Bury Town V Concord Rangers | 28.12.2024 | Pitching In Isthmian North Division | Getaway Cars Ram Meadow Stadium |

BLUES REMAIN THREE POINTS BEHIND LEADERS FELIXSTOWE ENDING 2024 WITH HOME VICTORY

Bury Town go into 2025 a win and a game behind the leaders after a entertaining 3-2 home victory against Concord Rangers in the Pitching In Isthmian North Division. 

The visitors have endured a mixed season after successive relegations, with today's result leaving them in 14th, eight points above the relegation zone. 

Cole Skuse's side however sit second ahead of their New Year's Day clash with Felixstowe, after arguably dominating most of the possession but went into the break a goal behind right before the whistle. The Blues weren't behind long though, equalising two minutes after the restart, before goals just after the hour mark and towards the end ultimately wrapped up the points, despite a late consolation for the away side. 

Concord though had the first chance in the second minute, Harvey Brown exploited space from 35-yards out but saw his venomous low shot comfortably held by goalkeeper Charlie Beckwith, diving low to his left-hand side. 

Harry Seaden meanwhile was equally on hand to deny the hosts in the eighth minute, Luke Brown fed Max Maughn free in space on the right wing - driving onto the right-hand edge of the box after skipping past two defenders - but saw his thunderous strike crucially tipped, crashing into play, off the face of the crossbar. 

Brown tried his kick at goal himself three minutes later, after being picked out in space on the left-hand edge of the box the striker's low shot was smashed straight at Seaden for a comfortable catch. 

Bury continued to dominate proceedings, with Max Maughn latching onto a great reverse pass by my MOTM Brown down the right hand side of the box, the former found Ollie Canfer with a smart cutback, who struck the air at close range on 24 minutes. 

Brown again caused havoc for the visiting defence, only being denied from breaking the deadlock by two superb blocks a minute later. After racing onto Canfer's sumptuous ball over the top, the forward broke through close to goal but saw his strike deflected behind by a brilliant sliding challenge at the expense of a corner. The resulting set-piece found Brown 8-yards from goal, but again saw a heroic block divert his strike towards the top left-hand corner turned behind for another corner. 

Brown then took the next notable corner, as his left wing delivery found Joe White peel away smartly at the near post, but flicked his shot wide of the near post on 38 minutes. 

The hosts would ultimately rue their missed chances at the break, albeit they wouldn't prove massively important when referee Oliver Sadd blew for full-time. 

After Tom Thulborn's 40th minute shot was smashed just wide of the top far, right-hand corner, from in space inside the box, ex-Colchester United Academy player Freddie Price hit a ruthless, yet clinical, strike low - from distance in acres of space - in off Beckwith's right-hand post to give the Essex side a half-time lead against the runn of play in the second minute of stoppage time. 

The second half was merely 26 seconds old when Town were awarded a penalty after - the match sponsor's choice of Man Of The Match - Alfie Pinyoun was hacked down by a late challenge as he broke into the box. 

Luke Brown took the responsibility of dispatching the penalty, thumping home unfazed into the bottom left-hand corner to draw his side back level, with his fifth goal of the campaign after 47 minutes. 

Brown was again involved as his left wing corner was met by captain Josh Curry's towering header, but the defender's effort glanced just agonisingly wide of the bottom far corner on 50 minutes. 

Bury continued to dominate as Max Maughn was released through eight yards from goal, down the right-hand side, but fired his low shot just wide, seemingly with a deflection, for a goal-kick. 

A late Christmas cracker from Ryan Horne meanwhile gave Bury an arguably thoroughly deserved lead in stunning style just after the hour mark, curling an exquisite shot from the right-hand edge of the box towards the top far corner, dipping fiercely past Seaden's desperate dive - for his third goal of 2024/25. 

Pinyoun then saw a tame shot well held by Seaden on 68 minutes, before Concord arguably should've restored parity five minutes later as a left wing cross on a plate was shot wide from around 6-yards out. 

