Saturday, February 25, 2006
Old Boys Secure Another Three Points
Lytham St Annes Men's 6s 0-1 Bury Grammar School Old Boys Men's 1s
A depleted Bury side took on Lytham looking to avenge the three-one defeat earlier in the season. The task was made all the more difficult due to the absence of four of The Old Boys senior players. Smith, Aitken, Spencer and Cooke were all unavailable as Bury looked to continue their good form in 2006.
The opening ten minutes were dominated by Lytham as Bury looked to be unsettled by all the enforced changes. Tariq Sheikh cleared a short corner off his own goal line and keeper Chris McManus made several important contributions, including a fine stop when facing a Lytham forward who was clear on goal.
Gradually The Old Boys’ influence on the game grew. Hillary, Berry, Hodbod, Ainscow and Foster started to put together attacking moves that sliced Lytham open. Several chances came and went as Bury began to overpower Lytham. For long periods the ball rarely left the Lytham half and The Old Boys knew that they should have converted at least one of their chances.
The second half began as the first had ended with Bury willing to go forward and attack Lytham at every opportunity. However, Lytham fought their way back into the game and exerted pressure on the Bury defence. Lytham were now winning more short corners but the defence of McManus, Stoneman, Tariq Sheikh, Foster and Sameer Sheikh bravely blocked all of Lytham’s routines.
The Old Boys’ midfield was working overtime, breaking play up and launching determined counter attacks. In the 58th minute Hillary won the ball in midfield, it was moved via Berry, Foster and Hodbod over to the right wing where Ainscow had found space for a cross. The ball was drilled into the ‘D’ where it found Andy Foster at the far post, who calmly swept Bury into the lead.
In the remaining twelve minutes The Old Boys again had to withstand a barrage of pressure, included seven consecutive short corners. McManus made more fine stops, and the defenders succeeded in thwarting Lytham’s effort to grab an equaliser.
This was a hard-fought victory, which highlights the growing depth of The Old Boys’ squad.
Match Day Squad: McManus, Stoneman, T.Sheikh, McVittie-Mathews, S. Sheikh, Hillary, Berry, Butler, Hodbod, Ainscow, Foster.
A depleted Bury side took on Lytham looking to avenge the three-one defeat earlier in the season. The task was made all the more difficult due to the absence of four of The Old Boys senior players. Smith, Aitken, Spencer and Cooke were all unavailable as Bury looked to continue their good form in 2006.
The opening ten minutes were dominated by Lytham as Bury looked to be unsettled by all the enforced changes. Tariq Sheikh cleared a short corner off his own goal line and keeper Chris McManus made several important contributions, including a fine stop when facing a Lytham forward who was clear on goal.
Gradually The Old Boys’ influence on the game grew. Hillary, Berry, Hodbod, Ainscow and Foster started to put together attacking moves that sliced Lytham open. Several chances came and went as Bury began to overpower Lytham. For long periods the ball rarely left the Lytham half and The Old Boys knew that they should have converted at least one of their chances.
The second half began as the first had ended with Bury willing to go forward and attack Lytham at every opportunity. However, Lytham fought their way back into the game and exerted pressure on the Bury defence. Lytham were now winning more short corners but the defence of McManus, Stoneman, Tariq Sheikh, Foster and Sameer Sheikh bravely blocked all of Lytham’s routines.
The Old Boys’ midfield was working overtime, breaking play up and launching determined counter attacks. In the 58th minute Hillary won the ball in midfield, it was moved via Berry, Foster and Hodbod over to the right wing where Ainscow had found space for a cross. The ball was drilled into the ‘D’ where it found Andy Foster at the far post, who calmly swept Bury into the lead.
In the remaining twelve minutes The Old Boys again had to withstand a barrage of pressure, included seven consecutive short corners. McManus made more fine stops, and the defenders succeeded in thwarting Lytham’s effort to grab an equaliser.
This was a hard-fought victory, which highlights the growing depth of The Old Boys’ squad.
Match Day Squad: McManus, Stoneman, T.Sheikh, McVittie-Mathews, S. Sheikh, Hillary, Berry, Butler, Hodbod, Ainscow, Foster.
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Bury Maintain Unbeaten Run
Bury Grammar School Old Boys Men's 1s 4-1 Prescot Men's 4s
After a week off The Old Boys were looking to move into fifth place and continue their good run of form that had seen them take ten points from a possible twelve.
Bury started strongly, testing the Prescot keeper in the opening five minutes and dominating the early exchanges. With fifteen minutes gone The Old Boys deservedly took the lead, following some incisive build up play. The ball was worked well down the left flank, eventually being crossed into the ‘D.’ Joe Ainscow’s initial effort was saved, but David Hodbod was on hand to tuck away the rebound for his seventh of the season.
As the half progressed Prescot began to come into the game, and forced a couple of short corners – the second of which was converted five minutes before half time.
Coming out for the second half, The Old Boys knew that they had to start converting the numerous chances they had been creating. However, more inspired work from the Prescot keeper kept the scores level until the forty-fifth minute.
Will Aitken’s short corner was deflected into Ainscow’s path, his good work on the by line produced a chance for James Berry, who made no mistake and put Bury back in front.
The Old Boys were now totally on top, and increased their lead in the fifty-eighth minute. More good midfield play saw the ball laid into Ainscow’s path. Unselfishly he drew the keeper out before playing a square pass to Cooke, who rolled the ball into the empty net.
The victory was confirmed two minutes from time, when Man of the Match Ainscow provided a driven cross that was turned in at the far post by Will Aitken.
This was another good display from The Old Boys – going one point clear in fifth place with five games left to play.
