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Treasureline: Week 47

This week’s Treasureline Winners for Week 47 – 19th April 2023 are in! The rollover this week was £1000 and remember it can reach up to a life-changing £10,000!!
Prize Draw No. Members Name £1000 Rollover CC3050 NO WINNER £1000 SA3249 S BROOK £100 ND5347 A CLEGG £50 HC5456 J HAIR £50 BC4061 J MELIA £25 NJ1069 A STONER £25 LJ2875 M RHODES £10 HK6934 J DENTON £10 FA3478 B LUND £10 SD0461 T SAVAGE £10 LJ3008 K FEEHAN £10 LQ5512 P BELL £10 SA0717 M KEMP £10 RB5558 S PICKLES £10 HK5624 S BECK £10 HJ1419 R LAYCOCK £10 CB4464 M WHEATLEY View the full article on Bury AFC website
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Match Info: Barnoldswick Town (A), Tues 18th Apr (7.45pm KO)

After a long end to a very long weekend, in what has felt like a long season, we enter the final few days before we pack away the 2022/23 season!
A 3-2 loss on Saturday at the Douglas Bowl, was perhaps not the result that was wanted or what the lads deserved for their performance which came less than 48 hours after leaving the pitch against Burscough. The Ravens’ goal led a charmed life, with goalkeeper Ben Wilkinson earning the man of the match after a number of saves to keep the three points in the Manx isle.
However, the play from Bury throughout was quick and deserved more. A fact displayed by the adoring fans, around 700 in total, who stayed on at the end of the game to cycle their renditions of the songs that had been ringing in the ears of the locals since at least Friday! You can see a full nine minutes of those after-match celebrations to the right.
The celebrations of the season carried on into the Douglas evening, as fans and players alike gathered in the capital across the various bars and restaurants. The weekend as a whole, despite the result, had been a huge success for both the island and the supporters who had travelled.
That was until the fog set in to disrupt a lot of the travel arrangements to return to the UK from early on Sunday morning, with the players and staff joining hundreds of players by being marooned on the island for another night.
Thankfully, most seem to have returned safely during Monday with another quick turnaround as we head up to Barlick this Tuesday evening for our final away fixture of the season. All your match information is available below.
  Opponents – Barnoldswick Town
Formed in 1972 and named Barnoldswick United(1972) – so called due to being canny Yorkshiremen- had there been a previous club named Barnoldswick United and they had outstanding debts the new club would have been liable for them.
The field started out as a grazing meadow for cattle, after a lot of hard work, it is now the pitch they play on. The club had 2 teams playing in the Craven & District Football League, in the early 1990’s they joined the East Lancashire Football League again with 2 teams.
In the late 1990’s they had three teams their 1st & 2nd team teams joined The West Lancashire Football League, their 3rds staying in The East Lancashire League.
The 2003/2004 season brought the amalgamation of Barnoldswick United (1972), Barnoldswick Park Rovers and Salterforth Juniors and they changed their name to Barnoldswick Town Football Club.
It has always been in the club’s constitution to get the ground up to the minimum standards of The North West Counties Football League and the 2009/2010 season saw them accepted into The North West Counties Football League.
Barlick have had to fit in as many games as we have following a number of postponements since the turn of the year, including our previous planned visit in February. They currently sit just above the relegation spots, but with both of these settled (Burscough joined Ashton Athletic over weekend), they are in no danger of trouble now. Highlights of Barlick’s visit to the Neuven, and that diving header from Harry Brazel, in early December can be found below.
  Tickets & Admission
Admission Prices: Adults £7, Concessions £3, U16s £1, U12s FREE.
Advanced Tickets: To secure your ticket ahead of the game, email Barlick Secretary direct on the below details: secretary.barnoldswicktownfc@gmail.com
Programme Price: £1.00
Ground Facilities: Licenced Bar with plenty of seating available. Tea bar selling hot and cold food. There is also plenty of covered seating behind the goal as well as covered standing both behind the goal and down the side of the ground.
  Travel & Car Parking