Bury capitalised, this time punishing the visitors with another well taken goal, which proved to be the match-winner on 78 minutes. Ollie Canfer was released through on goal, beating the offside trap, by a great ball over the top before lashing a brilliant half-volley past the onrushing 'keeper, who did get fingertips to it, and into the bottom far, left-hand, corner, for also his fifth goal of the season. 

Lewis O' Malley looked to out the game beyond doubt on 84 minutes, but Seaden held onto his deflected shot, while substitute Cemal Ramadan lasered a shot wide from a tight angle as four added minutes were signalled. 

Concord set up a nervy final 3 minutes soon after, again with a well taken shot from distance, substitute Amine Sassi exploited space to smash an unstoppable strike into the bottom left-hand corner. 

Town did look to net a fourth goal at the death, but Ramadan's low shot at point blank range was well blocked by Seaden. 

Bury Town:- 1 Charlie Beckwith, 2 Joe White, 3 Lewis O'Malley, 4 Alfie Pinyoun, 5 Josh Curry (c) (78' Davis), 6 Ryan Horne, 7 Max Maughn, 8 Ryan Holland (86' Upson), 17 Ollie Canfer (86' Ramadan), 10 Luke Brown, 11 Tom Thulborn (78' Parr). Subs: 12 Ed Upson, 14 Theo Carter 15 Taylor Parr, 16 Mike Davis, 9 Cemal Ramadan. 

Concord Rangers:- 1 Harry Seaden, 17 Kenny Mupomba (62' Gilbey), 2 Finn Wilkes, 4 Lewis Jaggs, 5 Freddie Stanley, 6 Jamal Allen (70' Brooks), 7 Freddie Price (73' Sassi), 8 Evernage Nyahunda, 9 Thomas Stagg (83' Okafor), 18 Harvey Brown, 19 Sherquan Toussaint (84' Knott). Subs: 11 Billy Knott, 10 Amine Sassi, 12 Alfie Gilbey, 16 Connor Brooks, 29 Michael Okafor. 

Booked: CR5? Freddie Stanley? (47'), CR17 Kenny Mupomba (57'), Jamal Allen (60'), Josh Curry (62'). 

Goals: Luke Brown (47'pen), Ryan Horne (61'), Ollie Canfer (78'); Lewis Price (45'+2'), Amine Sassi (90'+1'). Att 771

Dragonfly v Bury United | 01.12.24 | Bury Sunday Division Two | Hardwick Heath |

UNITED GO SEVEN POINTS CLEAR IN BURY SUNDAY DIV 2

Bury United extended their lead at the top of the Premier Logos Bury Sunday Division Two to seven points with a 6-1 victory away to tenth placed AFC Dragonfly. 

Jimi Clayton's side though were made to work for their victory, but did start brightly before the visitors grew into the game. 

While injured player Tom Halliday enjoyed his Subway hashbrowns, protecting his drink with his life, George Corrie was fed into space on the left-hand edge of the box but chipped his shot over the keeper and just over the crossbar after 2 minutes. 

The visitors early start got better three minutes later as the division's top scorer Harry Brown broke the deadlock with his 21st goal of the season. Declan Walsh lifted a great ball over the top releasing Brown one on one with the keeper to fire home, from the right-hand edge of the box, into the bottom near corner on the volley.

The hosts though went close to a quick equaliser 5 minutes later, driving into the box to shoot, which was saved well by the feet of the onrushing Steve Fenner, though the rebound was hit over the gaping net for a goal-kick. 

Dragonfly however equalised in the 13th minute, a right wing corner fell to number 6 on the right hand edge of the box to fire a ferocious volley into the bottom near corner. 

A good save from the hosts keeper thwarted Brown from restoring United's lead two minutes later, George Corrie threaded the goalscorer one on one with the onrushing keeper who superbly blocked the low shot. 

Sam Goddard had a moment of 'headloss' on 35 minutes, receiving a yellow card for a foul on 35 minutes, before Josh Allen's superb long ball released Joe Phillips one on one onto the right hand edge of the box whose shot was importantly deflected just wide of the bottom far corner by a defender on 38 minutes. 

