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By halftime, Alan Hanson’s maxim that "you don’t win anything with kids" was for once looking correct as Walsall led 7-0. Gary Birch, Tony Barras, Australian David Zdrilic with two, and a hat-trick from Brazilian Herivelto left Seb Rowe in the Bury goal feeling dazed and confused.
Gavin Ward, who had spent the first half admiring the breathtaking architecture of the Bescot’s latest addition, the imaginatively-named Purple Loans Stand, had had enough and was replaced by youngster Matty Harris. Whether this acted as a spur to Bury in the second period, or whether they had been munching on an extra-spicy batch of chicken Balti pies during the interval, we know not; suffice it to say that they re-emerged shaken, but not stirred.
Goals from John Blackley and Simon Whaley gave some credibility to their performance, but the journey back up the M6 after a 7-2 drubbing couldn’t have been much fun.
To Deepdale next, where that same evening Preston played their last reserve game before wintering in the fashionable resort of Lancaster. Wolves were the visitors, and once again the football fans’ friend, the M6, was up to its old tricks. You may recall that earlier this season the Wolves team coach (sponsored by Doritos) had broken down in heavy traffic on its way to Preston, leading to the postponement of the match. This time it was only 30 minutes late for the kick off, leaving the 368 faithful N*b Enders wondering whether the game would ever take place.
After 90 minutes they probably wished that it hadn’t as an inexperienced Wolves side beat a very experienced Preston team 1-0. In a performance similar to our heroic effort at Oldham last week, the young Wolves spent most of the game defending, with goalie Michael Oakes, returning from injury, outstanding. A 30-yard blaster from Sammy Clingan ensured that the return journey through the world’s largest car park would be enhanced by much crisp-munching hilarity.
So to ourselves, and the reserves play their first game at Turf Moor since the 4th of September on Wednesday, when Tranmere are the visitors. No doubt most of the players on show on both sides will have featured in last Saturday’s youth game, giving the Supremo an added incentive (if he ever needs one) to get the lads fired up to avenge that 6-1 trouncing.
(P.S. Reference to the Purple Loans Stand – "seen by the 160,000 vehicles that pass by Bescot stadium each day on the M6 motorway" - has led me to ponder on other absurdly-named structures in football grounds. Oldham’s Pukka Pies Stand springs immediately to mind. Do die-hard Latics fans really sing:
"Pukka Pies, Pukka Pies
Give us a song!
Pukka Pies,
Give us a song!"
Can anyone think of any others? Send us your NOMINATIONS
By the way, the James Hargreaves Stand doesn’t count as it’s just plain dull.)
Next week’s fixtures (all Wednesday, 30th October):
Barnsley v Oldham
Burnley v Tranmere (7pm)
Preston v Walsall
Leading league scorers:
6 Gareth Seddon (Bury)
5 Paul Macari (Huddersfield)
4 Laurens Ten Heuvel (Sheffield Utd)
4 Stuart Barlow (Tranmere)
4 David Zdrilic (Walsall)
4 Moreira Herivelto (Walsall)
Top reported attendances:
720 Walsall v Wolves 21.08.02
594 Huddersfield v Preston 28.08.02
496 Burnley v Huddersfield 21.08.02
402 Burnley v Sheffield Utd 04.09.02
368 Preston v Wolves 23.10.02
Avon Insurance Premier Division League Table
Burnley's Fixtures and Results