Address: Silentnight Stadium, Greenberfield Lane, Barnoldswick, BB18 5EN.
Travel by train: Nearest train station Colne (5.8 miles)
Travel by public bus: The M5 service serves Barnoldswick half-hourly (from Burnley), timetable available HERE.
Travel by car:
From M65: M65 to end (Colne), straight on at the round-a-bout, through two sets of traffic lights to round-a-bout. Turn left to Barnoldswick. On entering Barnoldswick through traffic lights straight on at mini round-a-bout, through built up area. On leaving built up area turn right into Green Berfield Lane (Club signposted). Bear right on track to rear of ground and car park.
From A56 Gisburn: Turn right signposted Barnoldswick. On entering built up area turn left onto Green Berfield lane, (Club signposted). Bear on track to rear of ground and car park.
Car Parking: The club has a large, free car park which is situated behind the club room (BB18 5EN).
If you do park locally to the ground, supporters attending the game are requested to be mindful of local residents when parking around the ground. Please leave space for residents to access properties at all times.
  Live Coverage
There will be no live stream available for this game.
Roch Valley Radio will be broadcasting live audio commentary also via their website, downloadable app or on your Smart Speaker (by asking ‘Play Roch Valley Radio’). For more information, head to the Roch Valley website HERE.
  #ByTheFans | #ForTheFans | #YourTown | #YourTeam | #OnOurWay | #2togo
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Preparation for visiting the Isle of Man

Ahead of our trip and in line with the policing large crowds and events, the local constabulary in Douglas have been in touch to advise supporters on customs on the island during the period of Bury supporters visiting ahead and during our game against FC Isle of Man this weekend.
Supporters are reminded to be aware of the below points:
Segregation will be in place inside the stadium on the day of the game. Away supporters are requested to access the northern end of the ground only. Stewards will be on hand to guide supporters to the right areas. Alcohol will NOT be available inside the ground and not permitted to be brought into the stadium. Please abide by this request and cooperate with staff at all times. Laws on the island are different to those in the UK and the local police’s tolerance to public disorder is lower than that in the UK. Abiding to police instruction at all times is necessary. Arrests will be made where this is the case and this will lead to summons in court. We wish supporters all a great time on the island during your visit, but please be aware at all times about the points above. We wish to leave a positive lasting impression on the island, and request and appreciate your cooperation in doing so.
  #BuryAFC | #YourTown | #YourTeam
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Match Info: FC Isle Of Man (A), Sat 15th Apr (6pm KO)

With the finishing line in sight, we finally gear up for our trip over the Irish Sea to take on FC Isle of Man at the Douglas Bowl this Saturday evening.
Supporters have been slowly arriving in the Manx Isle as the week has progressed, taking in all the area has to offer, whilst the ferries and airports will be busy on Saturday itself as around 600 Burt fans will be in attendance for our first visit to take on the Ravens at home.
In the reverse fixture back in September, an early Lewis Gilboy brace was followed up by Niall Cummins and a diving Anton Smith header for a 4-0 Bury win. Highlights of this game are available below.
Despite a change in management not long after, the Ravens have had an up and down season but have won their last three, including a 94th minute winner last time out at the Bowl when they overcame Avro.
Thursday night’s loss against Burscough put a further dent in our playoff hopes, which now means we need to rely on results elsewhere to secure second.
We expect the supporters are excited to be traveling in numbers this weekend. We have put together some information about how visitors to the island are expected to conduct themselves, you can find this HERE. Please respect the island and it’s laws at all times.
Get behind the lads and support them to the end.
All your pre-match information can be found below.
  Admission
Prices as below, all pay on the gate or in advance:
Advance tickets available here.
Adult £10.00 Concession (60+) £5.00 Student £5.00 Junior (12-16) £5.00 Junior (5-11) £3.00 Child (Under 5) Free Live Stream £5.00 Order Live Stream via ticket page HERE.
The ground will be segregated for home and away fans, with Bury fans given the northern end of the ground with access only by the adjacent gate as shown below.

  Opponents – FC Isle Of Man
FC Isle of Man was founded in 2020 and is a community-based football club which represents the island as a whole.
The Ravens, like ourselves, were officially accepted into the English non-league pyramid for the 2020/21 season. However, due to Covid restrictions and border controls into the island, the club were temporarily suspended from the league as it was not possible to fulfil all their fixtures by 31st May 2021, as required by the English FA.
Subsequently the season as a whole was eventually suspended due to further Covid outbreaks in early 2021 and the 2021/22 season became their first in the non-league system.
Despite going top of the division temporarily in February after a dramatic 4-3 victory over eventual league champions West Didsbury, the Ravens ultimately finished second in the league but were promoted at the first attempt after defeating New Mills in the play-off final in front of more than 3,000 spectators at the Bowl.
The Ravens go into the weekend in 16th place in the league, with any concerns over relegation firmly put to bed by winning the last three games.
  Travel & Car Parking

