Jon Brown reports

A depleted Raging Fever XI managed a creditable 3-3 draw against a young and fit Bury team on an icily windswept Horspath pitch. With many familiar faces missing from the line-up, the Fever took a little while to gel and somehow survived the opening onslaught without conceding a goal – the woodwork coming to the rescue more than once in the first 15 minutes.

Bury’s pressure kicking with the wind did eventually take its toll, however, as one of a series of dangerous corners was headed in despite an excellent effort from goalkeeper Gary Butler. The home team regrouped, made some changes to the midfield formation and slowly clawed their way back into the game despite more scares at the back, where the defence just about stood firm. The match then turned towards the end of the first half. First, Steve Fuller launched a scorching run down the left wing and pulled the ball back ffor John Matthews to slot ccalmly past the Bury keeper. Then Matthews was fouled in the penalty area and converted the spot kick himself to give the Fever a very fortunate 2-1 lead going into the break.

The second half saw the makeshift RF team grow in confidence and stature.

Another excellent run from Steve Fuller, beating several Bury players, ended in a shot parried by the keeper, but John Matthews was on hand to knock in the rebound for a hatrick, taking his tally to an incredible 7 (seven) in

two games. The match seemed to be heading for a comfortable win at this point, but the referee – kindly provided by Bury – had other ideas, and saw fit to give a penalty to the away team after the ball had brushed the striker’s hand and then Andy Kelly’s side! Gary Butler was unlucky not to save the penalty, which was straight at him but well struck.

Bury were re-invigorated after this change of fortunes, and finished the

game much the stronger team, scoring a deserved equaliser 5 minutes from time to leave honours even. The match was played in a great spirit in

horrible conditions, and everyone was happy to get to the warmth of the pub afterwards.

Gary Butler adds:

In a bitterly cold wind, Raging Fever took on the might of Bury fans at Horspath Road on Saturday 21 February. The Fever side seeing a number of changes from the 6 all draw against Kidderminster. ‘Keeper Harrison was unavailable so Butler had to make the transition from left back to goalie. Other changes were Carter in at left back, debuts for Mark and Patrick at right back and left side midfield respectively and manager Brown bringing himself into the team on the right side of midfield.

Bury started strongly with the wind at their back, creating a number of chances early on as the Raging Fever defence tried to find their feet. The first chance of the game fell to Bury, whose striker hit the ball well from just outside the 6 yard box, and, with Keeper Butler stranded, rattled the crossbar. Shortly after this attack, Bury yet again hit the woodwork, this time the ball bouncing back into the grateful keeper’s hand.

At this point Bury had had the majority of possession, and, but for fine defending by Kelly and Wehmeier in the centre of the Fever defence, they could have been 2 or 3 goals to the good. However, after half an hour Bury’s pressure paid dividends. From a poorly cleared corner, a Bury man rose like a salmon and headed the ball towards the top corner of the goal. The Fever keeper managed to get a hand on the ball but couldn’t keep it out.

Fever, who had not looked remotely like an attacking force at all in the first half, then got a break. Superb work by young Fuller, Raging Fever man of the match, taking the ball from his own half, set up the redoubtable Matthews for the Fever equaliser.

Shortly before half time, Raging Fever went into an underserved lead as Matthews was upended in the box and he wrong footed the Bury keeper with the resultant spot-kick. This was the last action before the break and so Fever went in at half time with their noses in front.

Fever made a tactical switch at half time, Wakefield dropping into the centre of midfield as Soandro was pushed on up front. Fever, with the wind at their backs in the second half, pressured the Bury defence early on, coming close on a number occasions, even hitting the post on one occasion. Eventually the Bury defence cracked under the pressure Fever were putting on them, Fuller again the provider with a run reminiscent of wee Archie Gemmill against the Dutch in ’78, beating a number of Bury defenders and committing the keeper before squaring to Matthews for a simple tap-in.

Fever then seemed to lose their way a little after this goal and allowed Bury back into the game. A fine shot by their number 9 was well saved by keeper Butler, who could only push it out to two onrushing Bury players who contrived to miss an open goal from 6 yards out! Another save by Butler pushed the ball onto the post and Mark, covering back, managed to but the ball out for a corner a yard out under pressure from two Bury attackers. Yet another Bury chance saw the ball bounce back off a post into the grateful keeper’s hands.

Eventually the Bury pressure told. A handball by a Bury player in the area was given against Fever’s Kelly and, although Butler got a hand to the penalty, was unable to stop the ball entering the net.

A fine move by Bury got them their equaliser. An attack down the Fever left lead to a cross that came across the edge of the 6 yard box and a Bury striker, looking suspiciously offside, applied the finish.

This was not quite the end of the action as Fever had one fine counter attack, Matthews setting up Soandro, who finished well, but play was called back as Soandro was deemed to have been offside although he was behind the ball when Matthews made the pass.

A late flurry of Bury attacks came to nothing and so the game ended in a 3 all draw.