Borough end season on a winning note
NW COUNTIES DIVISION ONE BACUP BOROUGH ........... 2 ABBEY HULTON .............. 0 MATTHEW LAWSON BACUP Borough ensured they finished the season on a high after picking up a hard-fought win at home to Abbey Hulton United.
Goals from Matthew Bryan and Louis Holding earned Bacup all three points at the Brian Boys West View Stadium, in a game where the hosts were on top throughout.
Manager Brent Peters was delighted to end the campaign by giving the home fans something to cheer.
“It goes without saying that this season has been really tough for everyone with the winter months being exceptionally bad. It was one of the worst on record, leading to several weeks with no game which has prevented us from any real consistent fluency,” he said.
“That has led at times to a lot of negative results, so this is where I give my squad a massive pat on the back as the boys kept working hard and kept believing in themselves.
“The team as a whole kept their togetherness, which is unusual for any group when results are not at their best, but these boys are not any group, they are a special group that have bonded well together. It must be said that this comes from the tremendous leadership of both captain Adrian Bellamy and vice-captain Matthew Bryan, who both have contributed in ensuring the boys kept that positive mind set and belief.
“A real big plus for me was the way that Oliver Crew, Louis Holding, Kyle Brooks and Kieran Reece have made the step up into the first team from our successful Under 18s cup winning side, so credit for their initial development must go to Andrew Walker and Darren Reece.
“The boys’ attitude, willingness to learn and the way they have settled into the squad and played when introduced, has been my biggest highlight, and these boys are the club’s future.
“There are also some talented lads in our Under 21s, if they show the same commitment, desire and willingness, then they also will be given a chance.
“There was also the emergence of striker Bobby Carter, although Bobby has not come through our club youth structure he has still been given a chance from which he has shown me his desire and work rate which will stand any player in good stead in any of my teams.
“We had the demands of having to play games almost every other night, this against good sides challenging for promotion, although we actually did win against Whitchurch Alport who are my favourites to win the play off final and Prestwich Heys, who we prevented from being able to achieve automatic promotion.
“We finished the season with four straight wins, and the emergence of talented lads from the U18s and Matthew Bryan winning the Player of the Month is very much a positive end to a demanding season.
“Despite the squad giving their all, a special mention should go to Debra O’Connor not only for her exemplary work in hospitality but by her work of constantly having to wash and turn the kits over, that itself was very much demanding in such a short space of time, and finally to our dedicated press and media officer Matthew Lawson. A big thank you to you all.” ●●