Address: The Bowl, Pulrose Road, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM2 1RB
Travel by train: N/A
Travel by public bus: From Lord Street, Douglas, take Nr 1A bus to Power Station
From Isle of Man Airport – take Nr 1 bus to Power Station Shelter, Douglas
Car Parking: Adjacent to ground.
Ground Facilities: No Bar Facilities at the ground and no alcohol is permitted to be consumed within the ground. Food & drink kiosks will be available.
For pubs close to the ground head to the Pinewood (first 150 only) and Douglas Rugby Club, available from 2pm.
  Live Coverage
Our hosts do provide a live stream of the game, tickets are available in the link higher up this page.
Roch Valley Radio will be broadcasting live audio commentary also via their website, downloadable app or on your Smart Speaker (by asking ‘Play Roch Valley Radio’). For more information, head to the Roch Valley website HERE.
  #ByTheFans | #ForTheFans | #YourTown | #YourTeam | #3togo
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Match Info: Burscough FC (H, Seel Park), Thur 13th Apr (7.45pm KO)

We head into the final couple of weeks of the season, with still a chance of reaching the top two spots. Champions Vauxhall Motors claimed the top spot at weekend, with ourselves, Avro and our weekend opponents Wythenshawe Town, still in the hunt for second and the only play-off spot available this season.
The returning duo of Tom Greaves and Aidan Chippendale started in their first game back available for the Shakers. Chippendale scored twice in the first half to announce his return, before Town pegged the score back just ahead of the half-time break. Harry Brazel put us back ahead midway through the second half, before the three points were snatched away at the death with Dwyer leaping to take a share of the spoils.
This is going to be tight, with Avro and Wythenshawe both having two games left, but with Wythenshawe further behind and needing the teams around them to slip up to have a chance of progressing into second. We have #4togo and if we win them all, we can reach 89 points. As can Avro. All to play for.
What we need to do, is focus on winning our games. And we do that by being together. Get down tonight and cheer the lads on! Match info available below.
Opponents – Burscough FC
Following the Second World War the present Burscough club was founded in 1946, starting life in the Liverpool County Combination. In only their second season, 1946/47, they achieved a unique treble, winning the Lancashire Junior Cup, George Mahon Cup and the Liverpool Challenge Cup.
In 1982 the Club became founder members of the North West Counties Football League and had the distinction of becoming the Leagues first ever Champions under Bryan Griffiths.
In more recent times, following the resignation of John Davison the club appointed Shaun Teale as player/manager in May 2002 and the ex-Aston Villa defender went on to sensationally lead the club to its greatest ever achievement as Burscough became the smallest club to ever win the FA Trophy following a tremendous 2-1 victory over Tamworth at Villa Park on Sunday 18th May 2003 in front of a crowd of 14,296 spectators and televised live on Sky. There were incredible scenes as almost 2,000 fans welcomed the team home to Victoria Park.
An incredible end to 2003/04 season saw Burscough finish with a remarkable run of victories that saw them claw their way out of the bottom three into the play-offs for Conference North. Despite playing all their games away from home the Linnets went on to reach the play-off final where they only went down at Bradford Park Avenue following extra-time. During the summer Frank Parr stepped down after 30 years as chairman with local businessman Chris Lloyd taking over at the helm.
Season 2005/06 was another historic one for Burscough F.C. as they went on to reach the Second Round proper of the F.A. Cup for the first time in their history. In reaching that milestone they defeated League One side Gillingham 3-2 on a never to be forgotten day at Victoria Park before going out to Burton Albion. 
Despite spending many a season in the higher reaches of the non-league pyramid, financial difficulties through the 2010s lead to Burscough ending up back in the NWCFL in 2017.
Last Time Out
We came away from Burscough with the victory back in February An early goal from Niall Cummins bringing all three points home. Highlights below.
Burscough have been a bit of a mixed bag these last few weeks, with 2 wins, 2 draws and 2 defeats in their last six.
This season so far, Town have nine wins and six draws from their 39 games and sit in 21st place on 33 points.
Tickets & Admission
Tickets for this game are available to purchase here.
£8 – Adults £20 – Hospitality U16s – FREE (with paying adult) £3 – Match Programme can be secured online to pick up at the ground We are encouraging fans to please buy their tickets ahead of time if possible. With the ground expecting to be busy for this game, purchasing tickets helps our volunteers in getting fans in the ground and reducing queues outside.
A pay on the day facility is available, via cash or card on the gate. If paying by cash, please try and bring the correct change to ensure smooth and quick entry to the ground.
NOTE: Half price for Mossley AFC Season Ticket Holders on the gate on presence of their ticket.
In The Ground
Our Matchday Programme (£3.00) will be available for purchase inside / outside the ground or secure yours online before the game at the above link.
Our ‘Pound for the Ground’ raffle tickets will again be on sale in and around the ground, £1 per entry. Find out about previous draws and collections made so far HERE.
The winning ticket will take home 40% of the pot on the day, with the remaining amount each week going towards the pursuit of our own ground. We thank you all for your contributions and hope you continue to support this initiative.
Travel & Car Parking
Address: Seel Park, Market Street, Mossley, Lancashire, OL5 0ES.
Ground Facilities: Clubhouse with Licenced Bar will be open, as well as a Can Bar in the ground accessed via the Mossley Club Shop. The Pie Hut will be open inside the ground for hot & cold food and drinks.
There are covered stands on three sides of the ground, with limited seating in the main stand (closest to entrance via Market Street) to the right on the below image.
Aerial view of Seel Park (looking South) Travel by coach: A 55-seat coach is being laid on FREE by the club to assist Season Ticket Holders ONLY, who would find travel to Mossley difficult. All ticket holders should now be in receipt of this email to book this coach.
Travel by train: Mossley (0.4 miles).
NOTE: A Rail Replacement Service available via Piccadilly this weekend.
Travel by tram / public bus: Tram to Ashton-under-Lyme, then take 350 bus to Mossley.
Car Parking: The car park at Seel Park is restricted to players and officials ONLY.
On-street parking is available, please be considerate of local residents at all times. A Pay & Display Car Park is available at the top of Market Street, which can be seen on entry down towards the ground. Costs £1 for all-day parking.
Live Coverage
There will be a stream available for this game look out for details, with highlights to be provided after the game.
As ever, Roch Valley Radio will be broadcasting live audio commentary also via their website, downloadable app or on your Smart Speaker (by asking ‘Play Roch Valley Radio’). For more information, head to the Roch Valley website HERE.
#ByTheFans | #ForTheFans | #YourTown | #YourTeam | #OnOurWay | #4togo
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Treasureline: Week 46

