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Saturday, February 20, 2010 With Banks injured and Dainty unavailable due to compassionate reasons manager Dale Belford had to sign Chris Milner and Dan Dineen at the last minute but the new boys had plenty of time to learn the names of their new team mates on the long coach journey to Bury St Edmunds. Six degrees and sunshine greeted the Adders together with a bumper crowd of 427. The match started predictably with both sides probing without threatening but after the 10 minute mark Bury found their stride and put Adders under heavy pressure for about 15 minutes forcing Woakes into making half a dozen saves of which 3 were top draw. As bury seemed to temporarily run out of ideas Adders slowly got into the game and on 26 minutes Keen crossed from the right wing to a charging Smith who headed wide under pressure. A couple of minutes later and this time it was Smith from the right wing who found Roscorla with a 25 yard cross but the latter’s shot across the face of goal fizzed wide. Bury had a couple more half chances but then on 37 minutes Adders nearly got in front when Roscolra won a corner. In a crowded box the subsequent ball found the head of Bruce who directed the ball into the bottom right corner and beyond the keeper but sadly the effort was just cleared off the line by their left back. After this Bury pressed again but it was the Adders who had the best chance of the half just before half time when Keen found Smith who volleyed his shot from close range toward the top right corner but the keeper just managed to parry the shot onto the upright and it deflected for a goal kick.
From the kick off Bury came out all guns blazing and Woakes was soon called into action but Adders quickly got a foothold and on 52 minutes Simeon Smith received a through ball from Bradley and raced forward and nearly got goal side of the last defender before being brought down in the area. A clear penalty in the eyes of the Adders but the referee had a different view. A few minutes later and Bradley tried a solo effort from midfield but under pressure his shot from 15 yards went just wide. Bury stepped up the pressure and on 61 minutes they looked certain to have scored from a corner but the ball was deflected onto the cross bar and seemed to roll along the top before dropping into the waiting arms of Woakes but the writing was on the wall and on 65 minutes their Kieran Leabon got in behind the Adders defence from their left and blasted a shot across the face of goal into the top corner of the net. Their second came on 79 minutes when they caught Adders on the break following a Luke keen free kick. The goal was similar to the first but this time scored by Lee Underwood. Weale came on for Smith and livened up the Adders threat and on 86 minutes Adders got back in the game when after winning a corner Hendrie under pressure managed a close range tap in from a prostrate position after being barged down. Sensing that Bury were now at their most vulnerable Adders pushed forward and in the last minute nearly grabbed an equaliser when after another corner Weale oh so very nearly chipped the keeper from 2 yards but the keeper managed to punch the ball away and in the ensuing break got their third from Underwood when Woakes was left exposed. Overall Bury were a very strong team and on balance of play probably deserved the result but in the end they were lucky to get it. The hosts are highly likely to at least reach the playoffs and although Adders lost today it was a fantastic performance and a great game to watch.
Atherstone Team:
1 Woakes, 2 Milner, 3 Dineen, 4 Guiney (c), 5 Perry, 6 Bruce, 7 Roscorla, 8 Keen, 9 Smith, 10 Hendrie, 11 Bradley. Subs: 12 Johnson N/U, 13 Belford N/U, 14 Weale (Smith), 15 Hutchison N/U, 16 Nadat N/U. Attendance: 427 Man of the Match: NATHAN WOAKES Referee: JAMES TURNER -KINGS LYNN
Match Reports
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