Allen was soon the provider for United's second goal, as Clayton's side retook the lead on 42 minutes. Allen's free kick found Walsh on the right-hand side of the box to volley an audacious volley into the net, off the inside of the far post, 2-1 in clinical fashion after Dragonfly had arguably had slightly more possession. 

Dragonfly however thought they'd equalised again on 44 minutes, but for an offside as number 7 was offside when he latched onto a through-ball before scoring. 

A superb save from Steve Fenner in the first minute of first half stoppage time preserved United's lead, tipping a header over before diving down to his bottom corner to hold onto a header from the resulting corner. 

After being clinical with their second goal, United started the second half in the same vain five minutes after the restart. 

While Jack Phillips finished his 'hangover cure,' Pepsi Max, a great left wing cross from Harvey Francis picked out Harry Brown free around 12-yards out who netted his second of the morning ruthlessly into the roof of the net. 

Dragonfly then received a sin bin before the game got back underway, which United took advantage of - netting a fourth on 56 minutes. 

Andrea Downey threaded Brown clear on goal for his hat-trick with an audacious defend splitting pass, with the latter lasering home into the bottom far corner. 

Brown almost extended the visitors' lead on 64 minutes, latching onto a long ball over the top, one on one with the keeper, his scooped half-volleyed shot beat the onrushing keeper but also the crossbar. 

Brown then, in the words of Josh Allen, picked up 'three points,' firing a shot high over the bar, before George Corrie got in on the act on 72 minutes. 

After being accused of missing last week due to being 'too upset about Needham's defeat' - according to his teammates - Corrie met a brilliant drop-kick over the top from Fenner to chip the onrushing keeper into the roof of the net, 5-1.

Fenner was again in fine form, diving across to beat a 76th minute shot over, with Jack Codd well placed on the line to clear a ferocious shot towards the bottom left-hand corner away off the line from the resulting corner. 

Fenner again denied a low powerful shot superbly down low to his bottom right-hand corner on 81 minutes, before United immediately broke down the other end and rounded off the scoring. 

Substitute Codd added to his goal-line clearance by rifling home a volley into the bottom left-hand after a good save from the keeper. 

Corrie tested the keeper again on 83 minutes, but the stopper dived down well to his bottom right-hand corner to beat the shot away. 

While Brown was undeniably the star man with his hat-trick, my MOTM goes to Declan Walsh, the defender assisted the first with a superb ball, scored the second and I don't think put a foot wrong throughout in a superb team performance from the leaders. 

United travel to Stowupland Falcons in the New Year. 

United:- 1 Steve Fenner, 15 Declan Walsh, 27 Josh Allen, 19 Ehran Steele, 2 Harvey Francis, 8 Callum Goddard, 7 Sam Goddard (c), 18 Joe Phillips, 12 Andrea Downey, 9 Harry Brown, 10 George Corrie. Subs Used: 5 Jack Phillips, 4 Jack Codd. 

Booked: Sam Goddard (35'). 

Goals: Harry Brown (5', 50', 56'), Declan Walsh (42'), George Corrie (72'), Jack Codd (82'). 

Ipswich Town V Crystal Palace 03.12.2024 PL Portman Road

TOWN SUFFER SEVENTH PREM DEFEAT TO EAGLES

Ipswich Town's search for a first home Premier League win, after returning to the top flight for the first time since 2002, continued with a disappointing 1-0 defeat to fellow strugglers Crystal Palace.

Ahead of the second straight defeat, Kieran McKenna made four changes to the Forest loss, Harry Clarke, Jacob Greaves, Wes Burns and Jack Clarke starting in place of Axel Tuanzebe, Cameron Burgess, Conor Chaplin and Sam Szmodics. The latter two started on the bench, with Ben Johnson and Man City loanee Kalvin Phillips back from injury amongst the substitutes. 

Oliver Glasner meanwhile made 1 change to the away side's 1-1 draw against Newcastle United with Jefferson Lerma making way for Cheick Doucoure.

Victory for Glasner's side saw the Eagles, who are into their 12th straight Premier League season, saw the visitors record their first win away from Selhurst Park, moving 3 points clear of the Blues in the process.

