Bury Relics Over 60 Stripes continued their Greater Manchester Division 3 Walking Football Autumn league campaign in match week 2. More than half of the squad were unavailable so Pete Shev and Keith the Kit Man were drafted in to help the usual suspects of Eddy (GK), Ken, Mike, Steve M, Kodak Keith and Andy. Ken was Manager and numerous supporters were in attendance on a dry day.
First up were equal table toppers Burnley with Ken and Kodak Keith starting on the bench. The Clarets started confidently and were knocking the ball around well with their big centre forward laying the ball off delicately to their breaking midfield players.
This move worked for them 3 times in a row; Eddy making a magnificent one handed save high to his right from the first, the second flashing past the post but the third nestled in the back of the net after being stroked past Eddy. We couldn’t get a foothold in the game with only a long shot from Ken (who had replaced 2 time running offender Steve) to show for a lot of huff and puff. Just before full time they doubled the lead from a deflected shot which left Eddy wrong footed. A deserved 2-0 loss.
Next up were Bolton with Andy and Keith the Kit Man starting on the bench. They had a stronger squad than last time on show and dominated the early possession, hitting the post then Eddy saved after they had a 2 on 1. They finally punished our bad habit of giving the ball away with a low shot into the bottom corner to make it 1-0. We had to push forward with nothing to lose and had a couple of decent efforts from Ken and Steve but they also took advantage of the space we were allowing them, fortunately blasting over from another 2 on 1 and Eddy making another good stop after a nice 1-2 from them. After winning a strong challenge in the middle of the park, Mike, set up Kodak Keith who slipped it past their keeper only for it to agonisingly roll onto the post, it bounced out towards the waiting Ken who had an open goal gaping but the Bolton defender cleared the ball when it was on the line of the box – Penalty! Mike stepped up confidently but the goalie made a great diving save (pictured above) to deny us the equaliser. We continued to chase and Mike went close again with a shot that whistled past the post but Bolton shaded it 1-0.
Third up were Preston with Pete and Steve M starting on the bench. It is shaping up as a dogfight between these 2 sides for the relegation spot with both teams lying at the bottom of the table only separated by 1 point at the beginning of the day in our favour. This game was a carbon copy of the previous match week as the 2 teams cancelled each other out again although this time each team managed to create a chance from open play, a good long range shot from Andy and a well struck shot saved by Eddy’s feet. To be honest this match could have lasted 90 minutes and it would still have finished 0-0.
Our final match versus the other table toppers Moston Brook, saw Ken and Kodak Keith on the bench and was a real heartbreaker! Up to this point we had been disjointed, with little to no communication and had relied on the defensive solidity of Eddy, Pete and Keith the Kitman to keep us in the matches. Again, like last time this match saw us come together as a team and play our best football of the day against a very good side. They started fast with a 3 on 2 leading to a fierce shot which Eddy parried away with a great diving save but we then had a high level of possession which led to good chances. Andy had a goal bound shot turned round the post, from the resulting corner Steve found Andy at the farside of the D which he hit first time cross goal, beating the keeper but also the far post – so near yet so far. We continued with nice interplay round their box keeping them penned back and then Mike went on one of his trademark mazy runs which saw him 1 on 1 with the goalie but another good save kept him out. From a breakout the Brook forced Eddy into a stretching save which caused his groin to go but he carried on regardless. Just before full time the age old customary punishment for teams who fail to convert their chances was delivered when a snapshot fired high into the net caught Eddy off guard. A tough 1-0 loss.
Another difficult day for an evolving squad which is still competing in every match but by gaining only 1 point we now sit bottom of the table 1 point behind Preston who managed 3 draws on the day. Report by Ian McKinnon and photos by Pentax Pat.
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