This week’s Treasureline Winners for Week 46 – 12th April 2023 are in! The rollover this week was £500 and remember it can reach up to a life-changing £10,000!!
PrizeDraw No.Members Name£500 RolloverWH5541NO WINNER£1000NJ0401A KILSHAW£100LJ2605C CARDIGAN£50HD0435L WRAY£50NG3821C WELLS£25LK4448B DALBY£25SA3657S GLENNON£10NN5697S HARGREAVES£10HA3156W JUDE£10MN1699J LIVER£10RA4982M SAVIN£10CA3219A ROBINSON£10HM2533G TURPIN£10HJ3522C JACKSON£10NC1015S HAYLETT£10HK2523G CLEGG£10GP5665L SPENCER View the full article
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Match Info: Wythenshawe Town (A), Mon 10th Apr (3pm KO)

Just two days on from our draw with Longridge on Good Friday, which was our fifth game in twelve days, we go again as we take on third placed Wythenshawe Town.
As we enter our final five games of the year we welcome re-enforcements into the squad with the return of prolific goal scorers Tom Greaves and Aidan Chippendale. Both are chomping at the bit to help Andy and the lads with their promotion push.
Now we go into another three fixture week and we need our twelfth man! So let’s get down to Wythenshawe in numbers, sings the lads along, bang that drum and most importantly believe!
**Once inside the ground Bury fans are advised to congregate down the Tesco side of the ground and behind the goal at the Altrincham Road End. Stewards will be in attendance to ensure adequate segregation**
Your match information can be found below.
Admission
Prices as below, all pay on the gate:
£6 Adults £4 Concessions £1 U16s Opponents – Wythenshwe Town FC
Early Days:

The club was founded in 1946 as the North Withington Amateur Football Club and was the idea of some young men who attended St. Crispin’s Church on Hart Road in Fallowfield. The club first played in the South Manchester & Wythenshawe League (1946 – 1958) and were subsequently transferred to the Lancashire & Cheshire Amateur league (1958 – 1972).
Manchester League & Timpson Road

It was in 1972 the club applied and were accepted into the Manchester League, when up until 1974 all games of football were played at Hough End Field, Princess Road, Withington.

