Saturday, March 10, 2007
Rocky Balboa Eat Your Heart Out.
BGSOB 2-2 Carlisle II
Foster (48)
Ainscow (69)
The Old Boys produced a come back of epic proportions to grab a draw against champions-elect Carlisle, on Saturday.
Bury were missing midfielder Hillary, which prompted a change in what had become a fairly settled line up. Sameer Sheikh was moved into midfield as Aitken reverted back to his sweeper role. These changes proved to be rather ineffective as Carlisle dominated the opening period.
Although Bury did mount some pressure, they did not test the visitor’s keeper as often as they would have liked, and gradually Carlisle grasped the upper hand. After fifteen minutes they had the ball in the net, however the goal was ruled out as the strike from outside the ‘D’ deflected off Tariq Sheikh’s stick, rather than that of an attacker. Five minutes later Carlisle had the ball in the net in very similar circumstances. This time however the goal stood and, whatever debate there was about the goal, the fact was that the visitors deserved their lead.
Towards the end of the first half Titlow was called upon to make two vital stops and Tariq Shiekh produced a stunning goal-line stop, to ensure that Carlisle did not extend their lead.
Following a half time reshuffle, The Old Boys come out determined to fight their way back into the game. Four minutes in however, and Carlisle had doubled their lead following a flicked short corner. Where other sides may have folded though, Bury dug in and fought back. Foster and Larmett were immense in midfield and started to combine with forwards Matthews, Waywell, Cooke, Ainscow and Powers to create openings.
With forty-eight minutes gone the tireless Foster put Bury back in the game. He arrived late at the far post to turn in Cooke’s cross-shot, and claim his third of the season. Although Carlisle were still posing an attacking threat and another timely clearance from Tariq Sheikh was needed, The Old Boys were pouring forward at every opportunity. Ainscow came close to levelling matters, but his reverse stick shot shaved the outside of the post. Cooke then had the next chance following good work from Waywell, but somehow the combination of keeper and a goal-line clearance scrambled the ball away.
As full time approached, every conceivable attacking option was on the pitch and the gamble paid off. Waywell’s forceful run was halted just short of the ‘D’ by two Carlisle defenders. Larmett showed superb vision and awareness to take the hit quickly and pick out the unmarked Ainscow, at the back of the circle. Showing great composure, the young forward picked his spot and levelled the score with the last touch of the game.
Once again these two teams produced an excellent match, which was played and umpired in exactly the right spirit. Hopefully next week will see Carlisle rightfully crowned as league champions.
A special DOD award must be mentioned at this point. Captain Sameer Sheikh was awarded the prize, as he turned in a first half performance in midfield reminiscent of Jan Molby. That would be Jan Molby of the mid-nineties and NOT in his eighties double winning form!
Squad: Titlow, S. Sheikh, Aitken, T. Sheikh, Cheung, Foster, Berry, Larmett, Waywell, McManus, Cooke, Matthews, Ainscow and Powers.
MOM: Foster and T. Sheikh.
Foster (48)
Ainscow (69)
The Old Boys produced a come back of epic proportions to grab a draw against champions-elect Carlisle, on Saturday.
Bury were missing midfielder Hillary, which prompted a change in what had become a fairly settled line up. Sameer Sheikh was moved into midfield as Aitken reverted back to his sweeper role. These changes proved to be rather ineffective as Carlisle dominated the opening period.
Although Bury did mount some pressure, they did not test the visitor’s keeper as often as they would have liked, and gradually Carlisle grasped the upper hand. After fifteen minutes they had the ball in the net, however the goal was ruled out as the strike from outside the ‘D’ deflected off Tariq Sheikh’s stick, rather than that of an attacker. Five minutes later Carlisle had the ball in the net in very similar circumstances. This time however the goal stood and, whatever debate there was about the goal, the fact was that the visitors deserved their lead.
Towards the end of the first half Titlow was called upon to make two vital stops and Tariq Shiekh produced a stunning goal-line stop, to ensure that Carlisle did not extend their lead.
Following a half time reshuffle, The Old Boys come out determined to fight their way back into the game. Four minutes in however, and Carlisle had doubled their lead following a flicked short corner. Where other sides may have folded though, Bury dug in and fought back. Foster and Larmett were immense in midfield and started to combine with forwards Matthews, Waywell, Cooke, Ainscow and Powers to create openings.
With forty-eight minutes gone the tireless Foster put Bury back in the game. He arrived late at the far post to turn in Cooke’s cross-shot, and claim his third of the season. Although Carlisle were still posing an attacking threat and another timely clearance from Tariq Sheikh was needed, The Old Boys were pouring forward at every opportunity. Ainscow came close to levelling matters, but his reverse stick shot shaved the outside of the post. Cooke then had the next chance following good work from Waywell, but somehow the combination of keeper and a goal-line clearance scrambled the ball away.
As full time approached, every conceivable attacking option was on the pitch and the gamble paid off. Waywell’s forceful run was halted just short of the ‘D’ by two Carlisle defenders. Larmett showed superb vision and awareness to take the hit quickly and pick out the unmarked Ainscow, at the back of the circle. Showing great composure, the young forward picked his spot and levelled the score with the last touch of the game.
