Gareth Seddon - scored for bottom club Bury

Once again, this week’s crop of games provided a healthy ration of goals with pride of place going to Walsall who, having conceded six in their first two games, proceeded to put six past hapless Rotherham.

Pacesetters Huddersfield continued their fine start to the season with another 3-0 away win, this time at Oldham’s Boundary Park where Paul Macari maintained his record of scoring in each game. Jonathan Worthington and Jon Stead were also on target as the Terriers went three up before halftime. Top scorer Kevin Gallacher didn’t play. As we predicted last week, he has now signed for Town on a weekly contract. His reserve team performances earned him an immediate first team place against Blackpool on Saturday.

Town’s win was marred by the sending off in the second half of Doni Clarke for a two-footed “challenge”. Coach Jeff Lee commented, Ferguson-like: “He did go in two-footed, but it wasn’t malicious and no-one was hurt. I thought he was a bit unlucky.” Jeff, please explain it to your players, it’s fairly simple after all: two-footed = red card.

Sheffield United’s 3-0 win at the Turf, officiated by a colour-blind referee, has already been covered. The Blades website described it as “comfortable”. It was certainly deserved, but I wouldn’t go as far as that. The young Clarets deserved at least one goal. Incidentally, the attendance of 402, although down on the Huddersfield game, was the highest reported in the league this week.

Previously pointless Bury got off the mark with a fine 3-3 draw at Tranmere’s Prenton Park. The Shakers were 3-1 down after half an hour, but fought back to equalise with goals from Gareth Seddon, Ian Kilford and Dave Nugent, the scorer of the “shinned” goal against the Clarets youth team. The Rovers’ goals came from a Ryan Taylor thunderbolt, Paul Robinson and Danny Harrison. After finally breaking their duck, Bury manager Andy Preece conceded that after two successive promotions this season would be tough.

Walsall’s 6-1 demolition of Rotherham, in an afternoon kick off at the Bescot, had an international flavour to it. New signing Junior marked his début with a hat-trick. The blond Brazilian showed afterwards that he speaks fluent footballese when he revealed how much he had enjoyed “training with the lads”. His compatriot, Moreira Herivelto also scored, and Australian international David Zdrilic completed the rout with a couple. Andy Moorhouse got the Millers’ consolation.

No game at Deepdale where Wolves failed to turn up. Following the dreadful accident on the M6 the motorway was closed northbound, and as the team coach tried to negotiate the gridlocked roads it overheated. When it became clear that the team would never make the delayed start of 7:45 the game was called off. The Wolves team would have included Ndah, Proudlock and Miller, as well as Spanish trialist Juan Tobena Saura.

are next in action on Wednesday, September 18^th away at Bury. Remember, this game is likely to be a 2pm kick off and be played at Radcliffe Borough’s Stainton Park. Gigg Lane, incidentally, now hosts Bolton Wanderers’ reserve team.

Avon Insurance Premier League: Leading Scorers

3: Kevin Gallacher (Huddersfield Town)
3: Paul Macari (Huddersfield Town)

3: Junior (Walsall)

2: Richie Barker (Rotherham United)

2: Andy Monkhouse (Rotherham United)

2: Gavin Smith (Sheffield United)

2: Dave Nugent (Bury)

2: David Zdrilic (Walsall)

Top Reported Attendances:

720: Walsall v Wolves (21.08.02)

594: Huddersfield Town v Preston North End (28.08.02)

496: Burnley v Huddersfield Town (21.08.02)

402: Burnley v Sheffield United (04.09.02)

326: Tranmere Rovers v Bury (04.09.02)

325: Wolves v Burnley (28.08.02)

Avon Insurance League Premier Division Table

Burnley Reserves Fixtures and Results