Bostik North Bury Town 0 Bowers & Pitsea 0 Bury Town were looking for a win at Ram Meadow following their mid-week defeat at leaders Dereham, but were hugely frustrated by an Essex side that came for a point, writes John Campany.
This Bostik North league match started well and the first half was entertaining, but a disappointing second 45 minutes lacked guile and sufficient inventiveness from the home side, whilst the visitors were intent on playing on the break, without really threatening the Suffolk side.
Bury boss Ben Chenery said: “We totally dominated possession and we should have won as we outplayed our opponents with our effort and high intensity.
“However we lacked a cutting edge in the final third and the mid week injury to Darren Mills was a significant loss to us”.
“Had this been a boxing match the contest would have been stopped at the half way point, but in the final analysis I was pleased with the clean sheet.”
The 279 spectators had plenty of optimism as the hosts started brightly with both Tevan Allen and Ollie Hughes testing Callum Chafer with powerful shots. The visitors were under heavy pressure as Ollie Fenn and Hughes headed over.
Bury then contrived to miss opportunities when Noel Aitkens released Ryan Jolland who fired over and then leading scorer Cemal Ramadan blasted a difficult chance well over from close in.
The visitors’ first shot in anger came after 25 minutes through Tony Stokes followed by a Johny Ashman effort straight at Luis Tibbles.
The half finished with further chances squandered by the home side, notably Ramadan who missed his kick in front of goal following creative work by Aitkens.
Bury recommenced on the offensive but Ramadan fired over, whilst skipper Barber’s free kick from the wide right went narrowly beyond the far post.
The game became increasingly scrappy, but Bury continued to control and dominate and Allen had a fine shot blocked.
Jolland sent a decent strike across the face of the goal, but Chafer palmed away and from the resultant corner Jolland struck a rasping shot from 22 yards that Chafer held at the second attempt.
Bowers & Pitsea made a late attempt to steal the points, but Fenn denied Lewis Manor’s shot in front of goal with a superb intervention to avoid a travesty of justice.
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