Saturday, November 25, 2006
Paddy Power Proves Too Much For Preston
BGSOB 3-1 Preston V
S.Sheikh (11)
McManus (53)
Powers (66)
The Old Boys maintained their hundred percent record at home as they overcame a dogged Preston side on Saturday. Bury needed to bounce back positively following their blip against Bolton and, despite missing Cooke, Hopwood, Matthews, Shori and Berry, they managed to secure all three points.
The game started well for the home side as they moved the ball around well early on, putting pressure on the visitors. In the eleventh minute Bury took the lead as Sameer Sheikh deftly touched home a short corner at the near post, following Aitken’s shot.
However, Preston hit back within a minute, grabbing an equaliser as the Old Boys failed to clear their lines. Suddenly the game became very stretched as both teams began to create more chances.
Minutes before half time Bury had a golden opportunity to retake the lead, when they were awarded a penalty stroke. But, the teams went in level at half time, as the Preston keeper produced an important save.
The Old Boys knew that they had to up their game in the second half and were determined to take the points. However, things did not go exactly to plan. McManus was yellow carded for retaliating to a cynical off the ball foul from behind; to make matters worse the Preston offender only received a green. This injustice actually seemed to galvanise Bury who stood firm and denied Preston any clear cut chances whilst McManus was sidelined.
Finally, The Old Boys took the lead in the fifty-third minute, thanks to some truly poetic justice. McManus had only been back on the pitch three minutes when he got his name on the score sheet. Larmett played a defence splitting pass to Powers, who played the ball past the on rushing keeper before the two collided. As the ball rolled goal wards the defender seemed odds on to make the clearance. However the determination of McManus ensured that the ball ended up in the net.
Following this, a Preston player was then yellow carded for dissent and Bury tightened their grip on the points.
In the sixty-sixth minute Bobby Powers sealed the win for the Old Boys as he expertly swept home Ainscow’s driven cross.
This was not the Old Boys at their best, yet they showed the character and determination to grind out another important win.
Squad: Titlow, Aitken, S.Sheikh, T.Sheikh, Cheung, Butler, Hillary, Larmett, Foster, Powers, Ainscow, McManus
S.Sheikh (11)
McManus (53)
Powers (66)
The Old Boys maintained their hundred percent record at home as they overcame a dogged Preston side on Saturday. Bury needed to bounce back positively following their blip against Bolton and, despite missing Cooke, Hopwood, Matthews, Shori and Berry, they managed to secure all three points.
The game started well for the home side as they moved the ball around well early on, putting pressure on the visitors. In the eleventh minute Bury took the lead as Sameer Sheikh deftly touched home a short corner at the near post, following Aitken’s shot.
However, Preston hit back within a minute, grabbing an equaliser as the Old Boys failed to clear their lines. Suddenly the game became very stretched as both teams began to create more chances.
Minutes before half time Bury had a golden opportunity to retake the lead, when they were awarded a penalty stroke. But, the teams went in level at half time, as the Preston keeper produced an important save.
The Old Boys knew that they had to up their game in the second half and were determined to take the points. However, things did not go exactly to plan. McManus was yellow carded for retaliating to a cynical off the ball foul from behind; to make matters worse the Preston offender only received a green. This injustice actually seemed to galvanise Bury who stood firm and denied Preston any clear cut chances whilst McManus was sidelined.
Finally, The Old Boys took the lead in the fifty-third minute, thanks to some truly poetic justice. McManus had only been back on the pitch three minutes when he got his name on the score sheet. Larmett played a defence splitting pass to Powers, who played the ball past the on rushing keeper before the two collided. As the ball rolled goal wards the defender seemed odds on to make the clearance. However the determination of McManus ensured that the ball ended up in the net.
Following this, a Preston player was then yellow carded for dissent and Bury tightened their grip on the points.
In the sixty-sixth minute Bobby Powers sealed the win for the Old Boys as he expertly swept home Ainscow’s driven cross.
This was not the Old Boys at their best, yet they showed the character and determination to grind out another important win.
Squad: Titlow, Aitken, S.Sheikh, T.Sheikh, Cheung, Butler, Hillary, Larmett, Foster, Powers, Ainscow, McManus
Thursday, November 23, 2006
One Man and His Zimmer Frame
Bolton VI 1-0 BGSOB
All good things must come to an end, and the Old Boys unbeaten start to the league season was halted in controversial fashion by Bolton.
Quite simply this was an umpiring gaffe of Graham Poll proportions. Think about it... Poll giving the same man three yellow cards, Mr Thomas blowing for full time as a Brazilian corner was sent into the Swedish box during a world cup group game, the Tunisian who allowed Maradona's Hand of God goal, Urs Meir disallowing Sol Campbell's header, any game Uriah Rennie has referreed, the fool who awarded Didier Zokora a penalty following a blatent dive the other week..... the list goes on. But this was truely Poll-esque.
