Bury 0 vs Wrexham 2
Click here for taped post match interviews with Barras, Preece, Avdiu and Wrexham manger Flynn
Bury 0 Wrexham 2
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Saturday 15th January 2000
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Bury crashed to a poor defeat at Gigg Lane, as lowly Wrexham
stole all three points, and the Shakers were left to rue their
shot-shy approach to a game they should have easily won. After an
excellent first half performance, including impressive
contributions from midfielders Paul Reid and suprise selection
Kemajl Avdiu, Andy Preece's team saw defensive lapses cost them
dear both just prior to the half-time whistle and again with just
over a quarter of an hour remaining. Sam Collins, the stocky
Shakers centre-half was back in the side after a long period out
through injury, but he soured an otherwise solid performance with
an error after 74 minutes, which allowed Wrexham's Neil ROBERTS
to seal all three points for the Welshmen. Following another
ineffective Bury attack, Wrexham countered down the middle and
Roberts was released into the area. Collins hesitated, seemingly
anticipating movement from goalkeeper Patrick Kenny, and the in-form
hotshot took full advantage with a powerful shot into the far
corner of the net. Craig Faulconbridge had only minutes earlier
hit a shot across the face of the goal, after beating Steve
Redmond, which Roberts failed to react to in time to slide the
ball home. Bury had undeservedly fallen behind after 44 minutes,
when Neil ROBERTS had bagged his first of the afternoon,
finishing from the edge of the area. Following a rare Wrexham
corner, Roberts had utilised close control and showed great
determination to outfox a handful of Bury defenders. Without a
serious challenge to contend with, he subsequently despatched the
ball home to shatter the Shakers, whose confidence had previously
been bhouyed by some quality attacking play throughout the first
half. Andy Preece's free header and Martyn Forrest's dribble into
the area had produced little when, after 11 minutes, Preece's
cross was firstly half-blocked by sprawling Wrexham goalkeeper
Kevin Dearden, and the subsequent rebound was then swept away
from the toe of Adrian Littlejohn by a defender, before he could
unleash a shot and net a certain goal. The Shakers piled on the
pressure, as Andy Preece fired a free kick over the bar and Steve
Redmond eluded the attentions of the Wrexham back line to slide
in at the back post before his misdirected shot found only the
Manchester Road End. Karl Connelly had previously raced clear
after 11 minutes but his shot also nestled unsatisfactorily in
the stand behind the goal. Bury, without suspended Chris Swailes
and Andy Woodward and with Ian Lawson and Darren Bullock only
crediting places on the substitutes bench, delighted the Gigg
Lane crowd of 3,622 with a patient passing move in the 19th
minute. Matt Barrass' flick into the path of a teammate drew
special applause as, despite the build-up ending in nondescript
fashion, the Shakers demonstrated the supposed reforms in playing
style that have coincided with the appointments of Andy Preece
and Steve Redmond as long-term caretaker managers. Kemajl Avdiu
powered an off-balance shot into the arms of Kevin Dearden and
then Paul Reid flashed a free-kick just wide of the post in the
20th and 27th minutes. Dearden would also ride his luck
considerably, as his poor clearance from a backpass firstly
disected the two onrushing Bury players and then found a red
shirt. In the 38th minute, Adrian Littlejohn's pinpoint cross
after a long sprint down the right flank would be met by the
diving Paul Reid's newly shaven head, but Dearden was grateful to
see the ball planted straight into his arms, as the still
unrewarded Shakers looked to be cruising comfortably. Neil
Roberts' goal would knock the stuffing out of the home side after
44 minutes of almost uninterrupted Bury pressure, and a dire
second half performance from the Shakers was punished accordingly
after Collins' mistake.
Attendance
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3,622
Line-up
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Patrick Kenny, Paul Williams, Nick Daws, Sam Collins, Paul Reid,
Kemajl Avdiu, Steve Redmond, Andy Preece, Martyn Forrest, Adrian
Littlejohn, Matt Barrass.
Substitutes
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Chris Billy, Darren Bullock (replaced Nick Daws), Paul Barnes (replaced
Andy Preece), Lutel James, Danny Swailes.
Positions
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Bury are down to 15th place with 31 points and two games in hand
on the surrounding sides. Wrexham have 25 points from as many
games and are in 19th position.
Report supplied by Ben Walker
Bury vs Wrexham
Bury entertain struggling Wrexham in what seems like their first match in ages, but will have to do without flu victims Darren Bullock, Chris Swailes, Chris Billy and Lutel James. Though the dependable Andy Woodward has recovered from the virus, he has lost over a stone in weight and cannot be considered match fit. Big centre half Sam Collins however, after a long lay off, has played several games in the reserves and may well come back into contention and replace Swailes in defence. Forwards Paul Barnes, Ian Lawson and Baichung Bhutia have all shaken off their knocks and though manager Andy Preece is spoiled for choice in the striker department, it is likely that the boss himself and Adrian Littlejohn will start in the much more attractive 4-4-2 formation which Preece has adopted. Impressive youngsters Martyn Forrest and Matty Barrass are likely to keep their places and the Shakers will be looking to continue to play the good football which has emerged under the caretaker player managers Preece and Steve Redmond. squad Kenny Barrass Redmond Collins Williams Daws Forrest Reid D Swailes Preece Littlejohn Barnes Bhutia Avdiu Barrick
Supplied by Paul Forrest