Lowestoft Claim Suffolk Derby Spoils - Bury Town vs. Lowestoft Town

Another good bank holiday crowd at Ram Meadow

This Easter I had the Tuesday after Easter Monday off which meant I could travel a bit further in search of a meaningful game. I opted for the Suffolk derby between Bury Town and Lowestoft Town in The Ryman Premier League. Lowestoft needed the points to maintain their spot in the play offs. Earlier in the season I had seen Lowestoft score a last minute against Maidstone United but before that I'd only ever seen Lowestoft lose when I'd watched them. Bury themselves have had a mixed season and were in mid table with no danger of going in either direction. The sides had met twice already this season - once in the league and once in The Suffolk Premier Cup - with Bury winning both encounters.

Kick off at Ram Meadow

Bury have an early corner which is just scrambled away and from the following cross a header goes just wide. The Lowestoft keeper then needs two goes at collecting a free kick. Lowestoft's first dead ball is wasted as the free kick from out wide fails to beat the first man. The next one is a lot better but the Lowestoft player heads just over the bar. The first save of the game comes as the Bury keeper makes a low stop from an effort following a good ball in to the box. It is another Lowestoft dead ball in to the box which produces the first goal. Firstly the Bury defender hacks a chance off the line and in the scramble that follows the Lowestoft player smashes the ball home. Lowestoft are buzzing and the Bury keeper does well to punch a vicious in swinging corner over the bar. Despite looking like they've edged the first half, Lowestoft conceded in the final stages of the half. A cross in to the area finds its way to the forward at the back post and he slides the ball home.

Lowestoft fans urge on their team in the first half

Lowestoft almost instantly create a great chance to retake the lead but a good sliding interception stops the pass finding its target. The sunny weather which was present at the start of the game has given way to steady drizzle as both sides make a scrappy start to the half. Corner kicks are proving to be dangerous in this game and Bury create a good chance from another but the effort is straight at the keeper. There is then a bit of a bundle in the Bury box and Lowestoft are convinced they should have a penalty. Shortly afterwards they do get a penalty and the decision enrages the home side. The Lowestoft attacker goes down on the edge of the area and the referee points to the spot and it looks a harsh decision. Lowestoft show no mercy to go two one up. Bury come close again with a header from a set piece. Bury create a late chance again from one last corner as they hit the post but Lowestoft see out the game to remain in the play offs.

Covered benches down one side of the pitch

I have been spoilt with some of the places I've visited this season (Stamford and Salisbury being recent examples) and Bury St Edmunds is a fantastic place to visit. Due to the length of the journey I didn't get a chance to fully explore it but it is defiantly worth having a wander around before a game. There are no direct trains from London. The route I took was a train from Liverpool Street to Ipswich and catching the Bury train from there. I believe you can go via Cambridge from Kings Cross which is quicker than the two hour journey I had. The ground is then a fifteen minute walk from the station. Before the game I went to The Nutshell which is the smallest pub in the country. Being a brewery town there are a lot of pubs and I also visited The Kings Arms which was ok. The clubhouse had Sky Sports and had several ales available. While I was waiting for my train I stopped off at The Beerhouse which had a fantastic selection of beers. 

A good full colour programme was provided by Bury Town. There was a section on past seasons which show that the club have progressed well from The Eastern Counties League.

View down the touchline with the cathedral in the distance.