Of the 116 teams in senior English football, which has recorded the fewest home wins this season? An uncomfortable question as an impressive Bury side barely needed to engage third gear in order to overcome a mediocre Hereford side in this afternoon’s Edgar Street clash. A well deserved 3-0 victory saw the Shakers strengthen their promotion prospects, whilst the Bulls, unchanged from their victory at Oxford, dropped a couple of places in the table.
The warm-up lap had only just been completed when Steven Schumacher struck the first blow. Michael Townsend fouled Andy Bishop some 30 yards from goal with less than three minutes on the clock. The influential Schumacher drove a forceful shot straight at Adam Bartlett in the home goal, but a swerving, dipping curve ball evaded the keepers grasp. The Bulls retaliated by forcing a free kick of their own after Stuart Fleetwood had been tugged back, and Kenny Lunt’s attempt struck the outside of a post with Cameron Belford seemingly beaten.
Belford with Protective Mask - Pictures from Andy Compton of the Hereford Journal
Fleetwood’s perceptive cross was then flicked on by strike partner Waide Fairhurst to Harry Pell, whose header was deflected for a corner by the diving Belford. However, it was the visitors who created more chances. Despite annoying the Meadow End faithful by an unpunished foul on Ryan Green, Kyle Bennett was proving a determined and skilful opponent. He had one shot comfortably saved, but showed tenacity and doggedness in not allowing the home defence the time to clear with accuracy. Then record breaker Ryan Lowe unselfishly cut the ball back for the diminutive Bennett at the near post, and his shot was only marginally wide.
Waide Fairhurst in control
Fleetwood and Fairhurst both had chances to achieve parity, notably when Richard Rose assisted the attack in setting up Fairhurst, and a fine effort flashed past the post. It did seem, however, that the Shakers defence, expertly marshalled by the unmistakeable bandannaed and unflappable Efetobore Sodje, were holding firm. Joe Colbeck, chasing back, then lost possession and almost presented Bennett with a golden opportunity to double the lead, but the shot was weak. The interval arrived without further mishap.
HT: HUFC 0 BURY 1
An early second half sortie from Hereford almost succeeded. Lunt and Fairhurst combined well and our Ken’s shot was beaten out by Belford; the ball almost fell invitingly for the onrushing Fleetwood. Then, with 51 minutes gone, Bury scored a second. The Bulls had plenty of chances to clear as the marauding Bennett went on a run, but these were not taken, and the loose ball ran for Schumacher to side-foot home and double his tally. The prolific Lowe then skied a shot when well placed.
Ryan Green burst into the box to receive a return pass from young Pell, and his flick to Fairhurst was slightly behind the striker, causing him to check his run before shooting tamely. Joe Heath and Rob Purdie played Fleetwood in, but his hanging cross caused little danger. More promising was Fleetwood’s own attempt to drive a shot in at the near post, but once more, the ball went wide. Bury’s superiority at this stage was tangible, and it was easy to comprehend the optimism from the visiting fans (one of whom produced an old fashioned rattle at one point). By contrast, the Bulls seemed bereft of ideas, and distribution from the back was, at times, very poor. Also puzzling was the use of substitutes, largely replacing one ineffective midfield by a different, but equally unproductive one. Indeed, at no stage in the second half did it seem likely that the home side could get anything from the game.
Ryan Green getting the better of Lennell John-Lewis
The only other matter to be settled was whether Ryan Lowe could score for an amazing ninth consecutive game. At this juncture, we will gloss over the fact that, at least to my untrained eye, the one he claimed in midweek at Shrewsbury looked suspiciously like an own goal. Anyway, with four minutes to play, Townsend clumsily brought Lowe down, and Mr Phillips, one of the better officials seen recently, awarded a free kick. The defence, despite presumably searching “high and low”, (I know, I’m sorry) were unable to locate Ryan Lowe, and the striker connected with Scumacher’s driven cross to carve his name into the Gigg Lane history books.
FT: HUFC 0 BURY 3
Attendance: 2650, including 332 Shakers.
HUFC: Bartlett, Green, Kovacs, Townsend, Heath, Colbeck (McQuilkin 71), Lunt (Purdie 59), Rose, Pell (Featherstone 76), Fleetwood, Fairhurst.
BURY: Belford, Picken, Skarz, Lees, Sodje, Worrell, Schumacher, Bennett (Jones 83), Mozika (Sweeney 89), Bishop (John-Lewis 68), Lowe.