Town, who went into the fixture in 19th with 9 points from 13 matches, arguably started the better side but didn't trouble England goalkeeper and MOTM Dean Henderson enough, considering the amount of possession Town enjoyed in the first half.

While Palace grew into the game more towards the end of the first half, Jack Clarke caused the visitors havoc with successive corners in front of the Sir Alf Ramsay Stand, with the second from the left wing eventually seeing Omari Hutchinson's chipped 25-yard cross-shot tamely dip comfortably in Henderson's chest on 8 minutes. 

Town continued to enjoy the majority of the possession, but neither goalkeeper was tested inside the first 22 minutes with Dara O'Shea the first player cautioned.

Palace meanwhile saw a near post header directed towards goal, from a left wing corner, headed away near the goal-line, with Doucoure booked for a foul after stopping the resulting quick Town counter-attack a minute later.

Another Palace left wing corner was again met at the near post on 27 minutes, but the header went wide of the near post, before a heroic block from the home defence two minutes later denied a thunderous shot from outside the box. 

After Eberechi Eze's header was flicked on by Jean-Philippe Mateta, with Doucoure's volley from the central edge of the box deflected behind for a corner by Jacob Greaves, flinging himself in the way. 

Palace then started to find a foothold in the game, growing into proceedings more as time passed, having arrived with a game plan to frustrate Town and capitalise when possible, although their hosts still looked the more lively.

Doucoure's right wing cross into a dangerous area found ex-Town loanee Trevor Chalobah at close range, who could only head it over the crossbar on 32 minutes. 

With question marks over his conflicting performances, Aro Muric was alert to deny Eze with a great stop from close range six minutes later.

The first real effort on goal saw Eze slotted through on goal, from 25-yards out, by Mateta, although the former's shot was saved by the diving onrushing stopper. 

Tyrick Mitchell's pullback just evaded Munoz, while a brilliant last ditch tackle from Wes Burns prevented Eze from opening the scoring as Palace finished the opening half the stronger. 

Town though went close twice before the break, after a shot from 35-yards was deflected narrowly wide of the near post for a corner on 44 minutes, a Jack Clarke corner soon after forced Dean Henderson into a big save just as 3 additional minutes were signaled. 

Harry Clarke rose well to meet the left wing set-piece, but saw his near post header brilliantly turned behind by Henderson, down smartly to turn it behind, with either side going into the break disappointed to arguably not be in front. 

After the restart, the game continued to be an end to end affair, with an opening goal looking likely to be the decider - which proved to be the case. 

Town started brightly again, Omari Hutchinson found Wes Burns, the latter's cross picked out Liam Delap in space in the centre but headed straight at the well placed Henderson at his near post on 47 minutes. 

Dara O'Shea however was well placed to block Eze's ferocious low 25-yard shot behind for a corner two minutes later, before great passing at the other end saw the defender found in space to shoot from 30-yards out, only to shoot narrowly wide of the top left-hand corner on 54 minutes. 

Again, Henderson was in the right place to deny the Tractor Boys two minutes later, the ever consistent Leif Davis' sumptuous left wing free-kick was swung brilliantly to the far post, finding Wes Burns towering at the far post whose tight angled header was comfortably held by the stopper at head height. 

Will Hughes was next to be booked for crunching Jack Clarke, halting a promising attack on 58 minutes, resulting in Liam Delap retaining possession well outside the Eagles' box a minute later - albeit his low driven shot was blocked. 

Palace quickly broke up the either end and found the crucial breakthrough seconds later, arguably slightly against the run of play with their second real notable attack. 

Half-time substitute Lerma, on for the booked Doucoure, squared the ball across to Mateta, breaking into the box down the left hand side, whose smart skill earned space to shoot, drawing Muric out to audaciously chip the keeper into the far corner for his fourth league goal of the campaign.

Lerma meanwhile thundered a first time low volley comfortably wide of Muric's right hand post on 64 minutes, while McKenna responded with a triple change, introducing Chaplin, Jack Taylor and Nathan Broadhead for Burns, Cajuste (who impressed) and Jack Clarke. 

