| A tough game versus Bury ended 1-0 to the Clarets, but the Shakers will feel hard done by as they leave Gawthorpe. |
 | James Taylor - scored the only goal |
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After the enforced break caused by the weather the youth team were hoping to continue their good form and lined up with an attacking 4-3-3 formation. Our midfield comprised of strikers Liam Newman and Dom Knowles, supported by Joe McKee. They were flanked on the wings by top scorer Michael King and striker James Taylor and Joe Jackson provided the spearhead up top. Unfortunately we were not to see new Irish signing Neil Yadolahi, with him restricted to a watching brief.
We began well and held possession of the ball almost exclusively and when we took the lead it was no surprise. On the left, the ball was thrown in to King. He controlled, turned on a sixpence and broke from his marker into space. He looked up and sent over a cross to the far post where Taylor turned it past the keeper. Within minutes Taylor could have had more goals with two more King crosses finding him, but the defence and keeper managed to block his efforts. Following this the flow of the game inexplicably changed. We dropped off and Bury stepped it up and they were much the dominant side.
They had a couple of long range shots which didn't much concern Danny McDonald but should really have equalised as their big striker went clean though following defensive errors from both Steve Edwards and Tom Anderson. He advanced on McDonald but slid the ball past both keeper and post.
Just before half time Newman was forced from the field after he was caught on the top of his foot by a set of studs when turning with the ball. He was replaced by Dave Lynch but little else happened before the break.
Minutes into the second half and Taylor was unlucky with an effort. Jackson helped on a bouncing ball and Taylor muscled past a defender to lob the keeper, but it just drifted wide in the air. It was to be our last real chance till the final minute.
Bury again seemed the stronger side as we lost possession easily but they seemed a little toothless up front. McDonald had to make a good reaction saves after a bit of a scramble in the box but that was about it. We had a succession of corners which came to naught. I really was a bit drab in this second period.
We made another change as Ross Wilson replaced Jackson. He's growing at a fair rate of knots and was deployed as a target man to give us another option, though with no-one beyond him his flicks were finding no team mate. Jake McEneaney was also forced from the field with injury and was replaced by Curtis Woods.
Bury were unlucky as their substitute, the most diminutive winger I have ever seen, just went too early and was flagged offside with just McDonald to beat. We also had an effort on the stroke of full time as Wilson blazed over.
A draw would have been a fair result but as it was we took the three points and our good form continues. Scunthorpe away in the cup on Tuesday followed by Carlisle away in the league, then it's the winter break which means no more Gawthorpe footie until January 9th.
Team:- Danny McDonald, Ed Williams, Jake McEneaney (Curtis Woods), Tom Anderson, Steve Edwards, Dom Knowles, Liam Newman (Dave Lynch), Joe McKee, Michael King, James Taylor, Joe Jackson (Ross Wilson).
Sub not used :- Cooke (keeper) |
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