A ball was fired in from the edge of the D into a crowded circle. The umpire heard the ball hit a stick and convienently assumed it was a Bolton stick, therefore he gave a goal. A bit like Mr Poll in the world cup, the umpire forgot to check the facts....
What followed was a highly entertaining game that witnessed Bury dominate whilst Bolton threatened on the counter attack. The Old Boys forced no less than twelve short corners but failed to convert any, whilst also having a flick saved. To highlight the territorial dominance, at the other end Bolton had only four chances in the second half, all dealt with impressively by keeper Titlow, whilst also having no short corners.
Games against Bolton are always 'entertaining.' The amateur dramatics on show from Bolton's "senior pro" are always worth the admission price, although rumours that Bolton will have their own entry in the olympic diving team in 2012 are said to be unfounded nonesense.
Squad: Titlow, Aitken, Cheung, T. Sheikh, S. Sheikh, Foster, Hillary, Larmett, Matthews, Ainscow, Cooke, Shori, Butler, Berry.
All good things must come to an end, and the Old Boys unbeaten start to the league season was halted in controversial fashion by Bolton.
Quite simply this was an umpiring gaffe of Graham Poll proportions. Think about it... Poll giving the same man three yellow cards, Mr Thomas blowing for full time as a Brazilian corner was sent into the Swedish box during a world cup group game, the Tunisian who allowed Maradona's Hand of God goal, Urs Meir disallowing Sol Campbell's header, any game Uriah Rennie has referreed, the fool who awarded Didier Zokora a penalty following a blatent dive the other week..... the list goes on. But this was truely Poll-esque.
A ball was fired in from the edge of the D into a crowded circle. The umpire heard the ball hit a stick and convienently assumed it was a Bolton stick, therefore he gave a goal. A bit like Mr Poll in the world cup, the umpire forgot to check the facts....
What followed was a highly entertaining game that witnessed Bury dominate whilst Bolton threatened on the counter attack. The Old Boys forced no less than twelve short corners but failed to convert any, whilst also having a flick saved. To highlight the territorial dominance, at the other end Bolton had only four chances in the second half, all dealt with impressively by keeper Titlow, whilst also having no short corners.
Games against Bolton are always 'entertaining.' The amateur dramatics on show from Bolton's "senior pro" are always worth the admission price, although rumours that Bolton will have their own entry in the olympic diving team in 2012 are said to be unfounded nonesense.
Squad: Titlow, Aitken, Cheung, T. Sheikh, S. Sheikh, Foster, Hillary, Larmett, Matthews, Ainscow, Cooke, Shori, Butler, Berry.
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Five Star Old Boys Go Four Points Clear.
BGSOB 5-0 Lytham St Annes VI
Larmett (17, 52)
Sheikh (40)
Shori (61)
Butler (64)
The Old Boys produced a fantastic display on Saturday to put themselves four points clear at the top of the league.
Hillary, Larmett and Foster ran the midfield as Bury produced free flowing hockey and dominated the opening exchanges. After seventeen minutes it was Larmett who put the Old Boys in front. Good work down the right saw Hillary fire in a cross towards Shori. His initial effort was blocked by the Lytham keeper, but Larmett reacted quickest as he pounced to steer in the rebound.
Bury proceeded to carve out more openings and should have gone further in front through Butler. However, his strike was ruled out as the umpire had stopped play to award a short corner. Following this a Foster cross was kicked off the line by a Lytham defender, but the resultant short corner was cleared. Towards the end of the first half Lytham pushed further forward and created their only chance on target, which Titlow and Aitken dealt with assuredly.
The second half started with Bury looking to capitalise on the openings they were creating. With forty minutes gone, the Old Boys were awarded a short corner. Sameer Sheikh made no mistake as he fired home Bury’s second. Again the Old Boys were dominating possession and moved further in front in the fifty second minute. A superb ball from Aitken was played to Shori via neat work from Cooke. His shot was parried and again Larmett was on hand to grab his second.
With nine minutes remaining Shori then scored his fourth of the season. The striker produced a superb, instinctive finish at the near post following Foster’s driven cross.
The scoring was then rounded off by Butler following another short corner. Hillary’s effort came back off the keeper, straight to the Bury man. He grabbed his first goal for the club, as he fired the ball home.
This was another good display from the Old Boys, who meet Bolton next week in the first derby of the season.
Squad: Titlow, Aitken, S. Sheikh, T.Sheikh, Cheung, Butler, Foster, Hillary, Larmett, Cooke, Shori, Powers, Berry.
