Reserves 5 Team Bury 1

The arrival of Team Bury to Victory Road a little over a month after the drawn game at Ram Meadow gave us the opportunity to quickly make amends for only drawing the game after being three goals ahead within the first twenty minutes. That’s not to take away any credit from Team Bury who deserved their point and could have taken all three. Unlike at Norwich CBS in our previous outing Paul (Bugg) was able to select a starting eleven from a squad of sixteen with a further seven unavailable. The most notable inclusion, for the club as a whole, was that of Kyle Hammond who was making his first appearance after a lengthy injury enforced lay-off.

The start to the game was a lot tighter than in the previous fixture with both teams creating chances but failing to capitalise on them. The breakthrough came in the 28th minute when Regan Pelling shot from outside the penalty area and his low shot found its way through a crowd of players into the net. The lead was doubled as half time approached when James Gaffer was the quickest to react to a loose ball inside the six yard box, firing home on the half turn.

The half time team talk focussed on the positives of the first half performance with the only disappointment being that we weren’t further ahead and the warning to remember the previous meeting. A warning not heeded as we conceded within the opening five minutes of the second half, failing to clear effectively. The two goal advantage was restored by Regan Pelling ten minutes later in almost identical fashion to his opener. Having come on to replace Jake Seaber, Tom Mansfield increased our lead with a glancing near post header which the dubious goals panel awarded to him after review in the bar. The final goal of the afternoon came almost immediately with Ben Snowling, who had replaced Adam Blades, tapping in a right wing cross. The final score was probably a little flattering as Team Bury put us under pressure after they had reduced the arrears and it wasn’t until the quick double of the fourth and fifth goals that the result ceased to be in doubt. A further positive was the performance of Kyle Hammond who, despite having to come off early with cramp, came through the game well.

FT – Reserves 5 Team Bury 1

Reserves - Beckwith, Seaber (Mansfield), Hammond, Norman, Gaffer, Toby Groom (McGuckin), Bell, Garrard, Blades (Snowling), Cheetham, Pelling. Subs not used - Shopov and Oliver.