Shakers 1 Bantams 0

Our mediocre run continues, and for the first time this season we find ourselves outside of the playoff places. The game was a throwback to dark times, for some unfathomable reason we resorted to the log ball game almost from the off. The pairing of Jones with Conlon upfront was baffling to say the least, they spent much of the game chasing the same ball. Out wide Daley was played on the wrong flank, and Law was played wide right, a strange decision considering his recent from in the middle. But what was the point of the midfield? Clarke, Lee, Arniston and Rehman treat the ball like a hand grenade and pumped it aimlessly skyward all evening. I have read on the message boards of the local newspaper everybody slagging of McLaren and Daley, but the ball bypassed them time and again. Even more worrying is the total lack of cohesion at set plays. What do they get up to on the training pitch? I know McCall is a bit green as a manger, but with the business end of the season fast approaching, now is not the time to be experimenting with formation and personnel. We didn't look to have any kind of idea upfront till the introduction of Boulding, after we had gone a goal down, and there was only 10 minutes remaining. Is it a coincidence that at was in this period of time we created our best chances? I am not one who is going to call for McCall to be sacked, at this juncture of the season it would ridiculous, but he needs to start exercising some common sense. Wingers as strikers? Your best central midfielder on the right? Two proven goal scorers on the bench? Strange choices.

As for Bury, they play nice little triangles, but lack any cutting edge. We fell into the trap of playing exactly the way they wanted us to, and their two Leviathan centre halves won everything in the air. A workman like team such as these should not be looking down the table from the comfort of four point cushion. We need to start stringing some results together ASAP, and wasting our best players by adopting the big hoof upfront is not the way to achieve this.

Baz Watch- Noit good I am afraid. Everything our smooth headed Gaelic forward touched turned to mush. He had at least three gilt edged chances, and spurned the lot. What made it worse is the fact all missed the target. His gargantuan marker had him pretty much in his pocket all night. As usual he will bare the brunt of the supporters blame, but to single either himself or Daley for special attention seems a tad harsh considering the performance of the whole team. I fear the substitutes bench beckons. 3/10

Pie Rating- We were deep into Lancashire, pie country, and expectations were high. At first these expectations seemed to be ill founded, at the beginning of the match they only had Cornish pasties, but by half time, fellow supporters were spotted scarfing pies, so I braved the concession stand once more. Steak or Balti was the choice, and being of the old skool (I believe this is the way you are expected to spell school when using it in this context) I plumped for the steak. Which turned out to be steak AND kidney, a fact that dismayed my travelling companion, the good Dr Shotgun, no end. We both found the pasty to be of a high standard taste and filling wise, but it was small, and a bit pricey. The steak and kidney, from my view, was excellent. Choc full of filling, the perfect serving temperature and finished off with Chop sauce (yes they also use the mighty Hammonds). Even Shotgun thought it good, although he has a loathing of Kidney, and refutes the fact that it puts hairs on your chest as an old wives fish tale. The ratings are as below.

Euro Bri;
Pasty 6/10
Steak and Kidney 8/10

Dr Shotgun;
Pasty 6.5/10
Steak and Kidney 6/10