Once again these two teams produced an excellent match, which was played and umpired in exactly the right spirit. Hopefully next week will see Carlisle rightfully crowned as league champions.
A special DOD award must be mentioned at this point. Captain Sameer Sheikh was awarded the prize, as he turned in a first half performance in midfield reminiscent of Jan Molby. That would be Jan Molby of the mid-nineties and NOT in his eighties double winning form!
Squad: Titlow, S. Sheikh, Aitken, T. Sheikh, Cheung, Foster, Berry, Larmett, Waywell, McManus, Cooke, Matthews, Ainscow and Powers.
MOM: Foster and T. Sheikh.
Saturday, March 03, 2007
Young Gun Larmett Fires Old Boys To Victory.
Cheetham Hill II......0
BGSOB...................1
Larmett (51)
Young midfielder James Larmett popped up to score his fifth, and most vital, goal of the season, ensuring that The Old Boys came away from Manchester with all three points.
Bury knew that this fixture would not be as easy as the previous meeting between the two teams and so it proved, as a close fought game saw both teams produce excellent chances.
Despite early Cheetham pressure, the Old Boys fashioned the first clear chance of the half. Good play down the left saw Waywell feed Cooke and, from a narrow angle, the Bury striker was denied by the outside of the post. The home side responded with further pressure but, despite many crosses flashing across the Bury ‘D,’ they were unable to seriously test Titlow.
By the end of the first half the visitors were beginning to dominate possession and were looking dangerous. Following a ball in from Sameer Sheikh, top scorer Ainscow flashed a reverse stick drive just wide of the post, as Bury looked to open the scoring.
The second half started in much the same vein. Both sides were again looking to attack and it was the visitors who created the clearer chances. Having been put through, Ainscow was denied by the excellence of the Cheetham Hill keeper. Following this, the Bury front man unselfishly squared his next chance to Waywell, who was again denied by the superb reflexes of the home keeper.
The deadlock was finally broken in the fifty-first minute as the impressive Larmett capitalised on a static home defence. With Cooke’s initial shot saved, the keeper sent his clearance dangerously back towards the Bury man. As most players stopped in anticipation of a whistle, the umpire played a good advantage and Larmett seized his opportunity as the ball came across the ‘D,’ putting the visitors into the lead.
Cheetham Hill again responded, and Titlow was eventually called into action as he cleared a ball that was again flashed into the circle. However Bury were still creating chances, and Foster was denied his second goal in two games, as the home keeper saved well, low down, at his near post.
The Old Boys had to see out a frantic last minute as a short corner was awarded, but Aitken, Titlow and Matthews combined to snuff out the danger and seal the victory.
Squad: Titlow. Foster, T. Sheikh, Cheung, S. Sheikh, Hillary, Larmett, Matthews, Aitken, Waywell, Cooke, Ainscow, Powers, Berry.
BGSOB...................1
Larmett (51)
Young midfielder James Larmett popped up to score his fifth, and most vital, goal of the season, ensuring that The Old Boys came away from Manchester with all three points.
Bury knew that this fixture would not be as easy as the previous meeting between the two teams and so it proved, as a close fought game saw both teams produce excellent chances.
Despite early Cheetham pressure, the Old Boys fashioned the first clear chance of the half. Good play down the left saw Waywell feed Cooke and, from a narrow angle, the Bury striker was denied by the outside of the post. The home side responded with further pressure but, despite many crosses flashing across the Bury ‘D,’ they were unable to seriously test Titlow.
By the end of the first half the visitors were beginning to dominate possession and were looking dangerous. Following a ball in from Sameer Sheikh, top scorer Ainscow flashed a reverse stick drive just wide of the post, as Bury looked to open the scoring.
The second half started in much the same vein. Both sides were again looking to attack and it was the visitors who created the clearer chances. Having been put through, Ainscow was denied by the excellence of the Cheetham Hill keeper. Following this, the Bury front man unselfishly squared his next chance to Waywell, who was again denied by the superb reflexes of the home keeper.
The deadlock was finally broken in the fifty-first minute as the impressive Larmett capitalised on a static home defence. With Cooke’s initial shot saved, the keeper sent his clearance dangerously back towards the Bury man. As most players stopped in anticipation of a whistle, the umpire played a good advantage and Larmett seized his opportunity as the ball came across the ‘D,’ putting the visitors into the lead.
Cheetham Hill again responded, and Titlow was eventually called into action as he cleared a ball that was again flashed into the circle. However Bury were still creating chances, and Foster was denied his second goal in two games, as the home keeper saved well, low down, at his near post.
The Old Boys had to see out a frantic last minute as a short corner was awarded, but Aitken, Titlow and Matthews combined to snuff out the danger and seal the victory.
Squad: Titlow. Foster, T. Sheikh, Cheung, S. Sheikh, Hillary, Larmett, Matthews, Aitken, Waywell, Cooke, Ainscow, Powers, Berry.
