A goalfest encounter between Bury Town Bisons and West Suffolk Wolves delivered 11 goals, with Bisons winning 8-3 to respond to two big defeats to Bedfield with a crucial three points.
By the time fifteen minutes had passed, Bisons quickly overturned a 35th second Wolves opening goal to lead 5-1 in an explosive start to the game, after which the goals dried up at both ends until towards the end of the second half.
Wolves quickly broke the deadlock as Reon Huckvale found space free in the box to jink closer to goal before finishing well, smashing home into the bottom left-hand corner, 1-0 Wolves.
Ollie Ward then found space to shoot, only to fire just wide of the bottom left-hand corner after 2 minutes, while Bisons equalised two minutes later. A right wing delivery found Joe Hogg unmarked at the far post who simply tapped home first time into the bottom left-hand corner, 1-1.
In quickfire fashion, Bisons quickly took the lead on 6 minutes, before striking a further 3 more times in the following nine munutes to establish some breathing space in the game. A sumptuous right wing cross found Jack Wass unmarked at the near post to head home from close range for his first Bisons goal, 2-1 Bisons.
A cracking strike from Charlie Cook then extended Bisons' lead to 3-1 on 8 minutes, the midfielder eploited space well before rifling home a volley from outside the box into the roof of the net.
Jack Stone then blazed over a shot from 30-yards out a minute later, while the pulsating flow of goals continued in the 12th minute as captain Jordi Asker added his name to the scoresheet. The ball fell to Joe Hogg in space on the edge of the box whose shot on target towards the bottom left-hand corner was turned home into the near corner by the sliding Asker from close range, 4-1 Bisons.
Bisons quickly added a fifth 3 minutes later, as Charlie Cook's right wing free-kick dfound Kalum Benham unmarked in the centre to guide a great header home into the bottom right-hand corner.
Benham however shot wide with just the keeper to beat on 17 minutes, while Oli Selfe was denied by a great save from the goalkeeper on 27 minutes. The striker found space to shoot from 30-yards out, on the right-hand side, but his audacious strike with the outside of his right foot was held by the well placed goalkeeper at his top near corner.
Wolves however reduced the deficit to 5-2 a minute later as Kaine Fryer was set through on goal following a great defence splitting pass before finishing smartly into the bottom left-hand corner.
Bisons almost restored their 4 goal advantage on 39 minutes, albeit Kalum Benham shot just wide of the bottom near, right-hand, corner from point blank range, while Wolves broke smartly down the right wing where a great cross in found Fryer in acres of sapce from close range but headed the golden chance just wide of the bottom left-hand corner on 42 minutes.
Wolves again went close two minutes into first half stoppage time, but headed a great right wing free-kick just wide of the far corner unmarked from close range.
Bisons however started the second half on the front foot with the home side going close just 40 seconds after the restart, Jordi Asker was set through smartly onto the right-hand side of the box but saw his good strike from a tight angle shovelled behind by the keeper down well at his near post.
The woodwork meanwhile thwarted a sixth Bisons goal on 52 minutes, great play saw Kalum Benham latch onto a great through-ball to in turn release Owen Walton-Ross racign through one on one with the keeper, whose shto bounced back into play off the inside of the top right-hand post.
Miles Holt then leapt highest to connect with a left wing ball into the box, two minutes later, only for his free header to go off target of the left-hand upright.
A well worked move from Bisons again saw the home side go close to adding to their advantage on 57 minutes, a great crossfield ball from Joe Hogg picked out Joe Bentley, out on the right wing, who in turn launched a great ball forward to Tommy Younge. Younge then picked out the unmarked Jack Wass at the far post, although the latter's header low across goal was gathered by the keeper.
Down the other end five minutes later, a clever through-ball from Callum Steed picked out Ollie Ward out onto the right wing, whose cross into Fryer forced a smart near post save from Stobbart from point blank range, while Stobbart almost provided the assist for what would've been a sixth goal for the home side in the 64th minute.
The Bisons' keeper lofted a great free-kick, from just inside his own half, up to striker Benham whose point blank range header was smothered behind by Wolves 'keeper Ryan Pettit at his near post.
