Bury 1 – 2 MAN CITY: Patrick Vieira’s Squad Through To Manchester Senior Cup Final

Seko Fofana was the star of the show as he fired Manchester City’s EDS to the final of the Manchester Senior Cup – just two months after City suffered heartbreak in last season’s competition!

George Glendon had given City the lead in the opening exchanges with a delicate free-kick, before Clive Platt equalised for the home side in the second half. But with time ticking away and both sides frustrated by a combination of great goalkeeping and wayward finishing, Fofana stepped up to majestically curl home from outside the box and clinch the victory.

In a strange quirk of the academy fixture list, the 2013 showpiece final was postponed until August of this campaign, but despite being on the receiving end of a 4-1 Manchester United thumping on that occasion, Patrick Vieira’s charges showed no signs of a cup hangover as they produced an enterprising performance to brush aside a far more experienced Bury team.

After a sluggish start to the season, Vieira’s squad had recorded five successive victories in all competitions and their confidence was clear to see at the JD Stadium. On a bitingly cold afternoon, City’s EDS youngsters were unflustered in the face of Bury’s superior physical strength as they passed the ball with purpose and composure despite missing a host of key figures due to the international break.

Taking advantage of the absence of Jose Angel Pozo, striker Isaac Buckley was given the responsibility of leading the forward line on his own and he was not far away from grabbing the opener, but his header from Angelino’s pinpoint cross lacked the power to beat Rob Lainton in the Bury goal.

The Blues, however, did not have to wait long to see the net ripple. A flowing move which started on City’s own defensive byline and featured a quartet of players was brought to an end on the edge of Bury’s box as Lainton scythed down Buckley. From the resulting set-piece, captain Glendon took control and nonchalantly clipped the ball into the top corner to give his side the lead.

It was an advantage that City ought to have extended throughout the half as Aaron Nemane wreaked havoc down the right-wing. The 17-year-old was up against players more than twice his age, but he sparkled with his pace and trickery, tormenting Bury and keeping Lainton on his toes.

Fortunately for the home side, Buckley could not quite put the finishing touch to a number of City chances. He fired straight at Lainton when through one-on-one and then from another dangerous Nemane cross, he saw his goalbound volley stopped. City’s pressure was incessant, but as half-time arrived, they were unable to put more distance between themselves and their hosts.

With the difference just one goal, Vieira would have feared that Bury would spark into life at some point and that was the case in the moments after the interval. Danny Rose saw one close-range effort cannon against the woodwork and then as the home side’s pressure increased, Clive Platt guided the ball home to restore parity after Gunn had saved Rose’s initial attempt.

Platt, 36, has made over 600 career appearances in the Football League, whilst City’s four defenders were aged just 17, 18, 18 and 19. If that serves to highlight the contrasting levels of experience between the sides, it should also act as a reminder of how impressive these City youngsters are. Not only did they match their opponents physically – no mean feat for what may seem a small, lightweight group –  but they had enough self-belief and talent to dominate the game for lengthy periods.

As the prospect of a draw loomed, matters adopted a more open feel. Gunn had to use his considerable frame to tip a Duane Holmes free-kick over the bar, before tipping away a header and then Holmes was denied again, this time by the post, as he dribbled through City’s backline but couldn’t apply the decisive finish.

Bury should have been ruing that profligacy seconds later as delightful play from Fofana and Nemane created a glorious opening for the Blues. Rather than simply shoot from an inviting position, however, the youngsters tried to walk the ball into the net and saw Nemane’s shot saved on the line and then Fofana’s follow-up received similar treatment.

If City were frustrated at wasting that opportunity, they were ecstatic just minutes later as Fofana picked up the ball from Angelino and unleashed a superb effort from outside the area that curled beyond Lainton and into the far corner. It was a goal worthy of winning a far more prestigious affair than a Robinson’s Brewery Manchester Senior Cup semi-final. A showdown with either Manchester United or Bolton awaits.

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