Foundation Win Big at Gigg

On Saturday Evening, following Darlington's First Team victory at Warrington Town, the Foundation Think With Your Feet squad headed to Bury FC to play against Bury Recreational Team at Gigg Lane.

The team (thanks to Minibus Driver and left back Neil) arrived at around 6pm to horrendous driving rain causing a number of the team to not bother with a warm up on the pitch instead choosing to stretch in the changing rooms. Walking out onto the hallowed 3G in the 11k all-seated stadium was a breath-taking experience.

With Foundation Assistant, Millie Garnett leading the team from the dugout, the game started off pretty evenly with the only item of note in the first fifteen minutes being an injury for the Bury Centre-Half who collided with the man mountain Kev Mallen and was subsequently stretchered off. The Foundation had the vast majority of the play in the Bury half and it was no surprise that after a neat passage of football, former Captain Adam Lynas, scored from around 25 yards with his left foot into the bottom left of the Bury net. The DFC team now hit their stride being marshalled excellently at the back by Matty Wheeler, and the veteran, ex-Dumbarton Youth Carl Mansfield. Joe Stoker, in goal was a virtual spectator, which the DFC team were all thankful for.

Approaching half time, some excellent defending by Richards, Mansfield, Wheeler and late call up from Weight Goals Josh Moate, led to a breakaway goal with Lynas playing a beautiful through ball with the outside of his left boot (let's face it it wouldn't have been his right!) and CEO, Barry Thompson beat the offside trap, took it past the onrushing keeper and from a very tight angle slotted the ball home from about 25 yards. The home crowd of about 30 people began to get restless and shouted a few choice words towards the DFC team but they were undeterred and kept a clean sheet until half time.

HALF TIME

Bury Rec 0 TWYF 2

After a few words about keeping the ball better and stop going long, the Foundation quickly added a third goal with a Thomas Cave freekick going straight in bemusing the goalkeeper who was expecting a cross as indeed was Cavey himself! With substitutes happening, Dan Sharp got a well deserved rest after chasing his own first touch for much of the first half and being replaced by Health and Wellbeing Lead, Nicole Graham. Further subs came on with Danny Heather, celebrating Crystal Palace's win earlier in the day getting some valuable minutes into his legs and Marcus Benson finally getting into the action. He started the game but decided to join in after the first half.

A fourth goal followed after some great team play by Mallen, Thompson, passing it off to Owen Agnew who almost didn't make the trip due to some discipline issues who squared it for Cave to bag his second of the day. Why our Central Defensive Midfielder was in the six yard box, none of us know!

Bury then sprang into life and had a super shot from the angle around 30 yards out which left sub goalie Jay Blewitt floundering but sadly for Bury it hit the bar and flew to safety. With time running out, Mallen found Agnew and with the Bury team appealing for offside, Agnew squared it to Thompson who made no mistake from 10 yards out scoring his 25th goal in 9 Foundation games, making the final score 5-0.

We want to take the opportunity to thank Bury Recreational for the game, especially Mark Lomas who organised it and we also wish the guy who got injured all the best. We are looking forward to a rematch in Darlington!

BURY REC 0 TWYF 5

Lynas, Cave 2, Thompson 2

Stoker, Moate, Richards, Cave, Wheeler, Mansfield, Benson, Lynas, Thompson, Mallen, Sharp

Subs: Blewitt (GK), Graham, Heather, Agnew

Bury MOTM Selection: Wheeler

Ref MOTM Selection: Thompson