Steed, on the other hand, saw a low shot from outside the box held comfortably by Dan Stobbart on 65 minutes, before the Bisons shot-stopper advanced off his line well to smother Hockvale's shot from inside the box four minutes later.
Wolves then looked to get themselves a bigger foothold back in the contest on 72 minutes, as a left wing corner found Dyer in acres of space to head home cleverly into the top right-hand corner to reduce the deficit to 5-3.
The goal however had an adverse effect, as Bisons went on to strike 3 further times in the remaining 14 minutes to extend their lead to 8-3, with their sixth goal arriving just 4 minutes after Wolves had moved within two goals of an equaliser - as a right wing cross saw Oli Selfe's header bounce off the knee of Borley and into the bottom left-hand corner to make it 6-3 to Bisons.
Wolves looked to respond to going 3 goals behind once again with a great chance on 79 minutes, but Huckvale's diving header from a great left wing free-kick went wide of the far post.
Bisons then made sure of the points with 2 great strikes in as many minutes to wrap up an 8-3 victory. A thunderous drop-kick from Dan Stobbart was launched over the top to Kalum Benham, who turned his defender to break through on goal and fire a great first time volley into the roof of the net for his second of the game, 7-3 after 88 minutes.
Charlie Cook picked up a brace of his own in style soon after, firing a 30-yard piledriver into the roof of the net to round off the scoring in an 11 goal thriller.
Bisons: 1 Dan Stobbart, 7 Jordi Asker (c) (56' Cook), 33 Oli Selfe (33' Trantner), 10 Kalum Benham (53' Wass), 77 Owen Walton-Ross (63' Benham), 22 Will Stobbart (72' Asker), 15 Charlie Cook (HT' J.Bentley), 11 Jack Wass (23' Younge), 16 Joe Hogg (86' Walton-Ross), 3 Jack Stone (29' Holt), 5 Connor Lewis (34' Newdick). subs: 2 Kyle Trautner (72' Stone), 4 Joe Bentley, 27 Reece Newdick, 8 Tommy Younge (71' Selfe), 6 Miles Holt,
West Suffolk Wolves:- 22 Ryan Pettit (GK), 12 Kian Rodgers, 18 Liam Borley, 2 Harry Wager, 16 Kai Ivory, 19 Ben Lyddiatt, 7 Clayton Dyer, 8 Callum Steed (c), 10 Ollie Ward, 14 Kaine Fryer, 9 Reon Hockvale. Subs: 4 Jono Boughton, 11 Alex Brunton, 20 Alex Smith.
Sin Binned: Steed (50')
Booked: Walton-Ross (59'), Fryer (75'), Benham (75'), Newdick (79'), Asker (84'), Selfe (90'+4'),
Goals: Joe Hogg (4'), Jack Wass (6'), Charlie Cook (8', 90'), Jordi Asker (12'), Kalum Benham (15', 88'), Liam Borley (76'og); Wolves 9 Reon Hockvale (1'), Wolves14 Kaine Fryer (28'), Clayton Dyer (72').
Goal log: Wolves 1-0 Reon Hockvale (1'), 1-1 Joe Hogg (4'), 2-1 Bisons Jack Wass (6'), 3-1 Bisons Charlie Cook (8'), 4-1 Bisons Jordi Asker (12'), 5-1 bisons Kalum Benham (15'), 5-2 Kaine Fryer (28'), 5-3 Clayton Dyer (72'), 6-3 Bisons Liam Borley (76'og), 7-3 Bisons Kalum Benham (88'), 8-3 Bisons Charlie Cook (90').
BURY TOWN BISONS V STOKE BY CLARE | 08.10.2023 | Hardwick Heath Pitch 3 | Premier Logos Bury District Sunday Football League Division Two |
BENHAM HAT-TRICK AND SELFE LOB EARNS BISONS A SECOND STRAIGHT WIN
Bury Town Bisons record a 4-2 victory over Stoke By Clare courtesy of a Kalum Benham hat-trick and a stunning lob from Oli Selfe.
In truth Bisons created plenty of chances, however the Blues weren't quite clinical enough except for Kalum Benham's hat-trick and Oli Selfe's fine second half finish.
