Saturday 2nd September 2023
NWCFL Premier Division
Matchday 6

Bury 4
Obasoto 8
Briggs 57, 70
Lowe 90+6
West Didsbury & Chorlton 3
Gabidon 39
McKnight 86
Billingsley 90

Attendance: 3,838

Bury
1 Atkinson, 2 Williams, 3 Peet (15 Nsaka 66), 4 Rowney (c), 5 Hollins, 6 Tinning, 7 Gilboy (17 Sotona 58), 8 Jones-Griffiths (14 Lowe 68), 9 Briggs, 10 Brazel (16 Lenehan 68), 11 Obasoto (12 Battersby 84).

West Didsbury & Chorlton
1 Wynne, 2 Cook (c), 3 Graham (15 Hellawell 76), 4 Dickinson, 5 Smyth, 6 Foulds, 7 Gabidon (17 Billingsley 71), 8 McKnight (12 Delaney 90+8), 9 Elliott, 10 Davis, 11 Matthews (16 Grimshaw 79). Not used: 14 Taylor. 

Chris Rowley made four changes to the side that lost at home to Chadderton on August Bank Holiday, recalling Callum Graham, Markell Foulds and Rhain Davis whilst also handing a debut to goalkeeper Elliot Wynne. 

Andrew Jones, Raheem Hanley and Ben Hampson were all unavailable, while Laurence Taylor dropped to the bench.

You don’t see scenes like it in the North West Counties often. Late strikes apiece from the league’s two best-supported sides prompted frenzied celebrations at both ends of Gigg Lane’s South Stand. Unfortunately for West, Benito Lowe’s outstanding 96th minute winner for Bury will be what the game is most remembered for - and there’s no doubt this one will be talked about by both sets of fans for some time. 
 

The biggest crowd West have ever played in front of (ironically, the occasion at which the previous record was set - when 2,395 watched at FC Isle of Man in February 2022 - also ended in a late 4-3 defeat) were treated to some brilliant goals, the first of which came for the Shakers after just 8 minutes when Abimbola OBASOTO beat Matty Cook and fired a stunner into the top corner over debutant goalkeeper Elliot Wynne.
 

In contrast to the chaos that would ensue later in the game, the next 30 minutes were quiet. Both sides traded half-chances - most notably a Darren McKnight free-kick for West and a Brazel long-ranger for the home side - before Ben Elliott’s neat first-time pass found Dontai Gabidon just outside the box. With plenty left to do, GABIDON rounded Bury keeper Jack Atkinson and rolled the ball over the line from a tight angle past two helpless defenders. 
 

A goal each at half-time, and West continued their strong start to the first 45 minutes after the break. Elliott was in the right place twice for West - both from expert McKnight deliveries - but so were Bury’s defenders. And just as West had the upper hand, the Shakers regained the lead when Matty Williams carried the ball 80 yards from a West corner. He exchanged passes with Shakeel Jones-Griffiths whose low cross wasn’t dealt with by the West defence and Andrew BRIGGS capitalised on the mixup.  

The home side took control of the game, and a deserved third goal came on 70 minutes when BRIGGS responded first to Jack Tinning’s header off the bar from a corner. 

Game over? Not quite. McKnight, who was once again central to almost every West attack, chipped a delicious through-ball to Rhain Davis who fired across goal and just wide. And then came a moment of magic from the midfield maestro. From a free-kick 40 yards out, McKNIGHT spotted that nobody was ready after the referee’s whistle - and whacked a beauty over Atkinson who was barely off his line. 
 

With three minutes remaining, West were back in the game. Seconds before the end of 90 minutes, they’d levelled it. McKnight’s pass found substitute and former Shaker Rhain Hellawell on the left. His low cross found Ben Elliott who couldn’t force the ball home, but Lewis BILLINGSLEY did to spark delirium in the away section. 
 

It was all-or-nothing for both teams. West could smell blood; Bury were desperate not to be undone by a last-minute equaliser for a second game in a row. There was no chance this one was going to end in a draw. Devastatingly for West, it was the home supporters’ turn to bounce wildly around the South Stand. 

Jack Lenehan won the ball off Davis in midfield and prodded the ball between the defence to LOWE, who finished sensationally across Wynne - leaving West without the point they were moments away from earning, but with plenty to be proud of.
 

Your Burton Road Brewing Co Supporter of the Match was, ahem, Andrew and his Player of the Match was Sam Dickinson.

Your @burtonrdbrewing supporter of the match is a young gentleman called Andrew Jones. He has chosen Sam Dickinson as his Player of the Match. pic.twitter.com/MBp7uJFwF1

— West Didsbury & Chorlton (@WD_CFC) September 2, 2023

Here's the post-match interview with Chris Rowley, sponsored by Steve Eckersley.

Browse the full match gallery, by Si Cook and Chris Michell, below.


Weekend results
Saturday 2nd September 2023
Premier Division
Wythenshawe Town 0-0 FC Isle of Man (2pm)
Burscough 1-3 Irlam
Bury 4-3 West Didsbury & Chorlton
Chadderton 2-2 Colne
Cheadle Town 1-3 Kendal Town
Longridge Town 6-0 Skelmersdale United
Lower Breck 5-2 Ramsbottom United
Padiham 2-2 Pilkington
Squires Gate 3-4 AFC Liverpool
Wythenshawe 2-1 Glossop North End
The Emirates FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round
Charnock Richard 2-2 Runcorn Linnets
FC United of Manchester 1-0 Barnoldswick Town
Workington 6-0 Prestwich Heys