Gigg Lane stalemate

Last updated : 19 July 2006 By Tony Scholes
Alan Mahon - twice denied a goal by Alan Fettis
It wasn't over inspiring stuff but we were without doubt the better side and will wonder how we didn't edge it against a Bury side who, one first half effort apart, didn't trouble Brian Jensen all night.

They did look a better side than Accrington Stanley, and in that respect it was a more difficult game and one where manager Steve Cotterill started with a less experimental line up than the one that had kicked off at Accy.

With Michael Duff ruled out there was just one change to the side that played the second half just over a week ago, Frank Sinclair coming in at right back playing alongside Stephen Foster and Wayne Thomas who were the central defensive pairing.

Thomas also wore the captain's arm band against a Bury side that featured one more ex-Claret in its squad than we were expecting. Chris Brass played the entire ninety minutes but alongside Marc Pugh on the bench was the Football League's oldest player from last season David Eyres who is on trial with the Gigg Lane outfit. He said before the game that he was expecting to get twenty minutes but, like Pughy, he spent the entire game watching from the bench.

Bury started the brighter and could have taken an early lead but from a free header they could only put the ball tamely into Brian Jensen's arms, but just past the quarter hour only a good save low down from Fettis denied Steve Jones his second goal in Burnley colours (well, in yellow). Jones went clear down the left after taking a pass from Alan Mahon and beating his defender, but the keeper was equal to his effort.

Burnley continued to be the more likely side and both Alan Mahon and John Spicer went close with shots. Mahon's was a superb effort from distance but Spice should probably have done better than put his shot over the bar.

It wasn't all one way and there were times when our new defensive formation got themselves in a tangle and from one home attack they got a shot in that the Beast, who had been relatively untested, was able to get down to and palm away. He was hardly to be troubled again.

Right on half time we came very close to going in front. Micah Hyde, who had replaced the injured Chris McCann, played in Andy Gray who shot across the keeper only to see the ball rebound back off the post.

As is often the case in friendlies there were a number of substitutions during the second half and they always tend to disrupt the flow of the game and it led to some scrappy football at times during the second period.

But we also had times when we were very much on top and Mahon will wonder just how he didn't get a goal with two efforts both from way outside the box. The first from the left hand side from around thirty yards out looked to be heading into the net but Fettis somehow got to it.

But his second effort was another free kick stunner, and just like the one from which he scored at Accrington it was from fully 35 yards. Who needs the World Cup balls – this was a fantastic effort that was heading for the top corner to the keeper's left. Someone he just managed to get a finger tip to it and that was enough to divert it onto the bar.

We looked as though we could win it now and should without doubt have been awarded a penalty when Jon Harley got clear in the box only to be chopped down by Brass. The former Claret didn't dare look at the referee but amazingly the Preston official, with the clearest of views, waved away the claims. Incredible, it was not a difficult decision to make. Brassy had got away with it, smiled and got on with play.

Kyle Lafferty, on as a substitute, made a brilliant late run and was only halted by a late challenge as he broke into the box. It was our last real opportunity and in the last few minutes, with the temperatures still very little below thirty degrees, it all petered out.

It was played in front of a small crowd with the stands behind both goals closed. What the official attendance was I don't know, but trying to find a Bury fan there last night was not the easiest of tasks.

The teams were;

Bury: Alan Fettis, Chris Brass, Dave Challinor (John Fitzgerald 45), Colin Woodthorpe, Tom Kennedy (Paul Scott 62), Nicky Adams, Dave Flitcroft, David Buchanan, Marc Goodfellow (Dwayne Mattis 70), Tom Youngs (Richie Baker 78), Andy Bishop (Matthew Tipton 45). Subs not used: Brian Barry-Murphy, Marc Pugh, Damian Quigley, Mark Smythe, David Eyres, Mike Smith.

Burnley: Brian Jensen, Frank Sinclair, Stephen Foster (John McGreal 64), Wayne Thomas, Jon Harley (Graham Branch 82), John Spicer (Wade Elliott 55), James O'Connor (Gifton Noel-Williams 55), Chris McCann (Micah Hyde 39), Andy Gray (Kyle Lafferty 78), Steve Jones (Garreth O'Connor 71).

Referee: Graham Salisbury (Preston).