Bisons though opened the scoring with a smart move on 11 minutes, a long ball released Oli Selfe one on one on the right-hand side of the box whose great shot was palmed away as far as Kalum Benham to tap home into the vacant bottom left-hand corner from point blank range, 1-0 Bisons.
The home side almost added a quick second goal on 14 minutes, but Jack Stone's great ball into the danger area, following a good run down the right wing, just evaded Benham at the far post.
Stone then almost added to Bisons' lead himself five minutes later, a great through-ball fed the defender into acres of space down the right wing before ghosting into the box and firing his shot past the onrushing goalkeeper but narrowly wide of the bottom far corner.
At the other end a good save from Dan Stobbart denied Scroggie from drawing the away side level after 20 minutes, reacting well to beat behind a great strike from distance that looked to dip into the goalkeeper's bottom right-hand corner.
Bisons then fired a shot wide of the bottom far, right-hand, corner on 22 minutes, before going agonisingly close to doubling their lead two minutes later. A great defence splitting pass threaded Charlie Cook racing through into space before whipping a great left wing cross to Oli Selfe, at the far post, whose unmarked towering header went just over the bar.
Selfe had a good chance to double his side's lead on 26 minutes, the striker retained possession well but snatched at his shot, firing narrowly wide of the bottom left-hand corner from 30-yards out.
Bisons arguably should've been further in front, but couldn't make their chances count as a great low through-ball slotted Jack Stone into space on the right wing whose initial shot was well smothered by the advancing keeper, while his second effort went just wide off the outside base of the near post from point blank range on 27 minutes.
Undettered by missing chances, Bisons continued their hunt for a second goal a minute later, as a neat backheel from Selfe won back possession brilliantly out on the left wing, also finding Cook in the process who drove past 2 defenders to break onto the edge of the box where the midfielder's shot was comfortably held by the goalkeeper at his bottom right-hand corner.
Goalscorer Benham looked to turn provider on 33 minutes, as the forward picked out Selfe with a great left wing cross, albeit the latter's free header from close range went just wide.
Kieran Woodley almost pounced on Bisons' missed chances a minute later, but saw his curling free-kick from distance comfortably caught by Dan Stobbart.
Bisons finally made their chances count as they doubled their advantage on 35 minutes, a great left wing cross from Charlie Cook found Kalum Benham arriving unmarked at the far post to head home into the roof of the net from close range, 2-0 Bisons.
Benham meanwhile went close to picking up a hat-trick a minute later, the striker weaved into space smartly from 25-yards out but fired his shot just wide of the bottom left-hand corner.
Captain Jordi Asker then tried his luck at goal on 39 minutes, but fired his 30-yard strike straight at the goalkeeper, while a good move from Bisons saw Cook find Benham, who in turn fed Dan Williams out on the right wing, the defender then whipped the ball into Selfe whose close range header went over the bar a minute later.
The away side however halved the deficit three minutes before the interval after Cameron Larkin saw a shot from the left-hand side of the box strike the crossbar, falling to Kieran Woodley whose powerful shot was deflected in off Joe Hogg, as Bisons led 2-1 at the interval.
Bisons started the second half brightly and went close to restoring their 2 goal lead on 49 minutes, Charlie Cook's right wing corner whipped towards the far post found Kalum Benham unmarked, whose close range header went just off target.
Two minutes later, Benham tried his luck at completing his hat-trick once more, the forward broke into space well on the left-hand side of the box only for his good strike to be deflected behind the near post by Scroggie for a corner.
Despite a lack of luck, or clinical touch in front of goal, Bisons remained on top and went close to restoring their 2 goal lead on 57 minutes. After Will Stobbart found Charlie Cook in space on the right-hand edge of the box, the midfielder curled a great strike to Benham att the far post, whose free header went agonisingly wide of the bottom right-hand corner.
Kieran Woodley on the other hand saw a low shot towards the bottom left-hand corner comfortably held by Stobbart a minute later, while Bisons made it 3-1 on 59 minutes. A great driving run from Dan Williams saw the defender cut inside before finding Kalum Benham on the left-hand edge of the box to complete his hat-trick by thumping a sumptuous strike into the top left-hand corner.
