Fleetwood Gym
Football Tournament
In our first Tournament of the summer,
Bury had decided to enter the daunting task of entering the Fleetwood
Tournament at an age older at Under 15s. This was probably going to be
one of our toughest days because of the age gaps and the fact that the
country's top team was here in the shape of Mersey Girls. Bury's first game was against Fleetwood's 15s and what a start
it was as the Shakers went on to win this clearly with a comfy 4-1 win.
Next up was Rochdale 15s, who had apparently borrowed players from Man City
and who looked a good side. Smeaton had clearly come here to win but
the might of Bury had different ideas and we set about the task ahead and
showed the 15s of Rochdale who was the king of our castles. The
youngest squad of the Tourny and our league went about our business with
precision football and played breathless stuff and came out of this one with
a 3-0 win. We were now sitting pretty at the top our league and with
Mersey losing against Rochdale and only drawing with Fleetwood, maybe we
took the foot off the pedal as Mersey were on their way home unless they
turned us over. It must of been a mind game scenario because Bury
didn't turn up for this one and simply because of the name upon the shirt of
the opposition. A 3-0 win to Mersey Girls who simply deserved the
result. We were still top and and next up were Fleetwood again with
Bury now carrying a couple of injuries from the Mersey game we had to jiggle
the team around a little but once we went one nil up we just had to hold on
for the win. Oh dear the win didn't come as Fleetwood with the very
last kick of the game sent one over the keeper to end it as a legs eleven.
Not to worry as we were still top of the pile and from being the cannon
fodder youngsters of the Tourny to being the fairy's on the tree it was
starting to feel good. Next up were Rochdale again and with them hell
bent on revenge it was always going to be a test of character, vigour,
strength, personality, and above all fake tans. Rochdale broke
straight through the throat of Bury and went one nil up to the rapturous
chants of the Rochdale faithful. Halftime came and went and Bury were
now on a mission and we didn't just want the draw, but the win as well and
once the draw was achieved Bury went into control mode and it was a matter
of time before we took the win but not before one of the Bury players went
into the book for knocking a ball away. Bury did the double over
Rochdale with a 2-1win but we worked for it as Rochdale are no pushovers.
We are now in the final with a game still to be played. Mersey Girls
finished the same way and also reached the final with a game to spare and
that game was against us. Lets face it we are now playing the top team
in the country and a team who have cleaned up in football no matter what
league, or who they play in football and the team who have just achieved the
treble in the West Lancs U15s Girls League and that was with a team refusing
to play them in a final. Well we don't give a monkeys what team is put
in front of us as we will play anybody that stands in front of us and give
it our best shot. Bury v Mersey was a mouth watering game and yet
again they all came across Blackpool and Fleetwood to watch this one.
Both teams had to keep things clean and sweet in the tackling department as
the ref had only a game before red carded a Fleetwood and a Rochdale player
for handbags at ten yards. A very evenly matched game apart from the
goal Mersey scored, we went to the interval at one nil. Second half
and within a minute we are another down. 2-0 and two of the softest goals
ever in football. Before the end we succumbed to yet another Mersey
goal with soft written all over it but credit were credits due they did us
3-0 and at least we turned up. We had our first tournament silverware
of the summer even though it was runners spot but in a tournament we had
played as a year younger girls and against quality teams. Well done
girls we are all so proud of you.
