Casper takes positives after Shakers slip up
From the archive, first published Monday 11th Sep 2006.
CHRIS Casper refused to criticise his young side after they were out-muscled by a physical Torquay United.
A Shakers side containing four teenagers took the field at Gigg Lane only to be frustrated by a resolute defensive show from the visitors.
Former Southampton and Plymouth Arglye striker Mickey Evans claimed all three points for Torquay with a first-half header before the Devon side retreated into their shell to protect the lead, but Casper insisted his side would learn from the experience.
"We should take the way they played as a compliment. These are young kids - people have to remember that.
"The three youngsters in midfield put in great shifts. They are honest kids, honest as the day is long. Sometimes you are going to get bogged down and they feel the pressure.
"It's a great learning curve for them and they will come through it. We've got good quality there. We just needed a bit more craft and guile."
Bury - buoyed by three consecutive wins - made a bright start and Tom Youngs was denied by a smart stop from Nathan Abbey at his near post after only five minutes.
Although the Shakers had plenty of possession, they struggled to break down a Torquay side playing five in midfield, and with makeshift centre half Lee Thorpe - normally a goalscorer - marshalling the back four.
With the vistors' first attack of the game, the industrious Jamie Ward found space on the left and Mickey Evans stole in ahead of Dave Challinor to expertly head past Kasper Schmeichel. It was more than Torquay deserved, and Bury should have equalised three minutes after the break when David Buchanan volleyed over from six yards.
Ward scraped the post with a volley on one of Torquay's rare forays into the Bury half, but the Gigg Lane men continued to struggle to find the killer pass to match their superior possession. It looked as if sub Daryl Taylor had salvaged a point with 15 minutes left but his close range effort was ruled out for offside - much to the bemusement of the Shakers' new signing.
"I thought Stevland Angus was playing me onside to be honest," said Taylor, who recently signed a one-month contract with the club.
"I remember Nicky Adams took the shot and wondering if I should anticipate the loose ball, but when I asked the linesman later on he claimed I was offside."
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