This weekend at BKM
Bastien Héry played 62 minutes during Waterford FC’s final game of the season on Friday night as his side won comfortably at home against Limerick. The game got off to an extremely quick start, with Waterford being awarded a penalty in the second minute after Barry McGuire took down John Martin in the area. Dessie Hutchinson stepped up and slotted the penalty home to give the home side the advantage. Limerick were quick to respond, and in just the tenth minute they got an equaliser thanks to Colm Walsh-O’Loghlen. Waterford very quickly to re-establish their lead, as just two minutes later Garry Comerford met a Hutchinson free kick and found the back of the net. The game continued in the same vain, with the rest of the half seeing both teams have numerous chances to score but they went into the break at 2-1. The second half began, and in the 62nd minute, BKM client Héry was brought off to a standing ovation from the home supporters after his incredible season for the Blues. Just one minute later and Waterford grabbed another goal, with Hutchinson finding the back of the net from a free-kick on the edge of the area. Waterford continued to dominate the game, and in the 72nd minute they ended any hope of a Limerick comeback when Martin placed the ball into the bottom right corner from a fantastic Gavan Holohan cross. The hosts would see out the rest of the game and end their season on a high.
We had two BKM clients in action during Macclesfield Town’s game at Cambridge United. Danny Whitaker took charge and Keith Lowe started at the heart of the defence for the Silkmen on Saturday afternoon. Macclesfield started the game extremely well in an attempt to grab a foothold of the game, chances from Michael Rose, Nathan Blissett and Harry Smith all coming close. Throughout the first half the Silkmen enjoyed the majority of possession and made it extremely difficult for Cambridge to fashion any chances. Towards the end of the half Cambridge began to grow into the game and create a few chances but the Macclesfield back-line kept them out, and both teams went in at half time goalless. The Silkmen came out for the second half in a similar fashion, constantly piling on the pressure. Ben Stephens, starting his first game for the club, lead the Silkmen attack. He was constantly causing problems for the hosts and had a couple of opportunities to test the Cambridge keeper, with an unbelievable effort in the 80th minute hitting the bar. Unfortunately, the ball was cleared and the counter attack that followed lead to a goal for the hosts, as Jabo Ibehre found the bottom corner to slot past Taylor in goal. The Silkmen pushed to the end but were unable to find an equaliser and the game ended 1-0 to Cambridge.
John Askey took his Shrewsbury side to Oxford United on Saturday afternoon. The game got off to a bad start for Askey’s men, as just 3 minutes in John Ruffels found the back of the net thanks to a corner from John McMahon. Shrewsbury tried to bounce back straight away as Lee Angol made a dangerous run, but he couldn’t find a way through. In the 13th minute Oxford doubled their lead. McMahon send in a looping ball, and Gavin Whyte headed home for the hosts. The Shrews began to gain footing in the match and attempted a comeback, but it was to no avail, and in the 86rd minute Oxford finished the game off thanks to a Marcus Browne goal.
Up in Scotland, Gregor Buchanan featured for Greenock Morton FC as they visited league leaders Ross County FC. The fixture proved to be a tough game for Morton, and in the 9th Ross County took the lead through Billy McKay. Morton tried to pull one back throughout the first half, with Gary Oliver coming close, but County soon doubled their lead, with McKay getting his second goal in the 42nd minute. Morton went in at half time 2-0 down. In the 48th minute, McKay completed his hat-trick, scoring from close range after a Ryan Scully save bounced out to him. Ross Country carried on this way throughout the match, with Davis Keillor-Dunn and Brian Graham also getting on the score sheet. The game ended 5-0 to Ross County.
Saturday afternoon also saw Steve Watson’s Gateshead host Aldershot Town in the National League. The game got off to a slow start, with neither team really threatening in the first 15 minutes. Eventually the game began to pick up, with both teams creating chances but it was Gateshead who broke the deadlock. Greg Olley surged through the defence and slotted into the bottom left corner. The Heed began to dominate the game after this, with Steve Rigg almost getting on the scoresheet just a few minutes later. In the end it was Scott Boden who doubled their lead, netting in the 33rd minute of the game. Gateshead went in at the break 2-0 up. They would start the second half in the same vein as the first, with Olley and Boden both coming close again. In the 77th minute Gateshead finished the game off thanks to a Tom White finish. Gateshead would see the rest of the game out to record a comfortable 3-0 victory.