MATCH PREVIEW: Cup gig at Gigg Lane
Reds take a break from league action this weekend with the small matter of a mouth-watering FA Cup tie at Bury to contemplate instead.
We head for the now named Salford Van Hire Gigg Lane Stadium on Saturday for the Second Qualifying Round encounter against our Premier Division rivals.
Reds were rewarded with this tasty tie after the comfortable 3-0 victory over Marske United in the previous round, whilst Bury put Wythenshawe to the sword winning 8-0.
It will be the first meeting against the re-formed Bury as they haven’t met in the NPL yet. We return to Gigg Lane in late October with Bury due at the Fibrus Community Stadium in April, our final home match.
This will be the fourth FA Cup tie between the clubs and the omens don’t bode well. Back in the 1971-72 season, Bury emerged 3-1 winners at Borough Park in what was our final appearance in the Second Round.
Five years later, we met at Bury in a First Round encounter and the home side, then a Third Division outfit, inflicted a 6-0 thumping upon us.
And the most memorable meeting was the 2007 contest at Gigg Lane which Bury, inspired by a late Andy Bishop hat-trick, won 4-1. Matthew Berkeley had equalised for Reds in the second half and, momentarily, the near 600 travelling contingent were dreaming of, at the very least, a replay.
It was not to be.
Bury’s journey since then has been quite remarkable and they were expelled from the Football League seven years ago. What happened thereafter was rather confusing to the outside world and probably more so for those involved. There were two bodies – one who owned the ground and another who owned the phoenix club.
Gigg Lane was effectively moth-balled and one of the last teams to play there was the Workington Reds Ladies FC.
Since then, though, Bury have re-united and the club are on the journey back to where they surely belong, the EFL.
Several managers have occupied the Gigg Lane hot seat recently but now they have life-long Bury fan, Anthony Johnson, at the helm. We have crossed paths several times in recent years – at Ramsbottom, Salford City and Radcliffe – but, according to AJ himself, this is his dream job.
There will also be a reunion of the two B Carrolls with former Red, Bobby, expected to feature for the hosts after injury and ex. Shaker, Brad, hoping to turn out for Reds.
Both Bury and Workington have similar records this term, sixteen points from nine games, but the hosts have bagged 23 goals on home soil this season.
A good away following is expected and supporters can pay on the day.
Kick-off: 3pm
Mileage: 136
Postcode: BL9 9HR
