Saturday, April 08, 2006
Old Boys Fight Back Not Enough
Ormskirk 1s 3-1 Bury Grammar School Old Boys Men's 1s
Bury finished their first league season with a defeat at second place Ormskirk, despite mounting a second half fight back which saw the home side clinging on to their two goal cushion.
Ormskirk started the brighter of the two teams, and The Old Boys had to endure twenty minutes of pressure. Chris McManus this time provided the heroics at the defensive end making several important saves, as Ormskirk swarmed forward. When the opening goal did arrive, it was gaffe of Massimo Taibi proportions from captain Sameer Sheikh that helped the home team into the lead. After McManus had produced another fine save, Sheikh was on the line ready to clear the follow up shot. However, in trying to turn the shot round the post, the Bury skipper only succeeded in helping the ball into the net.
This was followed by a quick fire second, which again had a distinct slice of good fortune about it. As three Bury defenders closed down an Ormskirk forward, the ball took a deflection off Tariq Sheikh’s stick and rolled into the path of an unmarked player. McManus saved his first effort, and his second was blocked by Sheikh, however as the ball came across the D, another follow-up shot went in, despite the best efforts of Foster on the line.
In the remaining fifteen minutes of the half Bury began to produce hockey that forced Ormskirk onto the back foot. Twice the ball rolled virtually across the goal-line, with only the final touch missing, and the Ormskirk keeper was tested on several occasions before the half time whistle.
The second half produced more good hockey from both sides, with Bury beginning to get the upper hand, as Aitken was pushed into a more advanced role. However, Ormskirk were still dangerous on the break, and it took a fine save from McManus (later described as one of his best ever) to keep the score at two – nil. Eventually, a snap shot increased Ormskirk’s lead, but this was to be the last of the real pressure from the home side.
Bury quickly got themselves back in the game. Cooke showing his striker’s instinct by deftly deflecting a ball in, with the slightest of touches, to reduce the deficit. What followed was a barrage of Bury pressure, which created some great opportunities, however The Old Boys were unable to convert the chances that would have secured a draw.
Although the second half of the season ended with a defeat, The Old Boys must take heart from the fact that since January they have taken 22 points from a possible 30, only being beaten by the top two teams in the division. An excellent showing from a team playing its first season of league hockey.
Match Day Squad: McManus, S. Sheikh, Foster, Aitken, T. Sheikh, Spencer, Hillary, Berry, Kumar, Ainscow, Cooke, Butler, Robinson, Stoneman.
Bury finished their first league season with a defeat at second place Ormskirk, despite mounting a second half fight back which saw the home side clinging on to their two goal cushion.
Ormskirk started the brighter of the two teams, and The Old Boys had to endure twenty minutes of pressure. Chris McManus this time provided the heroics at the defensive end making several important saves, as Ormskirk swarmed forward. When the opening goal did arrive, it was gaffe of Massimo Taibi proportions from captain Sameer Sheikh that helped the home team into the lead. After McManus had produced another fine save, Sheikh was on the line ready to clear the follow up shot. However, in trying to turn the shot round the post, the Bury skipper only succeeded in helping the ball into the net.
This was followed by a quick fire second, which again had a distinct slice of good fortune about it. As three Bury defenders closed down an Ormskirk forward, the ball took a deflection off Tariq Sheikh’s stick and rolled into the path of an unmarked player. McManus saved his first effort, and his second was blocked by Sheikh, however as the ball came across the D, another follow-up shot went in, despite the best efforts of Foster on the line.
In the remaining fifteen minutes of the half Bury began to produce hockey that forced Ormskirk onto the back foot. Twice the ball rolled virtually across the goal-line, with only the final touch missing, and the Ormskirk keeper was tested on several occasions before the half time whistle.
The second half produced more good hockey from both sides, with Bury beginning to get the upper hand, as Aitken was pushed into a more advanced role. However, Ormskirk were still dangerous on the break, and it took a fine save from McManus (later described as one of his best ever) to keep the score at two – nil. Eventually, a snap shot increased Ormskirk’s lead, but this was to be the last of the real pressure from the home side.
Bury quickly got themselves back in the game. Cooke showing his striker’s instinct by deftly deflecting a ball in, with the slightest of touches, to reduce the deficit. What followed was a barrage of Bury pressure, which created some great opportunities, however The Old Boys were unable to convert the chances that would have secured a draw.
Although the second half of the season ended with a defeat, The Old Boys must take heart from the fact that since January they have taken 22 points from a possible 30, only being beaten by the top two teams in the division. An excellent showing from a team playing its first season of league hockey.
Match Day Squad: McManus, S. Sheikh, Foster, Aitken, T. Sheikh, Spencer, Hillary, Berry, Kumar, Ainscow, Cooke, Butler, Robinson, Stoneman.
