BURY PREVIEW
Last weekend, we were throwing Black Puddings at a pile of Yorkshire ones in the World Famous Championship. On Tuesday night, it’s the Black Pudding Derby for a second successive season as Bury make the short trip to the HWRS.
MATCH: Ramsbottom United vs Bury
VENUE: Harry Williams Riverside Stadium, Ramsbottom, BL0 0BS
COMPETITION: North West Counties Premier Division
DATE: Tuesday 17th September 2024
KICK-OFF: 7:45pm
ADMISSION: PRE-PURCHASED TICKETS ONLY
OVERVIEW:
It is, most definitely, the fixture that stands out on the list when it is released. The second coming of Bury FC, our local rivals and formerly the team that everyone followed when they played in the Football League, now returning to the HWRS for a second season in Step 5.
It will be a sell out under the HWRS lights and an atmosphere like no other at our level as the Shakers, new and old, might just be catching the bus up the Walmersley Road.
Bury are the only unbeaten side in the division and find themselves just outside of the play-off places with six wins and three draws from the nine games to date and have slotted 30 goals, the second most in the division.
Meanwhile, the Rams regained top spot after a few days hiatus following a six-shooting showing at Burscough on Saturday – the leading goal scorers in the division are now Steve Wilkes’ side with 35 in the bank and 26 points collected, one clear of Lower Breck and Chadderton. Yes, those below do have games in hand – Bury have four for instance – but the early season optimism that took a slight dint, has been restored.
The Shakers head to the HWRS on the back of a fine FA Cup win at NPL Premier side Blyth Spartans on Saturday, maintaining their 100% unbeaten start to the season whilst also conceding very few goals – just six in their last 10 games. They came within an ace of losing their 100% unbeaten record a week Saturday ago over the Irish Sea as they had to rely upon a 97th minute equaliser to stave off their first defeat. And a few familiar faces in the Bury ranks as well with Reuben Jerome and Iyrwah Gooden in the white shirts.
It’s top against sixth – with local bragging rights up for grabs. What an occasion this could be!
HISTORY:
The Rams and this incarnation of Bury FC met three times last season with two draws and one victory for the Shakers.
The league meeting in April finished in an uninspiring 0-0 draw (Harvey Hayhurst in action pictured above) while the reverse fixture on the mud heap that was the pitch at Gigg Lane went the way of the hosts 2-1 despite a grandstand finish from the Rams with Matthew Birchall scoring a late goal which made things interesting.
We also met in the League Cup which closed 2-2 but Bury went on to the next round 6-5 on penalties.
STEVE WILKES’ THOUGHTS:
“Football is a funny game, as people say and, we’ve missed plenty of chances in the last few games and before we scored on Saturday, Burscough have also missed a couple of great chances so the game could have been different.
“The pleasing thing for me, as a manager, is how ruthless we were, especially in the first half and then how professional we were in the second.
“It was definitely a good pick up ahead of Tuesday’s game with Bury, which will be a great occasion at the HWRS.”
