Sunday, September 28, 2008
Solid Start for Old Boys
Didsbury VI ..2
BGSOB..........4
Matthews
Cooke (2)
Waywell
The Old Boys got their season off to a solid start with a four – two victory against Didsbury on Saturday.
With Ainscow and Hillary both absent it was going to be interesting to see how Bury would approach what has generally been a hard fought game in the past. Bury were dealt a further blow an hour before push back when keeper Dave Heaton was forced to withdraw with a knee injury. This lead to Chirs McManus being drafted in as an emergency keeper.
Within five minutes The Old Boys had taken the lead as Dave Matthews fired home the game’s first short corner. This had capped a strong start from Bury, who had passed the ball well when attacking.
However the lead was short lived, as Didsbury hit back almost immediately. An incisive move down the right saw the ball delivered into the circle. Following an almighty scramble, the home side forced the ball over the line despite the best efforts of McManus and Tariq Sheikh on the line.
The Old Boys were not fazed by this set back and returned to their flowing, attacking hockey. Within another five minutes, Bury had regained the lead. Again the goal came via a short corner as Matt Cooke opened his account for the season with a deft deflected finish.
The game was then held up for fifteen minutes as James Berry suffered a broken nose as he bravely attempted a tackle in the circle. With yet another injury blow, it would have been easy for The Old Boys to lose their rhythm and allow Didsbury back in the game. However, Xander Robinson compensated for Berry’s absence brilliantly, and Bury added to their lead.
Good work from Matthews and Hodbod provided Cooke with an opportunity for his second goal. The Bury front man made no mistake as he slotted calmly home, into the bottom corner.
With Wright and Foster working tirelessly in midfield, Waywell a constant threat up front and Todd and the Lowe brothers comfortably slotting into any defensive roles, The Old Boys produced some excellent passing hockey.
The second half provided a slightly different challenge, as Didsbury came out looking to pass the ball and reduce the deficit. The Bury defence had to work harder to control the attacking threat, however the mercurial talents of Matthews and Hodbod still ensured that chances were provided for Daley, Cooke and Waywell.
The Old Boys moved further in front mid way through the second half. Following a mazy dribble from Waywell, the forward was able to squeeze off a reverse stick shot from a tight angle. The Didsbury keeper was somewhat wrong-footed by the awkward bounce, as the ball found the backboard.
Didsbury, to their credit, continued to push forward and grabbed a second goal, following another goalmouth scramble. This time skipper Tariq Sheikh ended up in the goal as he tried to clear the ball on the line. McManus was called on to make a fine stick save, and at the other end both Cooke and Matthews went close for Bury.
Overall, Bury will be happy with the win, but will look to tighten up defensively as they take on Preston next weekend.
Squad: McManus, T. Sheikh, S. Sheikh, Todd, Wright, Matthews, Hodbod, Foster, Berry, Waywell, Cooke, Daley, J. Lowe, Robinson, C. Lowe.
MOM: Wright.
BGSOB..........4
Matthews
Cooke (2)
Waywell
The Old Boys got their season off to a solid start with a four – two victory against Didsbury on Saturday.
With Ainscow and Hillary both absent it was going to be interesting to see how Bury would approach what has generally been a hard fought game in the past. Bury were dealt a further blow an hour before push back when keeper Dave Heaton was forced to withdraw with a knee injury. This lead to Chirs McManus being drafted in as an emergency keeper.
Within five minutes The Old Boys had taken the lead as Dave Matthews fired home the game’s first short corner. This had capped a strong start from Bury, who had passed the ball well when attacking.
However the lead was short lived, as Didsbury hit back almost immediately. An incisive move down the right saw the ball delivered into the circle. Following an almighty scramble, the home side forced the ball over the line despite the best efforts of McManus and Tariq Sheikh on the line.
The Old Boys were not fazed by this set back and returned to their flowing, attacking hockey. Within another five minutes, Bury had regained the lead. Again the goal came via a short corner as Matt Cooke opened his account for the season with a deft deflected finish.
The game was then held up for fifteen minutes as James Berry suffered a broken nose as he bravely attempted a tackle in the circle. With yet another injury blow, it would have been easy for The Old Boys to lose their rhythm and allow Didsbury back in the game. However, Xander Robinson compensated for Berry’s absence brilliantly, and Bury added to their lead.
Good work from Matthews and Hodbod provided Cooke with an opportunity for his second goal. The Bury front man made no mistake as he slotted calmly home, into the bottom corner.
With Wright and Foster working tirelessly in midfield, Waywell a constant threat up front and Todd and the Lowe brothers comfortably slotting into any defensive roles, The Old Boys produced some excellent passing hockey.
The second half provided a slightly different challenge, as Didsbury came out looking to pass the ball and reduce the deficit. The Bury defence had to work harder to control the attacking threat, however the mercurial talents of Matthews and Hodbod still ensured that chances were provided for Daley, Cooke and Waywell.
The Old Boys moved further in front mid way through the second half. Following a mazy dribble from Waywell, the forward was able to squeeze off a reverse stick shot from a tight angle. The Didsbury keeper was somewhat wrong-footed by the awkward bounce, as the ball found the backboard.
Didsbury, to their credit, continued to push forward and grabbed a second goal, following another goalmouth scramble. This time skipper Tariq Sheikh ended up in the goal as he tried to clear the ball on the line. McManus was called on to make a fine stick save, and at the other end both Cooke and Matthews went close for Bury.
Overall, Bury will be happy with the win, but will look to tighten up defensively as they take on Preston next weekend.
Squad: McManus, T. Sheikh, S. Sheikh, Todd, Wright, Matthews, Hodbod, Foster, Berry, Waywell, Cooke, Daley, J. Lowe, Robinson, C. Lowe.
MOM: Wright.