Match Day Squad: Smith, Stoneman, T. Sheikh, S. Sheikh, Aitken, Berry, Spencer, Hillary, Hodbod, Ainscow, Cooke, Butler, Larmett
After a week off The Old Boys were looking to move into fifth place and continue their good run of form that had seen them take ten points from a possible twelve.
Bury started strongly, testing the Prescot keeper in the opening five minutes and dominating the early exchanges. With fifteen minutes gone The Old Boys deservedly took the lead, following some incisive build up play. The ball was worked well down the left flank, eventually being crossed into the ‘D.’ Joe Ainscow’s initial effort was saved, but David Hodbod was on hand to tuck away the rebound for his seventh of the season.
As the half progressed Prescot began to come into the game, and forced a couple of short corners – the second of which was converted five minutes before half time.
Coming out for the second half, The Old Boys knew that they had to start converting the numerous chances they had been creating. However, more inspired work from the Prescot keeper kept the scores level until the forty-fifth minute.
Will Aitken’s short corner was deflected into Ainscow’s path, his good work on the by line produced a chance for James Berry, who made no mistake and put Bury back in front.
The Old Boys were now totally on top, and increased their lead in the fifty-eighth minute. More good midfield play saw the ball laid into Ainscow’s path. Unselfishly he drew the keeper out before playing a square pass to Cooke, who rolled the ball into the empty net.
The victory was confirmed two minutes from time, when Man of the Match Ainscow provided a driven cross that was turned in at the far post by Will Aitken.
This was another good display from The Old Boys – going one point clear in fifth place with five games left to play.
Match Day Squad: Smith, Stoneman, T. Sheikh, S. Sheikh, Aitken, Berry, Spencer, Hillary, Hodbod, Ainscow, Cooke, Butler, Larmett
Saturday, February 04, 2006
Ainscow Hat-trick Destroys Timperley
Bury Grammar School Old Boys Men's 1s 7-0 Timperley Men's 5s
Unbeaten in 2006 Bury were confident going into the game with Timperley who had not managed to win since the first fixture between these sides in November. Timperley fielded a young side, with only one or two faces from the first game, whereas Bury were unchanged from the victory at Preston save for James Larmett replacing the injured Howard Spencer, and the absence of Matt Cooke.
Bury began impressively, taking advantage of their experience and were a goal up inside 2 minutes with Andy Foster sweeping home from within the D. A few minutes later Joe Ainscow turned in a second to give Bury a cushion which they should have built up further. However, they allowed Timperley more of the ball and struggled to assert themselves, but fortunately Timperley were only able to manage one shot and that went over the bar. Bury managed to add a third goal through impressive work in the area from Dave Hodbod.
Half time came and although Bury were never in danger of losing they wanted to score more goals. They had to remember to begin playing like they had started the first half, passing the ball around to create chances. Bury dominated the majority of the half with Timperley getting forward more towards the end of the game as Bury looked to add more and more goals. Neil Smith in goal was called upon to make one save as Bury’s defence coped with Timperley's young attack. Ainscow added the fourth goal, poking the ball in from close range and the fifth was a superb drilled effort from Will Aitken through a group of players from a short corner. Dave Hodbod added the sixth and his second with a sublime bit of skill, turning the ball in with his reverse stick at the post from the most acute of angles. The display was capped by man of the match Joe Ainscow finishing on the half volley from a ball crossed in from Tariq Sheikh.
Aitken had to sit out the last few seconds of the game after receiving a yellow card, but Bury would be happy to avenge the result from the first game, that now looks even more anomalous than it did at the time.
Whilst it was job done by Bury they will feel that the performance was not what they would have wanted, disjointed at times and hurried or careless at others. Match Day Squad: Smith, Stoneman, T. Sheikh, S. Sheikh, Aitken, Foster, Hodbod, Hillary, Larmett, Berry, Ainscow, Gwinnutt, McVittie-Mathews
Report contributed by Andy Foster
Unbeaten in 2006 Bury were confident going into the game with Timperley who had not managed to win since the first fixture between these sides in November. Timperley fielded a young side, with only one or two faces from the first game, whereas Bury were unchanged from the victory at Preston save for James Larmett replacing the injured Howard Spencer, and the absence of Matt Cooke.
Bury began impressively, taking advantage of their experience and were a goal up inside 2 minutes with Andy Foster sweeping home from within the D. A few minutes later Joe Ainscow turned in a second to give Bury a cushion which they should have built up further. However, they allowed Timperley more of the ball and struggled to assert themselves, but fortunately Timperley were only able to manage one shot and that went over the bar. Bury managed to add a third goal through impressive work in the area from Dave Hodbod.
Half time came and although Bury were never in danger of losing they wanted to score more goals. They had to remember to begin playing like they had started the first half, passing the ball around to create chances. Bury dominated the majority of the half with Timperley getting forward more towards the end of the game as Bury looked to add more and more goals. Neil Smith in goal was called upon to make one save as Bury’s defence coped with Timperley's young attack. Ainscow added the fourth goal, poking the ball in from close range and the fifth was a superb drilled effort from Will Aitken through a group of players from a short corner. Dave Hodbod added the sixth and his second with a sublime bit of skill, turning the ball in with his reverse stick at the post from the most acute of angles. The display was capped by man of the match Joe Ainscow finishing on the half volley from a ball crossed in from Tariq Sheikh.
Aitken had to sit out the last few seconds of the game after receiving a yellow card, but Bury would be happy to avenge the result from the first game, that now looks even more anomalous than it did at the time.
Whilst it was job done by Bury they will feel that the performance was not what they would have wanted, disjointed at times and hurried or careless at others. Match Day Squad: Smith, Stoneman, T. Sheikh, S. Sheikh, Aitken, Foster, Hodbod, Hillary, Larmett, Berry, Ainscow, Gwinnutt, McVittie-Mathews
Report contributed by Andy Foster