In June 1974, under the helm of Chairman Billy Moore, the club’s headquarters were moved from the Princess Hotel in Withington to the newly acquired ground at Timpson Road, Baguley, M23 9LL where three pre-fabricated houses were purchased and turned into a clubhouse with a bar, kitchen and changing facilities. After numerous discussions, it was decided to name the ground after the residing Chairman (Stan Hahn) and the Club Secretary (Eric Renard) out of respect, honouring them as founding members, hence the name Ericstan Park. And it was at this point, the club decided to design a new badge incorporating a cockerel and a fox; the cockerel related to founding member Stanley Hahn (the German for cockerel is Hähnchen) and the fox to founding member Eric Renard (the French for fox is Renard), to forever recognise the club’s founding members.



Cheshire League & The Invincibles

In 2014 and under new Chairman Kenny Hope, the club transferred to the Cheshire League Division 2 and went on to become history-makers, making national headlines as they won every single league and Cup game, 39 games in total, earning the side the title, ‘The Invincibles.’ Back to back promotions on their debut in the Cheshire League, and with a working partnership in place with professional football club Fleetwood Town, the club set their sights firmly on bringing semi-professional football to the club for the first time in history.

The North-West Counties Football League & Semi-Pro Football

That ambition came to realisation at the end of the 2017/18 season after two seasons in the Cheshire Premier League when the club secured promotion to Step 6 and the Hallmark Security North West Counties League South Division, heralding a new era at the club. There were further changes at the beginning of 2019 when Chris Eaton took over as Chairman with a promise to put the club on a sound business footing. Promotion was narrowly missed at the end of the season but with Manager James Kinsey and his coaching team in charge, the club looked forward to the new campaign with optimism. The optimism proved well-founded as the club showed its confidence in the players and management team was justified with some remarkable highlights and a run in the league that left them in third place and looking forward to a future in the next level. Their greatest run of success was in the FA Vase where a series of victories against Goole Town, Nostell Miners Welfare, Skelmersdale United, and Northwich Victoria saw them matched against competition favourites big-spending Consett Town. A draw at home saw Wythenshawe visit the North-East for the replay but the FA’s experimental rule-change for the competition saw the team short of six players while their opponents had a full squad to choose from. Even so it was a narrow one-nil defeat that saw their visions of Wembley come to an end. The highlight of the season was a remarkable two-one away victory over high flying National League North stars Curzon Ashton in the Frank Hannah Manchester Senior Cup and their last game before the season was ended by COVID-19 was in the semi-final of the Division One Cup against Sandbach United. The decision to declare the season null and void robbed the club of what looked to be a certain promotion.

Seven out of Seven and then COVID

Season 2020/2021 saw a remarkable start to the campaign with seven straight wins and 29 goals scored against just 3 in return. Once again, the season was ended by COVID, and it looked as if once again frustration was the order of the day. However, the club got the news it so richly deserved when the FA made the decision to base promotion on the records of the two curtailed seasons and Wythenshawe Town found themselves starting the new campaign in the Premier Division. There was progress off the field as well at the beginning of 2021, when Chairman Chris Eaton, with the unanimous backing of the members, turned the club into a limited company with a promise of great things to come.

