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Bury - The Fans Views
Bury - The Fans Views
Saturday, 17th Aug 2002 00:00

Bury 3 Swansea 2 - The Fans Views

Home > Story Index >Bury 3 Swansea 2 - The Fan's Views

Match Report by Clive Hughes

On a very hot day, the Swans made one change from the starting line up at Darlington. Watkin replacing Wood, who was one of the subs. A very low crowd of 2348 included approx 150 away supporters, many arriving after 15 mins due to heavy traffic on the M6.

Bury made all the early running with the Swans showing lack of cohesion and unable to get any play together. Bury being first to most balls with the Swans chasing shadows. In saying this there was no real threat on goal until the 10th min when Bury attacked down their right and with Phillips heading clear to the edge of the box Clegg sent a volley past Rog and into the top corner. As against Rushden, the defence was static and did not attack the ball. There then was a period of sustained Bury pressure with late blocks and frantic clearances keeping us in the game. Every loose ball was picked up by Bury, and things looked ominous with the Swans fans getting frustrated and starting to vent their anger at a lack lustre performance. Sharp replaced O'Leary and to their credit the Swans weathered the storm and started to claw their way back into the game. Jenkins laid on a perfect pass inside the area for the incoming Murphy who showed lack of composure and blasted over. So from what would have been 1-1 we found ourselves further behind when Newby slotted past Rog after again bad defending, which started with David Smith allowing their right winger time to cross and half clearances not being effective. Before the second goal Roger showed signs of a right leg injury which by half time saw him hobble off. In fact when Phillips went down injured and the ball played out, Bury sportingly played the ball back towards Roger, who had to limp across the goal to stop goal number 3. Two further half chances for the Swans a shot by Murphy which was deflected for a corner and a shot by Phillips that went wide.

The second half started with Williams replacing Phillips and surprisingly Roger appearing for the half in apparent distress, which seemed to get worse as the half progressed. Much to everyone's surprise Nick Cusack used his last substitution by replacing David Smith with Mumford, although it did seem that Smith was injured, while Roger hobbled on. Newby was causing all sorts of pressure as the defence struggled against a very nippy attack. It came as a surprise as the Swans were given a lifeline as Thomas was brought down running away from goal in the area and a penalty given. Thomas with no hope on goal played for the penalty and the defender bought it. A badly taken penalty saw the ball head in the direction the goalie had already dived to, but luckily the rebound fell to Thomas who placed it into an empty net. Bury again pressurised but we equalised with a slightly comical goal as a long throw from Williams into the area was met by Swailes who sent a superb header passed his own goalie Garner. 2-2 from a game we had hardly been in. Our good luck didn't last long as after 2 mins the same player scored Bury's third, latching onto a bouncing ball in the six-yard area and bundling the ball into the net. A brilliant save from Rog kept it at 3-2 and with the fans urging the team on, Watkin was sent off, apparently for something he said to the ref, following a disallowed goal for the Swans when Williams put the ball into the net but was disallowed for high feet when it seemed more that the defender lowered his head. The game then petered out with no further action.

We have now played three games scoring 6 and conceding 7. We cannot expect to score 2 goals every game as both today's come more from luck than good play, but what is more worrying is the ease that teams can score against us, with the defence being split time and time again. If we are to continue playing with a sweeper the defence must not defend so deep, as this allows no room for Evans to operate effectively putting him out of the game. At the start of the season Nick Cusack and Alan Curtis promised us a team that would be fitter and show battling performances. Today Bury were a yard fitter and faster in thought as again we waited for things to happen before reacting. We must attack the ball while defending and play the percentage game while in attack, and not wait to see where the ball drops. Even allowing for the sapping conditions we feel that some players must have a serious look at their performance, as many tackles were not made and supporting play ignored.

Only one defeat, but only 2 points from 9. Not good reading, but there is 7 days back on the training ground before our next game. One further point on the game, we received 4 bookings and a sending off. That's 2 sending offs in 3 games. O'Leary last Saturday for a studs showing lunge and Watkin for saying something to the ref. Both these are unprofessional and showing total lack of discipline, the ref today was poor but do we have to make it easy for them to show the red card.

4 hours to do the 120 miles there but thankfully only 2 hours to get back

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