All the above convinced Andy Preece, Bury's manager, that a change was needed to stop them being over run by our formation (4-3-2-1 with the 2 wide). He hauled the experienced Redmond off midway through the half, brought on Borley and went from 3 centre backs to a flat back 4. We still had the upper hand as Feeney had an effort deflected wide, Purches a shot blocked after a good run and Tindall headed another Hayter corner straight at Kenny. However, our dominance was coming to and end and Stewart had to make comfortable saves from Nelson and Newby and also a fine tip over from the latter. Unfortunately Clegg equalised in the 4th of 5 minutes of added on time after a lucky ricochet in the box. Hughes had just limped off being replaced by new signing Danny Thomas. 1 - 1 at half time from a match we could have been winning easily.
Matters got worse at the start of the second half as Feeney had to be subbed for loan signing Kieran McAnespie who despite being a left back started off in central midfield in a revised 4 4 2 formation. The second half was more even with us playing the attractive albeit sparse football and Bury playing with muscle and spirit. Bury took the lead in the 64th minute. Jarrett's header from a long throw hit the bar, with the aid of a tip from Stewart, and Lawson followed up to rattle home from a yard or so. Could Stewart have come for the long throw? I doubt that this would have been wise in a congested box. Minute's later a fine run down the right by Hayter saw his cross wastefully blasted over by O'Connor. Borley then fired wide before Tindall, who was up for the scrap but was not distributing well, was replaced by Elliott with Purches swapping to right back, McAnespie to left back, O'Connor back to central midfield from wide right and Elliott to wide right. Bury's Borley shot wide and then McAnespie made Kenny make a good save from a powerful free kick. Despite the players efforts we just could not make any impression on the scoreline and the match finished 2 - 1.
This was yet another match where we were at least as good, possibly better, than the opposition but still lost. Unfortunately this is a very bad habit which the players, no doubt due to their lack of overall experience, do not seem to be able to get out of. It is true that the loss of Hughes and Feeney removed two of our better players but neither were having a good match. In general we were out battled by Bury in the second half. When McAnespie went to left back he and Thomas, playing wide left, linked up well several times and seemed to not have the losing burden on their shoulders, I hope that this rubs off on the other players rather than the other way round. I thought that naming a man of the match would be difficult until on reading my notes and writing this report it became apparent that James Hayter was involved in virtually everything good that we produced so he is my man of the match.
The referee, the robust Fraser Stretton had a good match as such an experienced and highly regarded ref is likely to have. In a bottom of the table match like this it could have been possible for there to be many bookings. There was only one, Bury's Unsworth for a foul, due to his assured handling of matters and the confidence that players have in him. I wish that there more like him about.
Finally I am sure that we all know how the Bury fans are feeling and what they are going through. I would rather that they survive and we possibly go down rather than staying up if they go out of business. I am sure that we all wish them success in their battle to save their club.
|
AFCB: Stewart, Tindall, Maher, Howe, Purches, O'Connor, C Fletcher, Hughes, Hayter, Holmes, Feeney
Subs: Menetrier, Thomas (for Hughes on 45 mins), McAnespie (for Feeney on 45 mins), Elliott (for Tindall on 73 mins), Eribenne
Phil Nesbitt, Reading
(not the best place for an AFCB fan to live in at the moment!)
(not the best place for an AFCB fan to live in at the moment!)