North West Counties Vodkat Premier League

Saturday 17th April 2010

Alsager had their Goal keeper Luke Heblethwaite to thank ensuring he kept his side in this game with a string of good saves which almost led the visitors to gaining something from a game that should have been no contest with the amount of opportunities Bacup Borough had.

The home side started well forcing the visitors back with several good attacking moves from which it took Bacup only six minutes to be one goal up, the move started when young Josh Greenhalgh played a long ball from defence into the path of his Pro Vision Academy team mate Fabio Abreu, Fabio did well first of all controlling the ball before turning and getting his goal bound shot off which was blocked but kindly rebounded back to Martin Cosgrave to shape the ball into the net with a left foot finish.

Bacup created another opportunity when Lee Oldham was brought down winning his side a free kick, skipper Davey Luker picked out Barry Massey but his header was just wide of the post, a further opportunity came for the home side when a cross was delivered from the left from which Fabio Abreu headed over the Alsager bar.

On twenty minutes surprisingly Alsager had equalised, a goal which came from nothing and one Paul Horridge must be questioned how he was beaten at his near post with Alsager’s Adam Wilson seemingly getting between Davey Luker and keeper Paul Horriidge to get enough on the ball to force over the line.

This set back did not deter Bacup in anyway going back to the opposite end where Lee Kershaw’s header found Lee Oldham who’s effort was blocked, but on twenty seven minutes Bacup were in front once again, the ball was played in behind the Alsager defence Luke Hebblethwaite the Alsager keeper raced off his line but the young Pro Vision starlet Fabio Abreu showed his maturity beyond his years to cleverly lift the ball over the keeper for a well taken finish.

On thirty five minutes Bacup earned themselves a two goal cushion when a long throw was flicked on by Fabio Abreu into the path of Lee Oldham who made it 3-1 to Bacup.

If this score line was bad enough for Alsager on forty minutes it did get worse when Martin Cosgrave did well with a penetrating run before finding Lee Oldham who was now in onto goal, the big Alsager keeper came out from which Lee Oldham went round him before being taken out by Dean Williams, this situation created a penalty for Bacup and the reduction to ten men for Alsager, up stepped veteran striker Barry Massey to take the spot kick, however the Alsager goalkeeper Heblethwaite had been in inspired form all afternoon so it was no surprise when the keeper produced a good save.

In the five minutes of this half remaining Bacup still had time to have had another two goals, first of all Fabio Abreu turned and shot with the keeper saving at his near post and then the worst miss of the season came when young Fabio Abreu was through onto goal, the young striker did all the hard work when he rounded the keeper before squaring for Martin Cosgrave who had an open net in front of him but amazingly he blasted way over the top with the ball ending up outside the stadium.

The way the second half did pan out, the Martin Cosgrave miss could have had far reaching consequences and so could the several chances created and not taken in the second half by Lee Kershaw, Lance Ogunyode, Arran Spencer, although some credit must go to the Alsager keeper for being equal to the efforts onto goal.

Alsager did pull a goal back on seventy five minutes, this did come when young Josh Greenhalgh who in the main had done well, was eager to take the ball from his marker, this despite the fact Josh was goal side and his marker was facing away from goal, trying to pinch resulted in giving away an unnecessary free kick at the left hand corner just outside the eighteen yard box, the free kick was delivered and attacked rebounding off the Bacup cross bar, this resulted in a scrambled situation which Bacup did fail to clear with Adam Wilson getting the vital touch and by doing so he gave his side a lifeline of possibly snatching something from a game that should have been a long way from this being a distinct possibility.

The final ten minutes proved to be uneasy for the home side, with Alsager nothing to lose and everything to gain they pushed men on in numbers, almost at the conclusion the Alsager team did strongly appeal for a penalty when the ball struck a Bacup player, the official Mr Pinder was having none stating it was in the face, this ensured that Bacup Borough had the three points having now taken seven points from a possible nine points in one week, however Credit to Alsager who never stopped believing that they might have gained a little something from what should have been an easy no win situation.

Following the game I caught up with the Bacup Manager who had this to say “

I fully enjoyed the first half the lads dictated the pace, they were using the ball well and unselfishly, by doing so we created several opportunities, this in addition to the three goals we did score, however an hour and a half is a long time to which a lot of things can happen in that time, that is why when opportunities do come we must be clinical and take them, without being disrespectful to Alsager we should have had six by half time, in addition to the three we did score we had three bad misses, these in addition to the saves their keeper did make.

The second half in a lot of instances we did show a lack of intelligence, the opposition are down to ten men, it was an hot afternoon, all we needed to do was make the pitch as big as we could and pass the ball around them making Alsager do all the chasing, this we failed to do, this said we still had five excellent chances to have added to our three goals, some credit must go to their keeper as they were well saved rather than bad misses, however if we look at the height he was comfortable saving perhaps we should have made him work at getting down to the ball more.

I was pleased with the young lads from the Pro Vision Academy playing in this environment and being helped by our senior players such as our Captain Davey Luker is most certainly bringing the young lads on immensely, some of the things young Fabio does, he is showing a maturity beyond his years, Josh was a little rash when he gave the free kick away leading to their second goal, something he must learn from that it is not always needed to go and win the ball, just keeping his marker facing the opposite way from goal is good enough. I thought Lance Ogunyode did give us a good balance on the left with Martin Cosgrave on the right, both players went at their opponents with skill, power and pace, something we have not always had coming from both flanks.

The entire team have recovered well in a week having taken seven points from a possible nine points, credit too all, however we must keep it going"

Team: Paul Horridge, Phil Prescott, Adrian Bellamy, Davey Luker, Josh Greenhalgh, Martin Cosgrave, Lee Kershaw, Lee Oldham (Dominic Stockdale), Lance Ogunyode, Barry Massey ( Chris Ogunyode), Fabio Abreu (Arran Spencer)

Subs Not Used: Falco Lourenco, Steve Dryden

Goals: Martin Cosgrove 6, Lee Oldham 35, Fabio Abreu 37

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