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We started horribly. By the five minute mark we were trailing 2-0 and looking bedraggled. The first goal came as Chris Lynch lost the ball on the right wing and the resultant cross field pass found the incoming left winger, who curled calmly into the corner. Shortly after a through ball down the middle was not closed upon by our defence and a Bury striker advance and shot past McDonald, with the aid of a generous deflection.
We almost replied instantly when a sliced clearance from their keeper was caught on the strong wind and almost dropped into the back of the net. Newman was also unfortunate after good play had seen him pick up the ball in the box, but a well timed covering tackle by the Bury left back thwarted him.
The Welshman was not to be denied for to long though as the young dragon forced a shocking error from the keeper and rolled the ball into an empty net after it dropped right at his feet. Newman collected a booking shortly after following a challenge from behind. It was borne of frustration after the ref had rejected his pleas for a free kick when he was buffeted by his marker.
Just after the half hour mark we drew level with a very good goal. Chaggar collected the ball deep on the right wing. He drew in the opposing winger and left back before a neat swivel and dink found the overlapping Williams. The schoolboy full back hit in a measured cross which evaded the defence and dropped squarely on the toes of Newman, who took a touch to compose himself before beating the keeper.
Two minutes later and Dom Knowles had gotten in on the act too as he gave us the lead. The referee chose to play an advantage instead of awarding us a free kick and we capitalised with a through ball which the forward calmly lobbed over the keeper. Jake McEneaney nearly added a 4th on the stroke of half time but his effort was tipped past the post by the goalie.
Bury began the 2nd half much the same as we had begun the 1st - slowly. Tenacious play by Chris Anderson saw him emerge from the midfield with the ball and surge at the defence. He looked up and slipped the ball through to Newman who easily beat the keeper to guarantee the matchball would go home with him.
We continued to press the Bury lads giving them little time to pick their passes. The strong wind at their backs was more of a hindrance to them as the hurried passes they were forced to make were regularly overhit, way out of reach of the strikers. Then suddenly, out of nothing, their more dominant midfielder (who could have done with a belt) hit a ferocious drive past the despairing McDonald.
As we entered the last quarter hour of the game we made a Mourinho-like triple substitution. Harvey entered the fray along with two more schoolboys in Tom Taylor and Ross Wilson.
Taylor had an eventful time while he was on the pitch. He was unlucky not to score when played in centrally. The keeper came off his line to smother his shot, which he managed to get off whilst under pressure from the centre half. Five minutes later he was again in the area with the ball at his feet. This time he rounded the keeper and hit the deck, appealing for a spot kick. The linesman said no and the ref flourished a card. It was a dive so no complaints from me there.
Team :- Dan McDonald, Ed Williams, Jake McEneaney, Nik Kudiersky, Chris Lynch, Dil Chaggar (Ross Wilson), Chris Anderson, Oliver Devenney (Alex-Ray Harvey), Michael King, Dom Knowles, Liam Newman (Tom Taylor).
Not used :- Stef Ritchie.