Success and Reward

The 2021-2022 season proved to be an outstanding campaign with a run in the FA Vase and a close finish in the League. Victories against Litherland REMYCA, Bacup Borough, Seaham Red Star, Holker OB, Billingham Synthonia, red-hot favourites Consett AFC and Anstey Nomads saw them reach the dizzy heights of an FA Vase Quarter Final at Loughborough Students. However, it proved one hurdle too far and the visions of Wembley were dashed. After the first few weeks Town were never out of the top three places in the league and it went right up to the final day when they were pipped by just a single point. Wythenshawe Town’s achievements didn’t go unrecognised, and they received two great honours at the League Presentation Evening. Manager James Kinsey was rewarded for three years of hard work and dedication when he received the Manager of The Year Award for the Premier Division and the club’s attitude to discipline on the field saw them received the Fair Play Award.
Travel & Car Parking
Address: Ericstan Park, Timpson Road, Wythenshawe, Greater Manchester, M23 9LL
Travel by train: Baguley (9 minutes’ walk, 0.4 miles)
Travel by public bus:
For all buses, the best stop to get off at is on Altrincham Road near Tesco Baguley. The ground is around 3-5 minutes walk from there.
From Cheadle, Gatley & Stockport and in the opposite direction, Timperley and Altrincham, take the 11 or 11a and get off anywhere near Tesco Baguley or Baguley Retail Park. If you’re travelling from anywhere in Wythenshawe, the 11 or 109 is the easiest bus to get.
If you are travelling from Manchester City Centre take the 109.
From the M56 Junction 3, follow the sign for Wythenshawe Hospital. After 1 mile, after passing the Shell garage, turn left at the traffic lights then right at the next set of traffic lights. The ground is at the end of this road.
From the M60 (Counterclockwise), come off at Junction 5 and join the M56. Come off at the first exit which is Junction 3 and follow signs as above.
From the M60 (Clockwise), head towards the M56 at Junction 4 and come off at the first exit, Junction 2 towards Wythenshawe. At the roundabout go straight ahead towards Altrincham, and at the second roundabout take the second exit, again towards Altrincham. This will bring you to M56 Junction 3, go straight ahead at the roundabout and follow the directions above.
Car Parking: Travelling supporters are encouraged to park at Tesco near the ground as the Ericstan Park card park is very small and fills up extremely early.
Ground Facilities:
Covered seating
Covered standing
Bar serving hot food and drinks as well as cold drinks and refreshments
Pitch side shop serving hot and cold drinks, snacks and pin badges
Beer garden to the rear
Games room
Disabled toilet
Disabled access
Parking
Wi-fi
Live Coverage
There will be no live stream available for this game. Roch Valley Radio will be broadcasting live audio commentary also via their website, downloadable app or on your Smart Speaker (by asking ‘Play Roch Valley Radio’). For more information, head to the Roch Valley website HERE.
#ByTheFans | #ForTheFans | #YourTown | #YourTeam | #5togo
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Away Days Blog – Congleton Town (League Match) – 14th February 2023

