Vodkat North West Counties Premier League

Monday 19th April 2010

Bacup Borough playing their fifth game in eight days from which they have taken ten points from a possible twelve, started this game with pace power and determination, as early as the second minute Bacup had almost taken the lead, this following a good run by Martin Cosgrave who put Chris Ogunyode in who went round the advancing keeper but coming in at a bad angle saw his effort came back to safety from the post.

The first forty five minutes was constant Bacup attacks which Padiham were struggling to compete against, Lee Kershaw won his side a free kick, whilst the delivery was good Padiham defended the situation, then Martin Cosgrave was given a long ball to run onto but Padiham’s Jack Overson defended the situation well, it was also Martin Cosgrave that made another good run getting to the bye line before hitting a quality ball into the box that certainly deserved more coming from it but sadly the ball was not attacked.

Bacup were playing with such power to their game that Padiham never troubled the home side, Bacup had produced everything barring what mattered- goals, I am sure the visitors would have been thankful to hear the half time whistle, as for Bacup an half of sheer dominance somehow failed to produce a goal.

The second half got underway which took Bacup four minutes to take the lead, this came following another good break at pace the ball was switched to Martin Cosgrave who combined with Chris Ogunyode who then chipped the ball into the space where Lee Kershaw had made a deep run, Kershaw went round the keeper before slotting the ball into the empty net.

Bacup full back Phil Prescott brought a good save from the Padiham keeper following a stunning twenty five yard shot.

Padiham to their credit tried to build something but such was the work rate the Bacup players were putting in, there was no getting through.

Bacup made a change bringing on Fabio Abreu for Fabio Lourenco and on seventy one minutes following a Bacup corner from which Lance Ogunyode delivered a quality ball into the Padiham Penalty area where young Fabio jumped and powered the ball into the Padiham net.

At the opposite end Padiham won a free kick which was chipped over the Bacup wall, almost getting the Padiham player in on goal, Bacup made another substitution bringing on Dominic Stockdale replacing Chris Ogunyode this followed shortly with Arran Spencer replacing Martin Cosgrave, despite Padiham throwing men forward it was Bacup that were worthy winners, although almost on full time the Bacup midfield switched off, the ball ran through to a Padiham player in front of goal but probably shocked at seeing that ball get through that he did shoot wide of the target.

A delighted Bacup Manager had this to say

“When I was handed the Padiham team sheet I told my lads that this Padiham team was a mixture of some good young talent along with some good experienced players two of which have in the past been good players for me at Bacup Stuart Telfer and Craig Chadwick, I told them we must dictate the pace and play at an high tempo equally we must first and foremost ensure we win our personal battles, something we failed to do at Padiham, although that night we had a whole lot of different personal playing than we did have tonight,

Well pleasingly every single player to a man played it as it was instructed to play it, we competed for every ball, the ones we lost we were onto the second balls, we played with passion, we played with pace, we played with a conviction, we played at such a pace in the first half that Padiham seemed to be bewildered at the ferocity too which we were dominating the half, the only thing missing was producing the knock out with a goal or two before the break, beating Newcastle here at Bacup was an excellent result and an excellent team performance that day.

However this game tonight taking it all in its entirety then this for me has to be the best team display of the season, the biggest accolade I could pay to my players was what I said at full time which was, I wish every member of the side would perform like they did tonight in every game, show the same spirit, that will to win, attitude and in addition playing the game at an high tempo, they were told if they could, or would play like they did every week, then it would be Bacup Borough that would be dominating this league,

Tonight was a massive well done to the entire team in its entirety “

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

Subs Not Used:

Goals: Kershaw 48, Abreu 71

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