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It had been a brave fight in the last few weeks. With only one win all season, Bury’s second string then produced successive victories against Tranmere and Oldham to give themselves an outside chance of survival. But a Peruvian right boot, belonging to 19 year-old striker Gio Labarthe, cruelly dashed their hopes, and in the process returned the Terriers to the top of the Avon Insurance Premier Division.
However, if this was a cruel blow for the Shakers, it was as nothing compared to that suffered by Town’s successful reserve duo, coach Jeff Lee and physio Dave Buckby. Having just guided the side back to the top, and with the cheers of the 135 Town faithful still ringing in their ears, the distraught duo were then informed by the club’s administrators that their services would no longer be required.
With Town’s debts apparently far worse than the original figure of £6 million quoted, and with previous owner Barry Rubery claiming £9 million owed to him, Lee and Buckby became the first casualties of this latest example of the lunacy that seems to afflict the way so many so-called professional football clubs are/have been run.
It’s Goodnight Hudds if a buyer is not forthcoming in the next five weeks. And with relegation looming and huge debts to take on, they look like being the first domino in row to fall.
I hope not. I hope that no club shall suffer that fate. But then I also once hoped that Wimbledon would one day return to Merton, that England fans could behave like civilised human beings, that clubs would pay more than lip-service to eliminating racism from the game, and that someday all those involved in this great game would get together and find a way to call a halt to this madness. More fool me.
Anyway, back to the league. Preston had topped the table at the start of the week, but a 2-0 home defeat to Barnsley on Monday soon put paid to that. To the delight of sub-editors everywhere, both goals were scored by a certain Robbie Williams. "Robbie Williams played in front of a select few on Monday night, but he put in a stunning performance to down North End reserves with two smash hit strikes", Preston’s website told us. Quite what they would have made of it had Barnsley’s other celebrity players, Griff Jones and Tom Baker, scored as well is anyone’s guess. "Lilywhites undone by Sonic Screwdriver" perhaps?
On Tuesday came the welcome news for the Clarets that Oldham had lost 2-0 at home to Tranmere, Ryan Taylor and Richard Hinds on target. Our fine 2-1 defeat of Rotherham the next evening compounded the misery for the Latics who now seem likely to follow neighbours Bury into the abyss. By the way, to clear up any confusion, the referee’s report confirmed that the scorers were as reported on Clarets Mad: Hindle 2 and Eves own goal. Sorry, Liam.
Tranmere were on their travels again on Thursday, this time to Saltergate, Chesterfield which as every schoolboy knows is home to Sheffield United reserves. A 1-1 draw did nothing to help either side’s title bid however. Ryan Mallon and Thomas Rooney were the respective scorers.
Finally, there was car-door slamming long into the night in the leafy Brummie suburb of Hall Green on Tuesday as 247 locals celebrated Doctor Martens side Moor Green advancing into the final of the Birmingham Senior Cup at the expense of a strong Wolves side, 2-1 the score. Former Wolves trainee Nathan Laney showed that he was no Androcles, scoring twice to rub salt into the wounds of the wounded beast. The Moors will meet Birmingham in the final, Blues having beaten Walsall 2-0 at the Bescot.
Forthcoming fixtures:
Tuesday, April 8th:
Barnsley v Sheffield United
Wednesday, April 9th:
Oldham Athletic v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Walsall v Burnley (Bescot Stadium, 2pm)
Avon Insurance League Premier Division Table
