Given the team we had out this was one we really shouldn’t have lost but we fell behind early in the second half and despite some pressure in the late stages of the game, the League Two club’s second string held on to take the points.
Alongside the cluster of first team players was youth team goalkeeper Mark Crossley who was back in action for the first time since he was injured at
But it was his opposite number Aaron Grundy who in the end kept hold of the points for Bury as the Clarets put the visitors under pressure, after manager Steve Cotterill had stepped in and given out some instructions.
Crossley made two good saves early in the game as we struggled to get any sort of grip on proceedings, one a particularly good save as he tipped a shot round his right hand post. At the other end there was little for the Bury defence to worry about as we failed to get in a single effort on goal of any note.
It all looked to be heading for 0-0 at half time, and indeed it was, but in the last few minutes both sides could have scored. Firstly, Crossley had no chance as a shot came back out off the underside of the bar.
Then Danny Karbassiyoon should have done better with a header to the left of goal from a Wade Elliott cross but he didn’t get it on target but two minutes later he nearly set up the opener with a left wing cross but John Spicer’s shot was blocked on the line. Those last few minutes had livened up what had been a dull contest.
The second half didn’t get off to the best of starts for the Clarets and with just over three minutes gone we fell behind with Bury scoring from a corner. It came just after we’d had to make a substitution with Marc Pugh replacing the clearly injured Cayne Hanley. There was concern for the youngster and it looked from the stands as if it could be a back problem again.
For the next twenty minutes or so we tried to get back into it but, apart from a couple of blocked efforts, we didn’t really threaten to grab an equaliser. But in the closing stages we did start to eventually put Bury under some pressure and in the last ten minutes or so we did come close a couple of times.
They held out though and overall we can have few complaints after a performance that was somewhat disappointing. There were players involved who would have been hoping to impress the watching manager as they look to win places in the first team, but there was nothing to suggest there will be many changes when we turn out at
So to sum it all up, it was cold, miserable, we didn’t play that well, and I’m still looking for somewhere at the Interlink that affords the supporter with a half decent view (although it is better than the Withdean).
The teams were,
Burnley: Mark Crossley, Rob Henry (Adam Kay 73), Wayne Thomas, Frank Sinclair, Martin Reilly, Wade Elliott, John Spicer, Chris McCann, Danny Karbassiyoon, Cayne Hanley (Marc Pugh 48), Duane Courtney. Subs not used: Lee Matthews, Tom Blackler, Nicky Platt.
Bury: Aaron Grundy, Chris Brass, Tom Kennedy (Chris Frick 45), Vassilis Theophanous, Andy Parrish, Andre Hainault, Nicky Adams (Kane Bentley 69), Matt Burke,