The Forever Bury fans team played their first ever match under the full control of Jimmy in the absence of regular manager John (Bonarpak) away at Oxford United, in which was also the team’s first game in the IFA fans league thanks to Chip. The previous season, the fans team had fought out a tough 3-3 draw on a windy day down at Oxford, and they were prepared for another tough encounter. Meeting up at 7am outside Gigg Lane were the 9 players who had confirmed they could play: Jimmy, Allan, Paul, Anthony, Bez, Tom, Keating, Wills and Dave. After a little coercing, Jimmy managed to get me to play in the game as well (passing a late fitness test which was just asking me if I had a dressing on my injured toe), taking our tally up to 10. Jimmy had also at the last minute convinced his old friend Mark to come all the way from Newport in Wales especially to play in the game, and he would meet us at a McDonalds just outside Oxford, and after the game, he would have to shoot off again back to Wales.



So the squad arrived in a convoy of three cars after meeting up at Burger King at the Cherwell Valley services. The team picked itself with Dave in net, Paul, Chris, Wills and Tom in the back four, Jimmy, Anthony, Bez and Allan in the middle, and myself and Mark up front. After a quick training session, the game began with Oxford substitutes running the line and refereeing the game. It was the new-look Shakers who started the game brightest with the ball being played through the front pairing, and I hit the ball just wide on one occasion, whilst Jimmy and Paul on the right wing forced many corners and put in some good crosses with the ball being fired wide of the mark on a few occasions. The crossbar was also clipped on one occasion, being the closest that the Shakers came.



However, it was the home side who broke the deadlock about 10 minutes into the game when the Bury defence failed to deal with an Oxford attack, and it was scrabbled in at the near post, despite the valiant efforts of goalkeeper Dave. Oxford were not able to hold onto the lead for a long time though, as the Shakers managed to make their early pressure pay when they continued to barrage the Oxford box with crosses, and on one occasion, the ball bounced out to Bez who controlled well, then fired in a long-range shot which was too strong for the keeper to hold, and it flew into the back of the net to level things out.



The first half continued to be dominated by Forever Bury, and they eventually scored a goal which took us into a deserved lead. Paul on another one of his forays forward, despite him supposed to be a defender, fired in a hard and low cross, which was turned into his own net by an Oxford defender, although Paul definitely claimed it, and I don’t think anybody will be able to take that goal away from him.



The second half started in much the same way as the first half did, with the Bury side controlling right from the start. With no substitutions being made, the side was settled, and they could continue to play the way they had before. The ball was constantly being played through the middle of the park towards the forward line, and they managed to keep the pressure squarely on Oxford. It was Jimmy who seemed the most hungry for a goal though, and he continued to press forward, but his shots generally missed. Just. A third goal did soon come for the Shakers though when a cross was floated in, to be powerfully headed home by the giant Mark who rose above the Oxford defence. With a two goal margin, the Shakers could afford to showboat a little now and they did do so, always on the lookout for further opportunities to score. Unsurprisingly, a fourth did come for the rampant away side when a long through ball was charged down on by me. A mix-up between the Oxford defender and goalkeeper allowed me to slip in between then and tap the ball home with an open net gaping. I was chuffed to bits!



Oxford then started to try and put a bit of pressure on the Shakers, desperate not to let the result embarrass them any further. Their long-haired striker had a golden opportunity to give them a fighting chance, but when he was put through into a one on one with Dave, he sliced his shot to the right. Despite this pressure, Bury scored again, and this one was definitely Paul’s. He charged down the wing and “cut in from the right, took 12 players on before unleashing an unstoppable shot,” or so he claims… The celebration afterwards by the rest of the defence was much more staggering than the goal anyway. Oxford did manage to grab a cancellation goal late on, but by that time, the game had been won by Bury, and a great performance put in by everybody. In the last few minutes, it was just a case of keeping the ball for the Shakers, although Jimmy was desperate to get on the score sheet, and Mark had two good opportunities, but his efforts went just wide on both occasions.



As the final whistle blew, the Shakers players were ecstatic and exhausted. In their first ever league game, they had managed to take all the points with a tremendous victory, and should be full of confidence for the next game against Macclesfield. Onwards and upwards for Forever Bury FC.

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Forever Bury FC - sponsored by The Hatchet and Padimax Limited
zero-x and BuryBabe forever
Happy zero-x-mas

You forgot to mention the Official Time Keeper/Photographer plus your lucky mascot. Have you received the photos I sent you.

Definitely my goal. Was on target and only a mere deflection!!

The second goal was excellently reported Neil. Youd make a good journalist. It was a bit of all right though!! And the celebration is going to be a tradition now!!!

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well done lads

and yet another superb match report

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FBFC PLAYER(number 11) Played 11 scored 2(disallowed) (all comps)

thanx to The Hatchet - the monthly fanzine of Bury FC for becoming our team sponser

good report, but id like to point out the defence had no chance wiv their first goal as it was just a lucky "toe peck" if i remember rightly!? and me being in the defence wud not like our good name tarnished wiv talk of being unable to deal wiv attacks!
and the celbration is here to stay
bring on the macclesfield

tom

welcome to the MB Tom

BRING ON THE SILKMEN

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FBFC PLAYER(number 11) Played 11 scored 2(disallowed) (all comps)

thanx to The Hatchet - the monthly fanzine of Bury FC for becoming our team sponser

Yeh from about 35 yards out. we couldnt of done anything about it. I blame the midfield!!!!!

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