This was certainly not your dour no scoring draw as both sides produced some excellent football that was a joy to watch, whilst Maine Road will be pleased to be going back to Manchester with one point that if only for endeavour and a good honest display they deserved but in true reality Bacup had the upper hand through out playing some breathtaking football at times but not being clinical where it matters around the goal area, does mean that this was very much two points dropped.

Bacup had made several changes for this game, Lee Oldham made his first start for almost six months following a knee operation and Tommy Turner had a new strike partner in Lance Ogunyode.

In the first half Bacup did work themselves into good positions high up the pitch with Cocks and Bellamy dictating quite a lot of possession down the flanks, it was from this combination that almost led to a Bacup goal when following an early ball into the box from Daniel Cocks found Lance Ogunyose who’s shot was blocked but only as far as Cosgrave who’s shot was deflected to Tommy Turner but his effort was just wide.

Another effort came the home sides way when Lance Ogunyode headed a delivery from a wide position back to Matthew Hampson who’s effort was just over the bar.

When ever Maine Road got possession they used the ball quite well but the Bacup defensive unit were keeping a good line with keeper Paul Horridge sweeping up any ball hit behind, however Robert Brocklehurst for Maine Road was given to much room that Brocklehurst worked the space before striking a good shot which did skim the top of the cross bar.

Several decent opportunities did come the home sides way taking them up to half time firstly Martin Cosgrave drove into the penalty area but his effort was blocked the ball bounced back to Lee Oldham and he’s effort was also blocked, then Bacup won a free kick which Cocks knocked the ball in for Bellamy who headed just wide..

Right on half time Bacup’s Adrian Bellamy played the ball back to his keeper who on this occasion did fail on his connection which gifted Maine Road an opportunity that they did not take leaving the score all square at the break.

At the break Bacup were forced into a change when Tommy Turner had to come off injured, Haydn Paul replacing him, the second half Bacup were not as fluent with their football but still they worked good opportunities, the first came from a free kick from which Lee Oldham headed goal bound, then following good play, the ball was switched to Lee Oldham who’s effort was blocked before Hampson did strike over the cross bar.

Bacup Borough were forced into another substitution when Lee Oldham playing for the first time for months was replaced with Josh Lee’s, he was soon in the action when he guided the ball to Haydn Paul who did shoot just over.

Bacup Borough’s final substitution was Arran Spencer for Lance Ogunyode, with Bacup Borough’s defensive unit looking disciplined much to the frustration of Maine Road it was no surprise that at the opposite end Bacup should have done better with the efforts to which they did create, Daniel Cocks drove into the box before playing the ball across their keeper for Haydn Paul to attack the space, unfortunately he was caught on the back foot , this was a good opportunity missed, this alongside another Bacup effort when the ball dropped to Cosgrave, but failing to get his shot off early this was an example of taking too many touches and opportunity gone, this rather than getting his shots off very much a lot quicker from the start.

I spoke to the Bacup Borough Manager Brent Peters Following the game who had this to say “We must learn to stop over playing in the attacking third of the pitch, by doing this it as cost us the chance of winning the game, a game we should have won pro rata of the amount of possession we actually did have, we must be more ruthless in front of goal, I was happy the way we did play football and to be fair to Maine Road when in possession they tried to play likewise.

But Maine Road very rarely got in behind us due to a good Bacup defensive unit helped by Paul Horridges starting position who from this was onto everything in behind, this in contrast to us who on several occasions we had worked good opportunities getting in behind Maine Road but rather than getting shots off, we would take extra touches for that perfect goal which in most cases did end with the opportunity’s having gone.

Peters went on “taking out the positives we certainly in the first half played some really good football, our defensive unit were very good as a unit with the two full backs doing well supporting going forward although on the left side our quality on distribution did let us down but also their recovery runs they did well getting back into our shape, Lee Oldham making his first start since his operation did well to say he had been out for such a long time and young Josh Lee who did replace Lee Oldham was steady when he was introduced, Matthew Hampson used the ball impeccably well and Daniel Cocks was always a threat going forward and did also put a shift in on his defensive duties.

It was once again pleasing to have not conceded a goal, Martin Cosgrave, Lance Ogunyode, Arran Spencer are always a threat with their pace but when in wide positions they need to deliver early, something we do not do enough of, Peters concluded by saying “ it is always a pleasure to play Maine Road who are invariably a young honest side that like ourselves try to play football in the manner I believe football should be played, it was also a pleasure to have three good officials although such the manner this game was played we could have officiated from the side, so credit to both teams for producing a good honest good game of football “

Team: Paul Horridge, Adrian Bellamy, Gareth Wager, Marc Taylor, Lee Pugh, Daniel Cocks, Lee Oldham (Josh Lee), Matthew Hampson, Martin Cosgrave, Tommy Turner (Haydn Paul), Lance Ogunyode (Arran Spencer)

Subs Not Used: Kingsly Williams, Matthew Wrigley

Goals: --

Home - Fixtures