Bisons soon had a great chance to add a fourth goal, when they were awarded a penalty on 61 minutes after a foul on Jack Wass, but Oli Selfe's low penalty towards the right-hand side was too close to the legs of the diving keeper to keep out the spot-kick a minute later.
Dan Stobbart was on hand to then comfortably hold onto a Stoke shot on 63 minutes, while Jack Wass saw a low powerful strike from the left-hand edge of the box, towards the bottom near corner, shovelled away by goalkeeper Sean Gage seconds later.
Bisons though went close to adding a fourth goal on 66 minutes, a great long ball over the top by Dan Stobbart saw Charlie Cook pounce on the ball with just the onrushing goalkeeper to beat, but for his 35-yard lobbed effort to go just over the crossbar.
Bisons though did add a fourth goal a minute later, Oli Selfe adding his name to the scoresheet in stunning style, after spotting the goalkeeper slightly off his line from the left-hand edge of the box and chipping home audaciously into the bottom far corner, 4-1 Bisons.
Jack Wass then saw a shot blocked, while Charlie Cook was denied by a good save by Gage on 69 minutes as Bisons looked to extend their lead.
But it was Stoke who rounded off the scoring on 70 minutes, as Kieran Woodley fired home his second goal to reduce Bisons' advantage to 4-2.
Despite that being the end of the goalscoring, that wasn't the end of the chances, as Jack Wass went close to adding a fifth goal for Bisons two minutes later, albeit his ferocious shot from outside the box went just wide of the top right-hand, far, corner, while Owen Walton-Ross' low free-kick from the edge of the box was saved as far as Will Stobbart who could only divert the ball over from close range.
Bisons then flashed a shot just off target of the far, left-hand, post on 77 minutes, before Dan Williams surged forward and found Oli Selfe on the edge of the box, though the latter shot over the crossbar five minutes later.
Jack Wass however picked out Cook with an audacious right wing cross to the far post, but for the midfielder to head just over after 84 minutes.
Kieran Woodley almost picked up a hat-trick for Stoke a minute later, but fired his shot on the turn, from inside the box, just wide of the bottom left-hand, near, corner.
Charlie Cook meanwhile hit a ferocious shot from outside the box narrowly wide moments later, before Bisons almost rubber stamped all 3 points on 87 minutes. Williams' great run down the right wing, after latching onto Conor Lewis' through-ball, saw the former return the favour with a great low cross in but for Lewis to sidefoot agonisingly wide of the bottom left-hand corner.
Stoke though almost reduced the deficit on the stroke of stoppage time, as Elliott Lacey's shot from the edge of the box went just over the top left-hand corner, as Bisons saw out a 4-2 victory.
Bisons:- 1 Dan Stobbart, 2 Kyle Trautner, 16 Joe Hogg, 6 OwenWalton-Ross (HT' Selfe), 3 Jack Stone (36' Williams, 7 Jordan Asker (c), 22 Will Stobbart, 5 Connor Lewis (HT' Wass), 15 Charlie Cook, 77 Oli Selfe (40' Newdick), 10 Kalum Benham. Subs: 11 Jack Wass, 9 Dan Williams, 27 Reece Newdick. 64' Hogg, Kalum off, Owen, Lewis on. 71' Kyle off Stone on. 82' Selfe off Kalum on.
Stoke By Clare:- 1 Sean Gage, 2 Craig Davis, 3 Ed Smith (c), 4 Max Lawrence, 5 Olly Scroggie, 6 Glen Barnes, 7 Cameron Larkin, 8 Elliott Lacey, 9 Kieran Woodley, 10 Ryan Smithson, 11 Dylan Woodley. Subs: 12 Stuart Coe, 14 Matt Hoadley, 15 Darren Scroggie.
Goals: Kalum Benham (11', 35', 59'), Oli Selfe (67'); Kieran Woodley (42', 70').
Assists: Charlie Cook (35'), Dan Williams (59')
Goal log: 1-0 Bisons: Kalum Benham (11'), 2-0 Bisons: Kalum Benham (35'), 2-1: Kieran Woodley (42'), 3-1 Bisons: Kalum Benham (59'), 4-1 Bisons: Oli Selfe (67'), 4-2: Kieran Woodley (70'),