MOM: Hillary
Larmett (17, 52)
Sheikh (40)
Shori (61)
Butler (64)
The Old Boys produced a fantastic display on Saturday to put themselves four points clear at the top of the league.
Hillary, Larmett and Foster ran the midfield as Bury produced free flowing hockey and dominated the opening exchanges. After seventeen minutes it was Larmett who put the Old Boys in front. Good work down the right saw Hillary fire in a cross towards Shori. His initial effort was blocked by the Lytham keeper, but Larmett reacted quickest as he pounced to steer in the rebound.
Bury proceeded to carve out more openings and should have gone further in front through Butler. However, his strike was ruled out as the umpire had stopped play to award a short corner. Following this a Foster cross was kicked off the line by a Lytham defender, but the resultant short corner was cleared. Towards the end of the first half Lytham pushed further forward and created their only chance on target, which Titlow and Aitken dealt with assuredly.
The second half started with Bury looking to capitalise on the openings they were creating. With forty minutes gone, the Old Boys were awarded a short corner. Sameer Sheikh made no mistake as he fired home Bury’s second. Again the Old Boys were dominating possession and moved further in front in the fifty second minute. A superb ball from Aitken was played to Shori via neat work from Cooke. His shot was parried and again Larmett was on hand to grab his second.
With nine minutes remaining Shori then scored his fourth of the season. The striker produced a superb, instinctive finish at the near post following Foster’s driven cross.
The scoring was then rounded off by Butler following another short corner. Hillary’s effort came back off the keeper, straight to the Bury man. He grabbed his first goal for the club, as he fired the ball home.
This was another good display from the Old Boys, who meet Bolton next week in the first derby of the season.
Squad: Titlow, Aitken, S. Sheikh, T.Sheikh, Cheung, Butler, Foster, Hillary, Larmett, Cooke, Shori, Powers, Berry.
MOM: Hillary
Saturday, November 04, 2006
Old Boys Maintain Unbeaten Run
Didsbury 0-0 BGSOB
Didsbury missed out on a golden opportunity to take three points from the Old Boys on Saturday. Bury were missing midfield dynamo and joint top scorer Hopwood, as well as first choice centre back, Cheung. The home side failed to capitalise on their good fortune, as a hard fought match ended goalless.
This was a tight game of few chances. Although Didsbury had more half chances it was Bury who created the better clear cut openings.
In the opening minutes Cooke was put through by Ainscow, the striker did his best but fired the difficult, bouncing ball over the bar. Didsbury’s best chance of the game came midway through the half, when Man of the Match Tariq Sheikh cleared the ball off his own line from a short corner.
In the second half Bury’s defence held firm, denying Didsbury any real chance to test Titlow, apart from a short corner in the final minute, whilst the forwards came close to stealing all three points.
Firstly Dave Matthews flashed a reverse stick drive just wide of the post and then Cooke was denied by a fantastic piece of goalkeeping that secured a point for Didsbury.
The Old Boys can be happy with this result, proving that they can not only play good hockey but can also mix it with those teams who prefer a more physical approach to the game. Another clean sheet for Titlow and his defence means that they have now gone 350 minutes without conceding, further extending the club record.
Squad: Titlow, Aitken, Foster, S. Sheikh, T. Sheikh, McManus, Hillary, Matthews, Larmett, Ainscow, Cooke, Powers, Shori, Butler.
MOM: Tariq Sheikh
Didsbury missed out on a golden opportunity to take three points from the Old Boys on Saturday. Bury were missing midfield dynamo and joint top scorer Hopwood, as well as first choice centre back, Cheung. The home side failed to capitalise on their good fortune, as a hard fought match ended goalless.
This was a tight game of few chances. Although Didsbury had more half chances it was Bury who created the better clear cut openings.
In the opening minutes Cooke was put through by Ainscow, the striker did his best but fired the difficult, bouncing ball over the bar. Didsbury’s best chance of the game came midway through the half, when Man of the Match Tariq Sheikh cleared the ball off his own line from a short corner.
In the second half Bury’s defence held firm, denying Didsbury any real chance to test Titlow, apart from a short corner in the final minute, whilst the forwards came close to stealing all three points.
Firstly Dave Matthews flashed a reverse stick drive just wide of the post and then Cooke was denied by a fantastic piece of goalkeeping that secured a point for Didsbury.
The Old Boys can be happy with this result, proving that they can not only play good hockey but can also mix it with those teams who prefer a more physical approach to the game. Another clean sheet for Titlow and his defence means that they have now gone 350 minutes without conceding, further extending the club record.
Squad: Titlow, Aitken, Foster, S. Sheikh, T. Sheikh, McManus, Hillary, Matthews, Larmett, Ainscow, Cooke, Powers, Shori, Butler.
MOM: Tariq Sheikh
