Bury — Radcliffe, Friendlies Clubs

Berri saw off Radcliffe 3-1 in a club friendly on Friday. The hosts took control early and never really let go, despite a brief moment of doubt before the break. By then the pattern was already set. T. Carr opened the scoring in the thirteenth minute, a neat finish that caught the visitors off guard. Radcliffe responded quickly through J. Hulme, who struck in the twentieth. To be fair, that equaliser gave them a chance to breathe. Berri then went back to work and found their rhythm again. The second half belonged to the hosts. L. White restored the lead in the eighty-fourth, and M. Touray added a fourth goal three minutes later. They threw everything at it after the break, and Radcliffe never quite got going. The visitors had one chance to respond and didn't take it. Berri registered 75 attacks compared to 57 for Radcliffe, with possession split 61 per cent to 39. They won fewer corners, four to seven, but didn't need them. The statistics tell you what the eye already saw: Berri dominated territory and chances. The result caps a decent run of friendlies for Berri after that heavy defeat to Rancho Linnetts last season. Radcliffe's recent form has been more cautious, with three draws in five games. This friendly doesn't decide anything, but it shows where each side is heading.