Bury Relics Over 60 Stripes concluded the first half of their Greater Manchester Division 2 Walking Football league campaign in match week 4. A squad of 8 were selected of Keith (GK), Ken Bo, Mike, Mark T, Steve H, Iain, Mark E and Andy. Pat was Manager and Eddy, Kev and Neville, were in attendance on a dry and humid day.
First up were Claret Casuals with Ken and Mark E starting on the bench. It started evenly with Andy driving in a long shot to the keeper’s midriff and Keith making a good save from the Casuals dangerous frontman. We gained the ascendancy by passing neatly and good interplay between the forward trio of Mike, Iain and Andy. Another long shot from Iain whizzed past the post. Then Steve won the ball at the back, strode forward over the halfway line and hit a good shot which the keeper cleared with his feet for a kick in. We were on top now and a lovely crossfield pass from Iain put Mike in on the keeper; he chose to stroke it first time across the keeper but it slid past the far post. Casuals took heart from this and began getting into our half more. A very timely block from Mark T sent a strong shot out and from the resulting corner they fashioned a chance which Keith cleanly dealt with superbly. This warning shot kickstarted us back into action. Firstly, Mark T was set up after a good move between Mike and Andy which he hit hard but high over the bar. Then a beautiful pass from Andy put Iain in 1 on 1 on the goalie, he did everything right but couldn’t get it past a despairing dive. We finished strongly with another fantastic forward move culminating in an Iain shot which was blocked just before the final whistle. An entertaining but frustrating, 0-0 draw.
Next up were Preston North End with Mark T and Iain starting on the bench. We started where we left off from in the previous match when Steve H won the ball at the back and threaded a pass up to Mike who smacked it low and hard against the post. The attacking tone was set when Mark E took possession, strode forward with the ball and played a diagonal ball to Mike in space, he took one touch and drilled it across the goal towards the bottom corner. It looked a certain goal but their keeper dived low to his right to make an excellent save with his outstretched hand onto the post again! Then Andy skilfully intercepted a waist high ball at the edge of the box and absolutely lashed it on the half volley towards the goal, unfortunately it was straight at the keeper who palmed it out as it knocked him off his feet. A high octane start but the Lilywhites have been the Stripes bogey team over the last few years and always pose problems no matter the match situation. As we piled forward it left space when we lost possession and they had the next 2 chances, firstly Keith turned a good shot round the post and then from a breakaway they rattled the bar which was a real let off. We continued pushing unabashed and Mark E shot across goal just past the post followed by another Steve H long shot which the keeper dealt with well. It wasn’t all one way traffic though and Keith had to pull off another great save as they countered. As we entered the last few minutes we kept looking for all 3 points and we forced a couple of corners. On the first Andy produced a great bit of movement to get himself free and when the ball was played to him he thundered it just over the bar. On the second Mark E played it short to Ken who slipped it into a free Mike who went high this time only for the goalie to tip it over the bar for another blinding save with the ref blowing for full time before the resulting kick in could be taken. Phew! An incident packed 0-0, both keepers were faultless with Mike ruing a possible hat trick evading him by inches.
Third up were Wakefield with Andy and Steve starting on the bench. Although we had drawn our first two games Pat was buoyant with how we had played and implored the players to keep the excellent level up in a fantastic team talk which banished any doubts that the squad may have had due to our lack of goals. The first chance fell to us as Mike returned the compliment to Ken with a little threaded pass but again it went past the post. The second chance fell to Wakefield’s diminutive maestro who turned on a sixpence at the edge of the D and shot it low and hard across Keith into the bottom corner. This was the pivotal moment not only of the game but the day. Were we going to burst like a ballon or fight like tigers? Roared on from the sidelines by Andy and Steve our heads did not drop. We got straight back up from the canvas and poured forward in continuous waves. Mike had a turn and shot which the keeper saved then Mark E really grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck. He had a strong shot blocked for a corner, then a Cruyff turn and shot had the goalie scrambling followed by a GOAL! Finally, after a plethora of opportunities throughout the day we scored and it was well worth the wait. A great move started off by Iain after he won the ball in the middle of the park and he moved it on to Mark T who had cleverly moved forward as soon as we regained possession, he played it first time up to Mark E who had time and space, he took his time and used that space to stroke it confidently past the keeper in to an inviting corner. A mixture of relief and delight in equal measure at breaking our duck erupted from the Relics support and squad. The goal was needed and confidence flowed as we did not let up. Good interplay led to more shots on target from Iain, Mike and Mark T. Wakefield’s second and final chance saw a carbon copy attempt of their goal but a vital Mark T block prevented them taking the lead against the run of play. Iain then really stepped up towards the end, firstly setting Mark E free to walk it in and put it under the goalie for his second goal and secondly to intercept the ball in his own half, cooly walk it up and fire it into the bottom corner to seal a tremendous 3-1 victory.
Our final match versus Rochdale Striders saw Ken and Mike on the bench. Striders started well making Keith earn his biscuits with 2 quality saves. We replied through Mark E and another Steve H long shot as a much tighter game played out with Striders defending doggedly. Our best chance came towards the end when Steve H found Andy who gloriously turned it into’s Iain’s path who was now 1 on 1 with the keeper but was denied by a brilliant save.
Pat the Manager commented – “Thanks everyone who played today. Great team performance. Without some good goalkeeping by the opposition and post’s 😉 we were deserving of more points. Great support on the sidelines which makes managing the team a pleasure. Talk me through those goals Mark E and Iain 🤗 “
This was my first chance of the season to report on the Stripes and was hugely impressed by not only the quality of their football and how they try to play it but more importantly by their tremendous team spirit and camaraderie. This was truly epitomised on the day by Neville’s attendance, support and encouragement – what a great club man he is.
19 shots on target, 3 goals and 6 points for the Stripes were the statistics of the day. The story however is no matter how much beautiful football you play it is very, very difficult to score goals at Heywood and you don’t always get your just reward. If the squad can convert a higher proportion of chances to goals they have a shot at promotion as they are only 6 points behind at the halfway point of the season, if not, they should finish comfortably mid table.
A Scotch Ian report
Bury Relics 