CITY 2 BURY 1
Milk Cup 2nd Round 2nd Leg
8th October 1985
attendance 9,799
scorers
City Melrose(29), Lillis(86)
Bury Madden(69)
Ref J McAulay
City Nixon, May, Power, Clements, McCarthy, Phillips, Lillis, Baker, Melrose, McNab, Simpson – Sub Tolmie(unused)
Bury Hughes, Dixon, Pashley, Bramhall, Valentine, Hill, White, Madden, Dobson, Jakub, Young
FROM THE PRESS BOX
PAUL FITZPATRICK WRITING IN THE GUARDIAN 9TH OCTOBER 1985
Billy McNeill has been at pains to dismiss any suggestions that he might be interested in the Scotland manager’s post, but many more nights like this might make a return to his native land seem a very enticing prospect indeed for the Manchester City manager.
His side constantly stretch his patience to the limits and last night’s cup tie against Bury at Maine Road was another example of City’s masochism.
Leading 2-1 from the first leg, they should have been capable of beating their Third Division opponents with greater ease. Bury are no cloggers, concentrating on skill and accurate passing. and that should have been to the liking of a light-weigh City.
Instead, though there was never any serious doubt that they would reach the next round. they made dismally hard work of the job. Getting into the Bury penalty area proved not too ditflcult. Putting the ball into the net, however, was almost beyond them, at times from the simplest of chances.
Lillis was the biggest culprit. He wasted the easiest chance imaginable: in the 20th minute, slicing the ball wide of an empty goal from no more than six yards, and he squandered two other inviting opportunities in the second half.
He did redeem himself a little four minutes from time when he scored from close range after the enterprising McNab had worked the opening, but that goal did nothing to hide some glaring deiciencies.
Bury competed well defensively and in midfield, where Dobson played his first game for a month. They found it hard, though, in spite of White’s progressive ideas, to penetrate into City’s penalty area. When they did so, they showed just how dangerous they could be, Madden equalising with a clinical piece of finishing in the 69th minute.
City had led from the 29th minute when Simpson, after a strong hint of handball, had sent Melrose clear. With Baker, playing his first senior match since April, City should have capitalised on that lead. But instead. the frustration grew for them and the bulk of a crowd of 9,799.