Vodkat North West Counties Premier League

Wednesday 7th April 2010

Veteran Striker Barry Massey scored a brace in only his third appearance for Bacup Borough in this five goal thriller against a resolute Formby team.

It was the visitors that were in the ascendancy for much of the first half Bacup keeper Paul Horridge had to pull off a good early save for a corner which was defended, then another opportunity was presented to Formby when Captain Davey Luker surprisingly lost possession which resulted in a an effort which went wildly over the cross bar.

Despite the visitors having the better opportunities in the first half, it was Bacup that took the lead, on forty four minutes a Bacup player was fouled and won a free kick approximately thirty yards out, Captain Davey Luker delivered a quality ball for Barry Massey to produce a glancing header into the net, seconds later it was almost two, a good long diagonal ball found Lance Ogunyode who was challenged but Arran Spencer collected the second ball but then sent his effort over the Formby bar resulting in Bacup taking a slender one goal lead into the half time break.

Bacup came out for the second half in a much more determined mood and almost in the opening members of the half doubled their lead when Lance Ogunyode was through onto goal, the Formby keeper narrowed the angle too which Lance tried to lift the ball over their keeper but struck the keeper to miss a glorious opportunity.

On fifty eight minutes Formby won a corner which was delivered into the near post where Arran Walters sliced his clearance back towards his own goal where Tattersall forced over the line to bring the scores level.

On sixty minutes Bacup made a substitution introducing Martin Cosgrave in place of Arran Spencer, fourteen minutes later Cosgrave played a massive part in Bacup taking the lead, Martin Cosgrave collected the ball from a deep position before taking on his marker who committed a foul, credit to the Referee he played the advantage well Cosgrave went direct before cutting inside to pick out Barry Massey who finished as masterly as you would expect from the experienced Striker. Bacup made another substitution with Scott Taylor being introduced for Lee Oldham and then Fabio Abreu came on for Barry Massey.

Formby were in no mood to let this game slip and credit to them they got themselves back level on eighty three minutes, this goal came when at the opposite end of the field Lance Ogunyode flicked the ball long and blind rather than getting hold and protecting, the ball fell to a Formby player who knocked the ball long, Lee Kershaw came out of defence in an attempt to win possession his marker went in behind and so did the ball before John Lawless applied the finishing touch to get his side back on level terms.

By the response of the Bacup players it was obvious from their reaction that they could sense they would be in for a full time roasting from their Manager for letting a lead slip going into the last seven minutes of the game, however they all had their Captain Davey Luker to thank for masterly latching onto a loose ball before producing a great unstoppable strike into the net ensuring his team a well earned three points.

We caught up with the Bacup Manager after the game who had this to say.

“Formby to their credit worked hard throughout so much so they were the better side in the first forty five minutes in which time we had our keeper Paul Horridge to thank for a very good save in contrast to his counterpart who had nothing to do apart from picking Barry Massey’s well directed ball out of the net almost on half time.

We did not keep our shape at all well in the first half, it was reminiscent of watching an unorganised Sunday league team that as never been coached into team shape, this was down to certain players not taking responsibility and not being disciplined within their responsibilities within that team shape, this contributed in the lack of creativity at the top end of the pitch, thankfully half time arrived when myself and Andy Hill could get them into shape.

Credit to the lads, instructions were taken on board which they then produced an whole lot better second half, once again our substitutions had a big influence on the game, particular Martin Cosgrave, from our point of view the Formby equaliser was a terrible goal to concede, first of all with the ball upfront it should have been protected more, this apart we have got to defend as a defensive unit a whole lot better, players must concentrate on their own individual responsibilities something which did not happen resulting in Formby being gifted their equaliser.

The massive plus for me was despite this set back our lads did not go hiding, they all to a man went all out to get the winner, worked hard, competed with the determination to be winners to which it could not have been more fitting when our captain, not only played a good captains role, he typically took the mantle once again and led from the front to score a fully deserved winning goal.

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

Subs Not Used: Steve Dryden, Danny Holmes

Goals: Barry Massey 43, 74 Davey Luker 86

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