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.
