|
We started like we meant business and with the game only a few minutes old we had taken the lead. Tenacious work by Michael King, once more in a central role, saw us emerge with possession and Dom Knowles was fed on the edge of the box. He shimmied past a challenge and powered a shot past the keeper.
It was certainly an encouraging start but the remainder of the half didn't really live up to the promise. For the remainder of the half I can only recall one real opening for us as Fletcher hit a long range drive straight at the keeper. Bury had better chances, both with a drive from distance by the marauding left back and a cross/shot from the left which evaded the onrushing forward.
The early parts of the second half provided much the same, with the only chance in the first 15 minutes being a 30 yarder from King. With the hour mark passed though we changed up a gear and started to press the Bury back line.
Fletcher was in on the act with a snap shot which the keeper gobbled up. The Bury keeper then performed acrobatics with a sharp double save to deny both Chris Anderson and Fletcher. Full back Dan Brown then got in on the act. Firstly his powerful run took him into the box but a slightly heavy touch saw the ball just drift out of play as he attempted to cut it back. Next he decided to cut out the process of entering the box and unleashed a fizzing dipper which the keeper tipped onto the post at full stretch.
With us very much in the ascendancy we made a double change with Dil Chaggar and Oliver Devenney replaced by James Craggs and Dave Lynch. The schoolboy midfielder was quickly into the action, seeing a shot saved and playing King in wide on the left, only to see the winger denied once more.
With less than ten minutes remaining on the clock our dominance finally paid off. The ball was dinked down the right wing to Knowles and he looped a cross over to the back post. Fletcher was lurking with intent and diverted the ball home at full stretch to extend our lead.
Two minutes later and it was game, set and match with a somewhat fortuitous goal. A short corner on the right saw Craggs cut infield, but away from goal. He curled in a left foot cross and everyone missed it, including the keeper. King tried to claim a headed touch but I'll credit this one to Craggs - it didn't divert at all from its path.
There was just time for a brief sub appearance from James Taylor before the ref blew for full time to give us a comfortable 3-0 win.
Team:- Ben Woodhead, Dan Brown, Nik Kudiersky, Chris Lynch, Jake McEneaney, Oliver Devenney (Dave Lynch), Chris Anderson, Michael King, Dil Chaggar (James Craggs), Wes Fletcher (James Taylor), Dom Knowles.
Subs not used:- Ed Williams, U-16 keeper
Note: The third goal was officially credited to Michael King after the game.