Welcome to the latest official away days blog from our resident gonzo journo, James Beedie. He continues to take us on his travels to our away games this season, concentrating as much on the experience of the day as of the actual football itself.
This time out, it’s a midweek trip to Cheshire to face a dress rehearsal for the forthcoming FA Vase qurter-final…
I’m the first to admit this felt a little like after the Lord Mayors show. I was tired, I’m sure the players were even more tired and the prospect of another trip to the edge of the Cheshire Staffordshire border felt like a bridge too far. Congleton Town are one of the better sides in the division, have multiple ex-league players in their ranks and have the best home record in the North West Counties. Combine that with Bury’s record this season of struggling in the first league match after a big cup tie I just had a horrible feeling Bury AFC’s 14-match unbeaten run in the league might be coming to an end. I would definitely take a draw in the circumstances.
I set off a little late for one of the longer away matches in the league this season, even in regionalised football there are still midweek away matches that still clash with finishing time at work. Making my way with some urgency I suffered my way around the M60 before turning onto the M62 and M6. After whizzing down dark country roads in Cheshire I approached Congleton itself. No sooner had I seen signs for the football ground I began to see cars parked on every spare bit on pavement on every street on the approach to the ground. After a long detour I managed to find a spare patch of space to leave the Shark and headed back the way I came in the direction of The Cleric Stadium.
Walking through the turnstiles that appears alone on the side of the street and making my way up the few steps up to the ground I laid eyes on the toughest away pitch in the league. It was surprisingly quiet around the pitch for how busy the streets were. The ground is fairly small for a club like Congleton Town with aims to play at a much higher level. The ground sits inside an estate surrounded by houses on all sides. Hemmed in, the ground can only hold so many. The 1500 capacity was a hinderance for them last season when they played Macclesfield, due to crowd trouble in the away match and the large attendance expected Congleton had to shift their home tie to Crewe Alexandra’s Gresty Road. The capacity wouldn’t be challenged tonight but we all knew what lies in store for both clubs next month.
Of the eight remaining sides in the FA Vase this season, three of them are in the North West Counties so there was a 2 in 7 chance we’d be playing someone familiar and so it proved. The day before this match live on TalkSport 2 radio Bury AFC were drawn away against Congleton Town making this match tonight merely the dress rehearsal to the winner takes all contest in March.
This match still has a great deal riding on it. Congleton Town still has an outside chance at a late run at promotion while Bury benefit from a midweek match when the likes of Avro, Wythenshawe Town and Vauxhall Motors all had the night off, a positive result takes another match off the busy schedule and another step closer to the chasing pack.
I made my way round the the back of the main stand towards the clubhouse and discovered where all the fans had got to. With a refreshment hut out the front and a bar inside the clubhouse was buzzing with activity pre-match. Inside the hive long queues snaked to the bar while every table was filled with fans escaping the cold outside. The bar looked smart, bright and clean. Possibly recently refurbished its walls were filled with pictures of Congleton sides from long ago, framed shirts and multiple wide-screen TVs currently showing a BBC documentary on football and Pablo Escobar. The bar sold Madri which was a win for me plus a handful of other decent beers and ciders. sadly no programmes were available tonight but at least I managed to get a pin badge.
After catching up with a few of the usual suspects I met up with the uncle. This is his local side, having lived in neighbouring Biddulph for years whenever he wasn’t able to watch Bury play he would watch a local side round here. For a while there was Biddulph Victoria, best known for producing a young forward by the name of Tom Pope before the EFL beckoned. When they folded the uncle would watch Congleton Town. He was able to give me background on the club, from Richard Duffy the former Port Vale man was now the player/manager at Congleton to David Parton the former Whitchurch Alport keeper who was signed after playing a blinder against the hosts. The unique look to Congleton Town’s home shirt is a nod to two local sides. Congleton Town had always played in white and black in the past but after a merger with a local side Congleton Vale, who would become the junior set-up at Congleton Town a new kit was made up. Now the home kit had a black sash running diagonally across a white half of the shirt and a yellow half of the shirt that from the back looks all yellow. It must prove a nightmare for some clubs that play in either white or yellow.
For this match Bury would make what feels like a rare outing of the whole of their blue and brown away kit. Our own colour scheme has caused some issues whoever we have played away at a side that play in blue and our only kit options have been a home kit with blue shorts and socks or an away kit with a blue shirt. Compromise being the name of the game Bury AFC’s tireless kitman has on multiple occasions had the team out in white shirts and brown shorts. Hopefully, next season’s away kit causes fewer issues.
The teams were already coming out as we left the clubhouse and stood along the halfway line as the two sides came out. Bury were missing Jimmy Moore through suspension and Kris Holt through illness so Charlie Doyle was handed his first start and Sean Higgins was back in the starting eleven.
We could see that Bury would be shooting towards the top of the ground where a fully covered terrace hung over the goal at that end. We made our way back towards that end of the ground just as the match began. The score had changed before we even got there.
In only the first minute of the match with fans still entering the ground a smart flick on by Ben Wharton found Connor Comber, the flag stayed down and he was one-on-one with goalkeeper David Parton. He slotted the ball past the Bears keeper and with barely 45 seconds on the clock Bury had the lead. The uncle and I made our way round to an empty spot behind the goal with the team still celebrating their early goal.
