What started as a typical sunny autumn day the sun did it’s best to outshine Tex’s new boots but it was Gerry’s boots that shone in his 4 goal masterclass display.The 4th Nov at Heywood Sports Centre the Relics over 70’s continued their quest for the League Title, the weather started out bright but soon turned windy and cold.
Four Goal Gerry Luzcha
Manager: Sir Pat: Squad: Eddy (GK), JoMo (C) Graham W, Pete Shev, Tex, GerryL, Al, RayH, JohnW
First Game against Blackpool Seasiders, Subs Tex, JoMo, JohnW
Relics: 7 shots with 5 on target. Blackpool: 2 shots with 1 on target. Final Score 2 – 0
A quick count of the starting line up included only five Bury players, Shev was missing, he was stripping off so many layers as protection against the Heywood weather that he almost missed the kickoff. The Relics controlled the game from start to finish restricting their opponents to only two shots, one of which produced a fine save from Eddie. Graham had an early shot just wide, a fine passing move from the back resulted in a shot on target from Gerry and then one from Ray. The game became the Gerry show, he broke from midfield and hit a fine shot high into the net – goal. Another good passing move from the back found Gerry whose shot was narrowly wide, then another shot on target was saved by the keeper. (The shot was so powerful that the keeper had to be substituted with what appeared to be a dislocated finger). A good lay off from Graham found guess who? Gerry once again he calmly fired home goal. Final score 2 – 0 Relics win, thoroughly deserved.
Second Game Tameside Striders. Subs Schev, Gerry, Ray
Relics: 11 shots 5 on target. Tameside 3 shots none on target Final Score 0 – 0
Rather like the opening game the Relics dominated from start to finish, the only difference being that the Relics as hard as they tried could not turn opportunities into goals. There were shots from JohnW, JoMo, Graham and Al, some well saved and others wide of the target, the defence restricted their opponents to only 3 shots all wide of the target. Final score 0 – 0 The Relics deserved all 3 points after a dominant display
Third Game Moston Brook. Subs Tex, JohnW, JoMo rested due to slight injury
Relics: 2 shots 1 on target. Moston: 1 shot not on target. Final Score 0 – 0
The stats speak for themselves, both teams very much cancelling each other out and defences dominating, the game was scrappy with lots hold ups in play. Final score 0 – 0 Relics the slightly better team
Fourth Game Ribble Valley. Subs Al, Shev
Relics: 11 shots 6 on target. Ribble : 3 shots 2 on target. Final Score 3 – 1
A high tempo game from the Relics that turned out to be far more tense than it needed to be, with the Bury side in full control but unable to turn opportunities into goals, a rare attacking move from their opponents saw them score a scrappy deflected goal.The pressure put on Ribble eventually paid off with Gerry breaking from the back and hitting an unstoppable shot – goal. Nearing the end of the game Ribble were on 3 fouls, a clumsy tackle on Graham produced a blue card and a penalty that Graham confidently slotted away – goal. With almost the final kick of the game a lay off from a free kick released Gerry to hit another excellent shot, arguably his best of the day – goal, Final score 3 – 1 a deserved 3 points
A good day’s work from the Relics, 3 clean sheets and 8 well earned points, on another day it could have been 10. Eddy although called upon very little was alert in goal, Ray, Tex and Shev in defence gave virtually nothing away, Al, JoMo, JohnW and Gerry dominated midfield and Graham held the line up front as a constant menace to the opposition. Summary from Chairman Keiran “Great team spirit and effort from all” Manager Pat “Well done, no games lost and only one goal conceded”
Supporters and officials on the day, Keiran, Pat, Ken Bond. KeithH, KeithS, Dave Morris, Ste Hassall and Pete Taylor. Report by NevK
