Bury Relics Over 65’s went into their sixth set of fixtures of the Greater Manchester Division 1 Walking Football 2025 league campaign with a squad of 7: Keith Gillespie (GK), Kev Amos, Pete Shev, Alan, Dave Luk, Keith Swain and Graham. Ken was Manager and supporters in attendance were Keiran, Tony G, Iain D, Nev, Kodak Keith, Kev B, Paul Webster (looking well), Steve H and KenBo on a dry, crisp day.
First up were Bolton with Keith S starting on the bench. We opened brightly with a great move: Graham played it up the middle to Alan who had moved up into the centre forward position, he laid it off to Dave on the left wing who hit it first time against the post after the goalie got his fingertips to it. We were on top but Bolton moved up the pitch and scored from a shot which went through Shev’s legs and trickled just inside the far post past a despairing dive from Keith G. We didn’t let this affect us negatively instead we went up a gear and really took the game to a very good team in the search for an equaliser. We kept repeating our first move to set Dave up with shooting chances, 3 of which forced their keeper into excellent saves. We were really pressing high and moving the ball well and eventually it paid off when a Bolton defender ran across the box to block a shot. Graham took great care with his penalty set up and despatched it brilliantly. There was very little time left and for the first time since they scored Bolton threatened our goal only for Shev to put in a superb block to divert the ball out of play and bring the game to an end. A fully deserved 1-1 draw.
Next up were Preston with Alan starting on the bench. They started well making Keith G’s belly bounce with a toebung into his midriff which was their only shot on (or off) target. We replied strongly and really took the game by the scruff of the neck playing outstanding football which delighted the Relics support. Graham had 2 good shots after great moves, then Kev A, who had played quietly but very effectively throughout intercepted the ball in midfield, strode forward but fired it just wide. Dave then hit another thunderbolt from out wide which the keeper pushed over the bar. Our last chance was a flashing drive into the side net from Keith S after a lovely one-two with Graham. A very unlucky 0-0 draw.
Our third game was against Rochdale with Kev A on the bench. We continued where we left off and struck early when Graham threaded a lovely ball through the middle to the edge of the D for Dave to absolutely lash into the roof of the net. This settled us and we laid siege to their box. A good move out from the back saw the ball go from Shev to Keith S to Alan into Graham in the middle and he struck a rising drive which stung the keeper’s palms and the ball came bouncing out of the box to the right. Dave reacted quickly, got to it and brought it under control, he looked up and played it back across the D to a waiting Graham who was licking his lips as it headed towards him. The Rochdale defender only had 2 options – let Graham take the shot or step inside the box to knock it away and hope the ref was unsighted. He took the latter but was so far inside that it would have been visible from the International Space Station and Rochdale conceded their third penalty of the day. Once again Graham took great care with his penalty set up and despatched it brilliantly. 2-0 up, we relaxed and played keep ball, Rochdale only had 2 shots, one of which was on target when Kevin Williams hit a magnificent shot with the outside of his foot which was heading straight for the top corner until Keith G leapt like a salmon and tipped it over the bar. The highlight of the game, and indeed day, came just before the end when Keith S found himself up front on his own with only one man to beat. He beautifully knocked the ball one way, shimmied round the defender and was clear in on goal but the ref ruled too quick and killed the skill! A very strong 2-0 victory.
The final game was against Corinthians Whites with Shev as sub. We showed no signs of a drop off and flew out the blocks. Alan intercepted a pass out from the goalie and blasted it straight back which was bravely saved. Then Keith S put Graham in at the edge of the D, he tried to sit the keeper down but he wasn’t biting and when Graham tried to put it past him his leg got in the way. It was totally one-way traffic (to be fair to the opposition they had no subs, it was their fifth game and some were carrying injuries) now and we just camped in their half. However, their keeper, normally a striker, was playing out his skin and he turned yet another rocket from Dave past the post for a corner before once again denying Dave after a good turn and shot. Just before the end Alan teed Keith S up for a shot but again it flashed wide. A dominant 0-0 draw.
The stats of the day told a positive story as we had 16 shots on target with 5 against and took 6 points from 12. Outstanding performances from everyone meant that we played very well in every game with the only negative being Dave pulling a thigh muscle just prior to the finish. After 6 of the 8 match weeks the table is still congested apart from Wakefield who are a huge 21 points ahead. Relics retain 4th place, 3 points from second but only 6 points above the relegation places which is a slight improvement after this round of matches. Therefore, apart from the top spot, still all to play for.
An Ian McKinnon report
Bury Relics 