Saturday, February 10, 2007
BURY BACK TO WINNING WAYS
BGSOB 4-1 Didsbury Northern VI
Waywell (25)
Hillary (35)
Larmett (46)
Hodbod (61)
The Old Boys got their season back on track on Saturday with a dominant display against Didsbury. After three weeks of playing good hockey but not converting enough chances, Bury managed to find their finishing touch.
The home team went into the game making several enforced changes. Aitken, Hopwood, Ainscow, Butler, Berry and Shori were all missing, meaning that The Old Boys were forced to change formation as well as personnel. However, far from disrupting the side, the changes allowed Bury to play possibly their best hockey of the season. Passing, movement and communication were all excellent, as Didsbury were subjected to severe pressure from the opening minutes.
Initially it seemed as if Bury’s poor run might continue. The opening twenty minutes saw chance after chance created with the midfield four of Hodbod, Larmett, Matthews and Hillary linking well with Cooke and Waywell. However, good work from the Didsbury keeper and several near misses meant that Bury failed to capitalise on their good approach play.
With twenty-five minutes gone the home side eventually got the break through. Excellent build up play saw the ball delivered to Waywell and the forward drove towards the D. With the defence back peddling, Waywell cleverly took his chance and fired a reverse stick shot into the bottom corner, scoring his first goal for the club.
Just before half time The Old Boys doubled their lead from their fourth short corner. Following Hodbod’s near miss from the previous corner, Hillary made no mistake as he dispatched the ball into the net, giving Bury a well deserved two goal cushion.
The second half saw the visitors looking to exert more pressure but the excellent defensive performances of Cheung, Foster and Tariq Sheikh meant that Titlow remained relatively untroubled. The one save he had to make however was outstanding, as he showed super reflexes to keep out a stinging drive.
More incisive build up play saw the home side increase their lead in the forty-sixth minute. Good interchanges down the left ended with a cross being driven in to the far post. Coming in off the right wing, James Larmett was on hand to flick the ball over the advancing keeper, for his fourth of the season.
The victory was sealed in the sixty-first minute when Hodbod capped another fine display with a precise drive from the top of the D into the bottom corner.
In the final minute Didsbury scored a consolation goal as the Bury defence finally allowed them a little too much space and their striker touched the ball past the on rushing Titlow.
Altogether this was an impressive display, against a Didsbury side who had held Bolton the previous week. The Old Boys must maintain this standard in the coming weeks if they are to push their way back into the promotion picture.
Match Day Squad: Titlow, Cheung, Foster, T. Sheikh, S. Sheikh, Hodbod, Matthews, Hillary, Larmett, Waywell, Cooke, Powers, McManus.
Waywell (25)
Hillary (35)
Larmett (46)
Hodbod (61)
The Old Boys got their season back on track on Saturday with a dominant display against Didsbury. After three weeks of playing good hockey but not converting enough chances, Bury managed to find their finishing touch.
The home team went into the game making several enforced changes. Aitken, Hopwood, Ainscow, Butler, Berry and Shori were all missing, meaning that The Old Boys were forced to change formation as well as personnel. However, far from disrupting the side, the changes allowed Bury to play possibly their best hockey of the season. Passing, movement and communication were all excellent, as Didsbury were subjected to severe pressure from the opening minutes.
Initially it seemed as if Bury’s poor run might continue. The opening twenty minutes saw chance after chance created with the midfield four of Hodbod, Larmett, Matthews and Hillary linking well with Cooke and Waywell. However, good work from the Didsbury keeper and several near misses meant that Bury failed to capitalise on their good approach play.
With twenty-five minutes gone the home side eventually got the break through. Excellent build up play saw the ball delivered to Waywell and the forward drove towards the D. With the defence back peddling, Waywell cleverly took his chance and fired a reverse stick shot into the bottom corner, scoring his first goal for the club.
Just before half time The Old Boys doubled their lead from their fourth short corner. Following Hodbod’s near miss from the previous corner, Hillary made no mistake as he dispatched the ball into the net, giving Bury a well deserved two goal cushion.
The second half saw the visitors looking to exert more pressure but the excellent defensive performances of Cheung, Foster and Tariq Sheikh meant that Titlow remained relatively untroubled. The one save he had to make however was outstanding, as he showed super reflexes to keep out a stinging drive.
More incisive build up play saw the home side increase their lead in the forty-sixth minute. Good interchanges down the left ended with a cross being driven in to the far post. Coming in off the right wing, James Larmett was on hand to flick the ball over the advancing keeper, for his fourth of the season.
The victory was sealed in the sixty-first minute when Hodbod capped another fine display with a precise drive from the top of the D into the bottom corner.
In the final minute Didsbury scored a consolation goal as the Bury defence finally allowed them a little too much space and their striker touched the ball past the on rushing Titlow.
Altogether this was an impressive display, against a Didsbury side who had held Bolton the previous week. The Old Boys must maintain this standard in the coming weeks if they are to push their way back into the promotion picture.
Match Day Squad: Titlow, Cheung, Foster, T. Sheikh, S. Sheikh, Hodbod, Matthews, Hillary, Larmett, Waywell, Cooke, Powers, McManus.
