GMWFL Spring 2023 – an over 65s Nifty Nine deliver top of the league

Reading the team sheet prior to the first round of Spring fixtures for the over 65s, was like looking through a pack of super hero Top Trump cards. No, it was not the Dynamic Duo, nor the Fantastic Four, and neither the Magnificent Seven, it was The Nifty Nine for the Bury Relics; at this level, every player was an experienced and top-class walking football player. Plenty of Bury Relics supporters had turned up to see how the Relics could do this time around, and they were not to be disappointed. The first game up was against the current league champions, Kingsmaid, and their goal machine talisman, #77, was present in the squad. Tony G was given the unenviable task of marking him, and so, the games commenced.

Club Kingsmaid versus Bury Relics Over 65’s
To watch extended highlights of this game, click-here.
The final result was a 0-0 draw.
Goal: no goals in this game.
Result; Club Kingsmaid 0 – 0 Bury Relics Over 65’s

Bury Relics Over 65’s versus Manchester Corinthians
To watch extended highlights of this game, click-here.
The final result was a 1-0 win to Bury.
Goal: Gerry L’s smartly taken corner reached Graham, who’s precision hypersonic strike beat their keeper from distance. The score 1-0, click-here.
Result; Bury Relics Over 65’s 1 – 0 Manchester Corinthians

Bury Relics Over 65’s versus Preston North End
To watch extended highlights of this game, click-here.
The final result was a 0-0 draw.
Goal: no goals in this game.
Result; Bury Relics Over 65’s 0 – 0 Preston North End

ury Relics Over 65’s versus Bolton Arena
To watch extended highlights of this game, click-here.
The final result was a 2-0 win to Bury.
Goal: Gerry L is advancing forward, receives a pass from Graham, and shoots into Bolton’s goal, via the glove of their goalkeeper. A good goal to make it 1-0, click-here.
Penalty Save, a dramatic moment. With the score at 1-0, Bury conceded a penalty courtesy of the 4 foul rule. Gaz concentrated hard and made an outstanding dive to his left, to tip the ball around the post to preserve Bury’s 1-0 lead, click here.

Goal: One of Pete’s telescopic legs robs possession from a Bolton forward and John W is on to it; he plays it forward to Graham, who uses guile and skill to bamboozle the defender and then chip over the stranded keeper. The score 2-0, click-here.
Result; Bury Relics Over 65’s 2 – 0 Bolton Arena

What a good day for the Bury Relics club. With 2 wins and 2 draws, that puts Bury top of the league after the first set of fixtures. It was pleasing for everyone that Bury did not concede a goal all day, with hardly any free shots given away by Bury. Tony G produced a masterclass on how to shut out Kingsmaid’s danger man. Gaz, too, made an excellent penalty save against Bolton, and another penalty by Corinthians was blasted way over, following an apparent toe incursion into the goal area. However, following an extensive investigation by the Belgium Detective Poirot, no evidence was ever found for that alleged toe incursion. So, in the end, it was justice that the ball sailed high over the crossbar. The goals by Graham and Gerry were excellent, and John W had some good strikes that brought good saves. The comedy moment of the day was probably Graham’s first time and mis-timed air shot, that brought a few chuckles in the crowd. However, in the end, it was he who had the last laugh, after scoring two sublime strikes that Messi would be happy with. Thanks to the squad who all played well, and the staff on the day: Players Gaz (GK), Dave L, Gerry L, Tex, Pete S, Alan, Tony G, Graham (C) and John W. Staff: Manager Ken Bug, Sir Pat, Keiren and Keith S. The Relics were backed up by at least 10 supporters today, which is phenomenal. Report by Dr. John.