORPE, Tom Belton, Matt WATKISS, Ian STEVENSON, Carl SPRINGTHORPE, Michael MULLIGAN, Adam BARRIGAN, Matt KEARNS, Gareth ROGERS, Steve AYLWARD, Danny BRAILSFORD  SUBS:  Joe MULLIGAN, Sol MORINA SCORERS:  Matt KEARNS (2), Adam BARRIGAN ATT: N/A HT: 1-1