The lead should have been doubled straight from the restart. Lewis Gilboy unnoticed and unmarked on the left-hand side was fed the ball and had only Parton to beat but lifted his effort over the bar. We could barely believe what we were seeing. I had fully expected a hard and long drawn-out battle. Both sides had tough away fixtures in the Vase, both would have probably wanted this fixture to be played at a less hectic time in the season yet Bury who had completed the longest journey out of anyone still in the FA Vase on the weekend came out of the blocks flying and should really have been 2-0 up.
Bury would go close a few more times in the opening half with Joe Denman heading over and Harry Brazel shooting wide of goal while Congleton were largely restricted to chances from set pieces. Neither side however could find a way past either goalkeeper for the rest of the half.
At the break I made my way back to the clubhouse where most of the other fans had also gathered. I was pleased with how Bury had played but I was conscious of the narrow lead. Despite the great early chances it was only the opening minute goal by Connor Comber that separated the two sides, and while the home side hadn’t yet really challenged Jack Atkinson the team had gradually tired in the last ten minutes or so of the half with more and more of the possession going Congleton’s way. In the home match it had been a closely contested match where Bury hung on for a 2-1 win after a siege on goal in the last ten minutes of the match. I worried that this match might end up being a similar story.
The second half was a far more physical spectacle, barely seconds into the action and as I made my way round to the other goalmouth I heard a loud collision, the smacking sound of a high speed coming together of shinpad on shinpad as Connor Comber and Jordi Nsaka collided and sent both men to the ground.
This was then matched by a coming together between Harry Brazel and Congleton player/manager Richard Duffy. The referee blew his whistle and appeared to award a free kick to Bury. Brazel picked the ball up and was immediately tackled round the waist and thrown to the ground by Duffy in something that would get him cautioned in rugby let alone football. After the resulting melee filled with pushing and shoving on all sides the referee booked Duffy, then booked Brazel ostensibly for being fouled, or perhaps for his incredulousness about how Duffy was still somehow on the field of play. To add insult to injury the referee had forgotten which way he was awarded the free kick and allowed Congleton to restart play.
Duffy was at the centre of things again, lashing out at Connor Comber off the ball ahead of a Bury free kick. No sanction was levied against Duffy who otherwise would surely have been dismissed. The referee appeared to be ready to take action on Comber before his assistant intervened, though again he didn’t intervene enough to do anything about the source of these issues.
On the attacking front while Bury did have chances in the second half, it was clear that the home side were growing into the match. Ben Wharton during one attack was fouled in the box and denied a second stonewall penalty in as many league matches. While Wharton does have a reputation in this league I found it incredible that he got nothing for that. At this rate Wharton isn’t going to earn a free kick from these refs unless an opponent shoots him, the only way one of his markers are ever going to get a booking is if his marker is Jack the Ripper. Wharton’s substitute Niall Cummins saw his header from a Higgins cross saved and late on Gilboy curled a shot just wide of Parton’s cross to complete Bury’s attacking output in the second half.
At the other end Peter Williams and Daniel Needham both had chances that required good saves from Jack Atkinson while former Bury AFC man Leon Arnasalam came on and caused trouble down Bury’s left wing.
In the dying minutes with Bury’s goal under siege and keeper Parton going up for a corner Bury had the chance for a breakaway. Comber had the ball on the left wing but lost the ball on the halfway line. The quickly taken throw-in caused another scramble in the Bury box and Jonathan Beaumont broke through and fired past Atkinson in the 94th minute.
In his exuberant celebrations, in which he removed his shirt, he forgot he had earlier been booked and so the referee finally sent a Bears player packing. The goal was devastating in its lateness but in all honesty was coming. Congleton deserved something from this match and while the Bury defence held out manfully it couldn’t last forever especially away at a side like this. As one fan would say post-match “Had the equaliser been in the 63rd minute we wouldn’t feel like this.”
I was a little disappointed in Comber in those last few seconds. Hindsight is 20:20 and all that but his losing the ball on the halfway line spelled disaster for the team in the dying seconds. With no Congleton player in their half, not even the goalkeeper, Comber was the most advanced player on the pitch closely followed by his marker. He wanted to keep the ball in play and run it closer so he could have a good chance at scoring again or maybe he planned to run the ball into the corner. I think if he could have had the moment back again he should have just booted the ball up field. Try a goal from the halfway line, if it goes in Bury have won, if it goes anywhere else a Congleton player would have to sprint half the length of the pitch to retrieve the ball and then either boot it long and hope or cover half the length of the pitch to bring it back again. There really wasn’t time for them to do that so any punt forward was likely to win the match for Bury. In the end the loss of possession for a throw-in meant the ball being flung back into a disorganised and still resetting Bury backline that needed just a few seconds more to prepare. Such are the margins in football, those seconds never came and Bury missed out on two hard-earned points.
Bury had one last chance from a free kick but Parton easily claimed it and both sides settled for a point. With Congleton having the best home record in the division a point here was well-earned but due to the late goal conceded, it felt like two points dropped.
I slowly trudged my way back to the exit. Bury would have to come back and do this all over again in a winner takes all battle in the FA Vase. The unbeaten run continues but the recent record of seven wins in a row in all competitions had come to an end. Fighting a war on two fronts I hard especially with so many battles coming in thick and fast but with the long exile from the Neuven over at least it will be a little easier to get to the matches. I made my way back to the Silver Shark and quietly headed for home.
To catch up with any of James’ blogs from last season’s championship-winning run and away games so far from this season, you can head to the ‘Fear and Loathing’ website HERE.
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