Saturday, November 26, 2005
Bury Rue Missed Chances
Urmston Men's 4s 2-1 Bury Grammar School Old Boys Men's 1s
Bury left the pitch on Saturday knowing that the score line did not reflect their performance.
After last week’s game, captain Sameer Sheikh, had asked for more incisive build up play – and his team responded.
With David Hodbod playing in a more advanced position, Bury produced some of their best hockey of the season. One and two touch passing carved Urmston’s defence open throughout the game, however the Old Boys lacked the killer touch in front of goal. Under such pressure, Urmston’s only escape route were long balls to their lone striker.
It was one of these instances that lead to Urmston taking the lead, against the run of play. A tame shot was turned towards the by-line by Sameer Sheikh. With no support available, the Urmston striker aimlessly played the ball back into the middle. There was no apparent danger until the ball bounced, and span wickedly towards the net. The wrong-footed defence could do nothing but watch the ball trickle into the net.
Bury applied more pressure but still couldn’t apply the finishing touch to equalise before half time, with both Aitken and Robinson going close.
The second half started in fiery fashion with Tariq Sheikh and an Urmston forward being sin binned after a scuffle broke out, following the man handling of the Bury captain.
Eventually Bury’s pressure and dominance paid off. In the 55th minute Ian Hillary crashed home a short corner to level the scores. Bury then laid siege to the Urmston goal with Foster, Aitken, McManus and Berry all going close.
However, it was another of Urmston’s long balls that helped them to clinch the game. A piercing free hit picked out the only Urmston player in the D, his first time sliding finish was enough to steal a fortuitous victory for the home side.
Bury must take the positives out of this game and focus on taking chances in order to finish teams off.
Match Day Squad: Roberts, T. Sheikh, Cheung, McManus, S. Sheikh, Foster, Hillary, Spencer, Ainscow, Hodbod, Aitken, Berry, Gwinnutt, Robinson.
Bury left the pitch on Saturday knowing that the score line did not reflect their performance.
After last week’s game, captain Sameer Sheikh, had asked for more incisive build up play – and his team responded.
With David Hodbod playing in a more advanced position, Bury produced some of their best hockey of the season. One and two touch passing carved Urmston’s defence open throughout the game, however the Old Boys lacked the killer touch in front of goal. Under such pressure, Urmston’s only escape route were long balls to their lone striker.
It was one of these instances that lead to Urmston taking the lead, against the run of play. A tame shot was turned towards the by-line by Sameer Sheikh. With no support available, the Urmston striker aimlessly played the ball back into the middle. There was no apparent danger until the ball bounced, and span wickedly towards the net. The wrong-footed defence could do nothing but watch the ball trickle into the net.
Bury applied more pressure but still couldn’t apply the finishing touch to equalise before half time, with both Aitken and Robinson going close.
The second half started in fiery fashion with Tariq Sheikh and an Urmston forward being sin binned after a scuffle broke out, following the man handling of the Bury captain.
Eventually Bury’s pressure and dominance paid off. In the 55th minute Ian Hillary crashed home a short corner to level the scores. Bury then laid siege to the Urmston goal with Foster, Aitken, McManus and Berry all going close.
However, it was another of Urmston’s long balls that helped them to clinch the game. A piercing free hit picked out the only Urmston player in the D, his first time sliding finish was enough to steal a fortuitous victory for the home side.
Bury must take the positives out of this game and focus on taking chances in order to finish teams off.
Match Day Squad: Roberts, T. Sheikh, Cheung, McManus, S. Sheikh, Foster, Hillary, Spencer, Ainscow, Hodbod, Aitken, Berry, Gwinnutt, Robinson.
