Bury Bowl took on Bury United in the league with a very understrength squad, Two players were called out of retirement in the week and 2 18 year olds were also signed on in the week one on the eve of this game!
Bowl lined up with Humphrey in goal, Ivory back in the side, Langford-Fox, Read returning from retiremment and Sandry in defence, a midfield diamond of Hemingway also returning from retirement, Saunders, Clarke and Mantle then Tuffs and Rochford up top. Subs Wright, then two new signings Oliver Doughty and Aaron Giddings.
Bowl were straight into it Hemingway giving away a free kick early on which the wall deflected for a corner, United then had a few corners in succession luckily didnt come to anything. Bowl looked dangerous themselves on the attack and won themselves a few corners Sandry almost creating the first goal at Fenners near post. Rochford then whipped a great ball rights across the face of goal unfortunately no one could connect. Bowl then had another chance from a corner, Read up from the back almost forced it home if it wasnt for a well times block by the defender. United had a good chance on the counter but Humphrey was off his line quickly and got to the ball first. United did win another few corners and this time scored from one, Mantle went to head it away unfortunately missed and it hit Carters head and went in for 1-0.
Bowl were always in this game though and with the midfield and defenders working hard and playing well it was just a case of getting that ball over the top for Tuffs or Rochford to run onto. Thankfully as the halfway point approached Bowl did just that, Humphrey sending a goal kick long over the top, Rochford bullied his way behind the defence and hit a low show in the far post for 1-1.
Second half and Bowl came out strong another good ball from Humphrey and Rochford was behind the defence, took a touch and shot ferociously past Fenner for 2-1 to the Bowl. The play then turned a bit scrappy, Both teams had half chances here and there but it was more about Bowl working hard to stop United having chances and it worked. Saunders was all over the place today proper putting in a shift, Langford-Fox at the back was having a really good game too, in fact you couldnt fault the side today everyone ran their bollocks off!
Bowl made a couple of changes with Doughty replacing Clarke and Giddings replacing Hemingway, it meant a bit of a re-shuffle of the side. United then equalised again from a corner this time a powerful header from Tom Fenner for 2-2. United then could have gone in front but Ready was there to clear off the line and this turned out to be MASSIVE! Mantle then send Rochford through, he then proceeded to curl a beautiful goal past Steve Fenner into the far corner of the net for 3-2 to the Bowl and his hat trick!
Bowl then put the icing on the cake late on another ball forward, Tuffs flicked on for Rochford who took the ball in his stride, drew the keeper and finished clinically via the back post for 4-2 and his 4th of the game, 9th of the season and 24th of all time in 24 games, WOW!!!
Bowl will play the same opposition next weekend in the Open Cup but this time with a few players back as reinforcements!