Bury Relics Over 65’s went into their third set of fixtures of the Greater Manchester Division 1 Walking Football 2026 league campaign with a squad of 8: Keith G (GK), Kev Amos, Keith Swain, Alan, Dave Luk, Tony G, Kev Bates and Ian McCann. Ken Bug was Manager.
First up were Winstanley with Kev B and Keith S starting on the bench. Winstanley had the first chance when a strong shot was saved comfortably by Keith G. This kickstarted us into life and we quickly replied when Ian set up Kev A who shot past the post. We started passing it about really well and after a great move Ian shot just over. Then Dave beat his man and played Ian in but again it was over the bar. Winstanley had been pinned back but they broke out to get their second and final shot away but Tony put in a strong block to put it round the post for a corner. We broke out from their corner, moved the ball quickly and a majestic pass from Ian set up Alan who rattled the post with the keeper beaten. More good passing football again set up Alan but a tight angle saw his shot hit the side netting. Our final chance again fell to Alan when he stole the ball but his shot was kept out by a good diving save. A dominating 0-0 draw.
Next up were Burnley with Kev A and Alan starting on the bench. Relics carried on where they left off in the previous game with 7 good chances created to the Clarets 3 off target efforts. Our early chances fell to Ian mainly set up by Dave, the best of which played him in 1-2-1 with the goalie, Ian did everything right but the keeper made a brilliant save with his shoulder to keep it out. As the game progressed we were in total control and Kev B started getting into the act firstly with a lovely turn and shot which grazed the post and then lastly with a first time toe poke as the Burnley defenders tried to pass it across the goal. It flashed in past a keeper caught completely by surprise. A dominating 1-0 win.
Our third game was against Blackpool with Dave and Tony on the bench. This saw a Tour de Force or in modern parlance, a Unicorn when Ian scored a hat trick. It could have been 4 as the game began with him putting a shot narrowly past! The Tangerines replied with a good move which put their striker in on goal but Keith G pulled off a magnificent stop – that was their last attacking threat as we assumed control. Goal 1 was set up by a piece of individual brilliance by Kev B out on the sideline when a drawback turn and slide rule pass by him found Ian in space in front of goal. He took his time and cooly curled a right footed shot into the corner of the net. Goal 2 was a classic move from our keeper to the back of their net in 4 touches, Keith G up to Kev B who laid it back to Keith S who hit a first time diagonal pass in front of Ian who latched onto it with a stinging toebunger which bamboozled the keeper. Goal 3 was a carbon copy finish of the first when Ian was again found in space after a superb move involving him, Kev B and Alan. A dominating 3-0 win.
Following our earlier showings Game 4 didn’t look quite as challenging against reigning champions and, once again, runaway leaders Wakefield as normal with Ian and Keith S on the bench. We came out strongly and started with 2 shots from Tony and Dave and were looking better against them than we have for a long time. We reached the halfway point with no shots against Eddy when BAM, from nowhere, they played a long ball up to their striker, Tony, who used his body superbly to hold off the challenge and turn and rifle into the net. Just great skill to put us 1-0 behind. The players did not let their heads drop and actually stepped it up, Kev A sacrificed himself to make way for Ian to come on to add his forward drive. We did not allow them another shot and they became happy to sit back and try to keep the ball. We had 4 good chances all set up by great passing moves, Alan shot off target, Kev B had a shot saved by the keeper, Ian had a 1 on 1 brilliantly palmed away and then a Dave thunderbolt was tipped over the bar by the goalie. We have never really rattled these tremendous opponents in the last 2 seasons but we gave them a real scare here which was very sportingly acknowledged by their manager at the end. A spirited 1-0 loss.
Our fifth and final game was against Corinthians with Kev A and Kev B on the bench. Two strong teams matched each other in an even game. We started the stronger with 3 shots from Ian then our best chance fell to Dave after a neat interchange of passes with Alan but the keeper got behind it. The game swung towards Corinthians after that with Keith making a couple of good saves then they had their best opportunity when they hit the post and the rebound was fired back in but fortunately it went narrowly past. A fair 0-0 draw.
We played excellent football in all our games which was rewarded with 8 points which was 5 more than we took from this same group of fixtures in the opening week of the season. This haul trebled our points tally and lifted us to third bottom, albeit on goal difference, up from being adrift in bottom spot.
Bury Relics 