5-2

To beat a side like Bury with a mix of A and B team players was always going to be a tough ask. As soon as I saw them warming up and my players coming in dribs and drabs over to our pitch I thought we were going to get hammered, but we warmed up well and we started brightly.

Getting that early goal was important but to concede after taking the initiative annoyed me, especially when going 2-1 up and conceding on the stroke of half-time, hint why I was a bit mad when going through my half-time talk.

Second half, we were unplayable at times. Bury threw on four A team players and had one of the league's top scorers up front, but we were solid. I was so chuffed with my boys in that second half, they were fantastic.

Special mentions, well to every single player really.

Gaz made a couple of cracking saves that kept us in it at important times, a save by doing the splits in the first half (again) and a couple of one-on-one saves in the second half made sure he kept a clean sheet.

Adie did well at right-back and was full of energy. First half he could have been a bit better because he tried to do too much but second half I thought he did superbly well. His bombing on down the flank was great and exactly what I asked of him.

Matt was fine at left-back. Didnt get much chances to bomb on but his tackling and passing were exemplory. Very impressive because his positioning and his distribution were spot on. Just dont give away anymore foul throws, aim long over the first man and hit the second.

Tim was fine at centre-half. I made him skipper for the day because last week was his first 90 minutes since he did his knee and I thought I had to reward him, he put in a great performance.

Big Dave is so bloody calm on the ball it sort of scares me. good in the air and is also a handy piece at set-pieces. Well played mate.

Des. I brought Des off after half an hour and he promptly spat his dummy out, he was going to be brought on before half-time until he did this because it wasnt working for him or us on the left hand side. I told him this before the game but he stormed off. Once I explained to him why I brought him off he apologised and when I brought him back on he did well for me.

Atky, I thought Atky was great yesterday. His work-rate was brilliant and he seemed a lot more comfortable on the ball than last week. Settled in really well in the midfield with Jonny and I thought he did really well.

Jonny. When you've got a player of Jonny's ability in your team you're always going to be some sort of threat. He was like a Quarterback in American Football, pinging off passes and doing some really hard work as well in the background. I were pleased with his set-pieces as well, did exactly what asked of him.

Woody - he's becoming a decent player for me is this lad. Works hard off the ball and plays some quality stuff. I brought him off again (sorry mate!) to make sure Des got a decent run-out at the end, and I thought he did really well like the rest of the lads.

Dean - another sterling performance. Two goals, and an assist was it? They couldnt handle him at all and when he's on fire like he was yesterday he's unplayable. I'm sort of worried Steve's going to snap him up for the A team soon but I'm just pleased of what he's doing for me. He and Allan seemed to hit it off big time and I'd love it if these two keep playing together.

Allan - welcome back to the Textbook. A hat-trick on his return for me made it 4 goals in his past 2 B team games. He just wants to play football and his work rate and link-up play were brilliant. He was Man of the Match and as soon as I saw him play on Thursday night at 5-a-side I knew I had to get him back involved. He's going to be one of my key B team players in the run up to WorldNet.

Pete - Pete were a bit pissed off to not be starting, and I wasnt happy with him walking off at the end of the game either. He played well but I'm still not happy about walking off to speak with the A team instead of staying with his team-mates and taking nets down etc. The lads who took the nets down and got stuff in for me wernt even asked to do it, they did it naturally and I was gobsmacked. That pleased me a hell of a lot that they did it.

Me - as gaffer its bloody hard running the line and trying to manage. I had to bring Des off yesterday early on because Matt was getting hammered down that side and Des kept drifting out of position. I thought that we were superb yesterday and the 12 players who did it for me on the pitch made me one proud man. In my first 3 games as manager of the B team we've won all 3, scored an impressive 12 and conceded 6. I just hope that Steve might give me more of a control over the team after getting everything sorted this weekend to near perfection. I'm really really proud of you all who did it for me on Saturday.

Scorers:
Allan Cookson (3)
Dean Newsham (2)

Many thanks,

Jimmy
Preston North End Fans Team 'B' manager