Oxford United 1 vs Bury 1
EXCLUSIVE
VIDEO CLIP OF THE GOALS (5 mins download)
Oxford United 1 Bury 1
=========================
Saturday 13th November 1999
=========================
A game of two halves at the untidy Manor Ground stadium saw ten-man Bury leave the cosmopolitan university city with a point, after Ian Lawson cancelled out James Lambert's early opener for the home side, with only ten minutes left to play. The Shakers' fate looked to have been sealed when Andy Preece was mysteriously booked and then sent off soon afterwards on 65 minutes. After only seven minutes Paul Lambert had put Oxford in the lead, only for Bury's leading marksman to fire home the equaliser.
The ten-goal man wasted an early opportunity when the ball became entangled at his feet when through on goal, but it was Oxford who had the first clear cut chance of the game. Derek Lilley, sliding in at the back post, was dangerously close to making contact with an accurate cross after Chris Billy also missed with a desperate lunge. Lilley, the former Bury loan striker, would miss another first half opening, harmlessly firing wide after fast approach play from the home team.
Much of the Oxford pressure would originate from the flanks, with pacy Rob Folland asking many questions of defender Paul Williams, which, even in the nerve centre of English academia, he could not find satisfactory answers to. Bury goalkeeper Patrick Kenny did pass his examination with flying colours however, once again a strong 'man of the match' contender. He would later deny United with an excellent acrobatic stop to keep Bury in the game. The young custodian coped admirably with all that Oxford could throw at him in terms of crosses with a slippery ball on a greasy surface, but was left dumbfounded by Paul Lambert as he drilled the U's ahead after seven minutes.
United again exploited their right wing supremacy to force a corner. The Bury defence failed to clear the ensueing set-piece convincingly, and Paul LAMBERT shaped well before lashing home a powerful volley. Shakers' manager Neil Warnock altered the side after only 20 minutes. Midfielder Paul Reid left the game and his former Oldham Athletic teammate, dropped centre back Steve Redmond was introduced to the action. His first major contribution to the game sent Kenny sprawling down to his left to block a mis-directed header, but he almost grabbed an unlikely equaliser with a looping long range effort at the other end of the field.
Adrian Littlejohn came off the bench during the interval and, in an attempt to gain some width, slotted into the left hand side of the midfield. He first tasted the action after 50 minutes but his run into the area was abruptly ended by poor control. Littlejohn provided an important link between the defence and attack, and his explosive pace almost drew the Shakers level on numerous occasions. Andy Woodward though recorded the most promising chance for the rejuvenated Shakers. His shot from the edge of the eighteen yard box had Oxford's Paul Lundin struggling, but the pony-tailed 'keeper kept the ball out of the net in awkward fashion.
Just after the hour mark, Bury targetman Andy Preece received his marching orders form referee S.G. Tomlin. The man in black had consulted for a long period with his assistant before showing Preece the yellow card for an 'off the ball' incident, but was in no doubt seconds later following a reckless, lunging tackle deep in the Oxford half, and flourished the red card. Preece also did his chances of a light punishment little good whilst leaving the field, blasting the ball over the stand in frustration.
Luckily for Bury, the reduction to ten men coincided with their best spell of the match. Bhaichung Bhutia made yet another substitute appearance as the Shakers hauled themselves back into the game. Bhutia made numerous runs into the Oxford half and, as he became acclimatised to the pace of the game, looked an assured player. His bobbling shot almost won the game for the Shakers, but it was Ian LAWSON who rocked United with the equaliser. He found space in the penalty area and slammed home his tenth goal of the season to send the 167 travelling Shakers wild with delight, and relief. Only fifteen minutes earlier, the Cuckoo Lane Terrace, Headington, on a cold, damp, autumnal evening had been a very miserable place to be.
STATISTICS
==========
The attendance at the evening's game was 4,318. The England v Scotland International had had limited effect on the home contingent, but a combination of the late kick-off and Tuesday night's dire performance against Tamworth decimated the away following.
Bury lined up as follows: Kenny, Woodward, Swailes, Williams, Billy, Reid, Daws, Bullock, Preece, Lawson and James. Andy Preece was sent off.
On the bench were: Bhutia, Danny Swailes, Redmond, Barrick and Littlejohn. Redmond replaced Reid, Littlejohn replaced Williams and Bhutia replaced James.
Goal Flash: LAMBERT (7mins) (Turned and fired home after indecisive defending
Goal Flash: LAWSON (80 mins) (Lashed the equaliser past Lundin from close range)
Bury now occupy eleventh position with 23 points.
Oxford are in 18th position with 16 points.
Report from Ben Walker
---
Following their dire performance against non league opposition in midweek, the last thing Bury needed was for Oxford United to take an early lead; however James Lambert scored at the second attempt after 9 minutes and really could have had several more in a first half which rarely saw the Shakers take the game to the lowly opposition. Lambert and Bury old boy Derek Lilley, who ironically scored the winner for the Shakers in this fixture last season, missed easy chances which would surely have sealed the points for the struggling home side.
Supplied by Paul Forrest
---
The Shakers picked up their fifth away draw of the season after earning a useful 1-1 draw against Oxford United at the Manor Ground.
The home side was looking to extend an impressive unbeaten run under caretaker boss Micky Lewis and they looked likely to do so after largely dominating proceedings during the opening 45 minutes and taking an early lead.
United went ahead in the tenth minute, when Jamie Lambert put them ahead. It came following a Joey Beauchamp corner, when centre half Whelan misjudged his near post header, but the ball fell kindly for Lambert. He pounced on the loose ball, turning well before sending a shot past Pat Kenny. Bury were also forced to substitute Paul Reid for Steve Redmond after just 20 minutes, when Reid picked up a knock.
Bury rode their luck somewhat during the first period and should perhaps have been losing by more than just one goal as the half-time whistle approached, but the Shakers appeared to be in a much more determined mood as they kicked off for the second half.
It was Bury who largely dominated the game during the second half and created a couple of good goalscoring chances that went begging. Then things looked bleak for Bury when Andy Preece got himself booked in the 64th minute for an off the ball incident involving defender Mark Watson and just a minute later picked up a second yellow card when he put in a dreadful challenge on McGowan. The referee had no option but to send Preece from the field of play and he therefore became the club's first dismissal of the current season. He will therefore now be required to serve a one match ban that will see him miss the forthcoming home game against Wigan Athletic on 23rd November.
Far from knocking the stuffing out of the Shakers though, Preece's misdemeanour acted to spur Bury on and they maintained the pressure. They duly punished Oxford for failing to press home their first half advantage by grabbing an equaliser ten minutes from time, Ian Lawson grabbing his tenth goal of the season , banging in a shot from a great left wing cross from Adrian Littlejohn.
Manager Warnock later confirmed that Preece had apologised to his team-mates for getting himself sent off and letting the team down.
The point is most certainly a welcome addition to the club's points total and means that the Shakers are in eleventh position, having lost just three of their nine away games so far. If only one or two of those five draws could have been transformed into three points, then Bury would now be sat happily amongst the promotion contenders instead of occupying a mid-table placing. With successive home games against unbeaten leaders Wigan and fierce local rivals Preston next on the menu, the Shakers will really have their pedigree tested over the next few weeks.
Report from the Official Site www.buryfc.co.uk
Oxford United vs Bury
Supplied by Paul Forrest