While those changes did have an impact, a huge save from Muric thwarted Mateta netting a second goal on 67 minutes. The goalscorer was released one on one with the stopper down the left hand side, after Eze's pass, though Muric made amends for the goal by stretching out a crucial glove to the low shot to turn it behind his near post. 

Town continued to hunt for what arguably would've been a deserved equaliser, with the game firmly in the balance, almost doing so on 71 minutes as an exquisite Davis cross towards Delap at close range was deflected behind. 

Jacob Greaves was then cautioned for a late challenge after a heavy touch lost possession on 78 minutes, while Devenny replaced Eze for Palace. 

Ali Al-Hamadi replaced Delap with ten minutes to go, just before Omari Hutchinson's dangerous right wing cross towards goal was punched away by the commanding Henderson, off his line well close to goal. 

Captain Sam Morsy swerved a powerful 30-yard shot narrowly wide of the far, right-hand, post a minute later, before Hutchinson raced smartly onto the right-hand byline to smash a dangerous ball across the face of goal that flashed wide after 83 minutes. 

Luck favoured Palace three minutes later when the woodwork secured them all 3 points. Leif Davis' free-kick from a dangerous position found Jacob Greaves at the far, right-hand, post whose header across goal was denied by the left-hand post before cannoning behind off Broadhead. 

Ismaila Sarr was the fourth and final player booked, before instantly being withdrawn for Eddie Nketiah as 3 minutes of stoppage time were announced. 

Palace, who moved into 16th ahead of Wednesday's matches, were again indebted to Henderson in the second added minute - the 'keeper again advanced to punch away another audacious Hutchinson cross into the danger area. 

The fine margins of the Premier League ultimately separated the sides, with Palace travelling home with the points.

FT Verdict: While some will say that sums up Town's hopes for the season, I think there were plenty of positives. Yes, Town could've been capitalised slightly more on their possession and potentially tested Henderson more, but they went toe to toe with an established Premier League side and at times looked the more likely to score. Palace however took the chance when it came and decided a clash where they certainly looked beatable, albeit a draw would've been the fair result. 

Bournemouth at home on Saturday for Town is even more important now, which I have every faith they can pick up that elusive home win. 

Town:- 1 Arijanet (Aro) Muric, 2 Harry Clarke, 24 Jacob Greaves, 26 Dara O'Shea, 3 Leif Davis, 5 Sam Morsy (c), 12 Jens Cajuste (66' Taylor), 47 Jack Clarke (66' Broadhead), 20 Omari Hutchinson, 7 Wes Burns (66' Chaplin), 19 Liam Delap (80' Al-Hamadi). Subs: 1 Christian Walton, 8 Kalvin Phillips, 10 Conor Chaplin, 14 Jack Taylor, 16 Ali Al-Hamadi, 18 Ben Johnson, 22 Conor Townsend, 23 Sam Szmodics, 33 Nathan Broadhead. 

Town Booked: Dara O'Shea (22'), Jacob Greaves (78'). 

Palace: 1 Dean Henderson, 3 Tyrick Mitchell, 5 Maxence Lacroix, 6 Marc Guehi (c), 7 Ismaila Sarr (90' Nketiah), 10 Eberechi Eze (76' Devenny), 12 Daniel Munoz, 14 Jean-Philippe Mateta, 19 Will Hughes, 27 Trevor Chalobah (81' Richards), 28 Cheick Doucoure. Subs: 30 Matt Turner (GK), 2 Joel Ward, 8 Jefferson Lerma, 9 Eddie Nketiah, 15 Jeffrey Schlupp, 17 Nathaniel Clyne, 26 Chris Richards, 55 Justin Devenny, 58 Caleb Kporha. 

Palace Booked: Doucoure (23'), Hughes 19 (58'), Sarr (90').

Goal: Mateta (59')

Att 29,533 (2,539)

My MOTM - PALACE 1 Dean Henderson

Town my MOTM 26 Dara O'Shea followed by 12 J Cajuste

All photos (c) Drew Kendall.