Fresh off the back of another good win at Old Bolts at the weekend, it was quickly back to action for County’s reserves as we made another short trip over to Tottington to take on United’s Development Squad and with yet more new faces for Wayne to take at look at, he was looking forward to this one. With Callum still sunning his bald head in Rhodes, it was time to introduce Brian Palin to the coaching staff – joining us after a successful stint at managing in youth football – and as we arrived at tonight’s venue, the pitch looked pristine and ready for a good game of football. There were several lads not available for this one – but that’s a chance for others to shine and cement their place in the group moving forward. The lads were quickly changed and as they warmed up in the nice evening temperature, it was clear that there were going to be plenty of County supporters there to cheer us on…

The team-talk was relatively simple if we’re honest. Just continue what we had been doing so far, work hard to press from the front and keep possession of the football. The hosts were a young side but we couldn’t under-estimate them as we knew that they would run for the full 90 minutes – so as the starting 11 were announced, it saw us going with the 4-2-3-1 the boss seems to be leaning towards. Pomf took his place between the sticks fully recovering from his bout of blindness on Saturday and we were going with Matty and Robbie Smith as full-backs with Gatesie partnered by another Holt – this time it was Robbie – in the middle. Alex and Liam took up the CDM roles and we were going with Tom Robinson in front of them flanked by Ste and Josh out wide. Up top we had Ricky Holt and that meant when needed, we had Kayden, Callum, Brad, Jude, Shaun and Simon to call upon. The lads rallied themselves up and then entered the pitch – only to stand around waiting for the referee for what seemed like an age. He apologised profusely and with a sharp blow of his whistle, the game was underway…

The game started with the home side looking to take the advantage and if we’re honest, they had the better of the opening exchanges. This was the first time these back four had played together and it was showing – with us finding ourselves a little square and whenever they pumped the ball forward, they looked dangerous. Pomf was forced into making a superb save low down to his left when their winger leapt the highest and unchallenged, he crashed his header towards the bottom corner – only to see Pomf get down quickly and push it past his post. A great save and surely the wake-up call we needed to show us this wasn’t going to be a walk in the park. Thankfully as the game went on, the defence started to feel a bit more comfortable and as it settled down, we started to see more of the ball. Josh had a great chance to give us the lead when the ball found it’s way to him about 10 yards from goal – but as he looked to smash his shot in, he didn’t catch it right and the ball only found it’s way into their keepers arm. Unlucky for the lad – but at least he is getting into the positions to have a go. And that was probably the catalyst because on 14 minutes, it was County that took the lead – with probably one of the most contentious penalties we will see all season. The ball was won in the middle and as we fed into the feet of Ricky, it looked as though he had taken it under control only to fall over – but as the referee pointed straight to the spot, the Tottington bench were up in arms. Wayne was stood there and it was one of those moments that if it goes for you, you’re smiling – but he fully understood the frustrations of the home contingent. Ricky was adamant that he had been fouled and as he got up and dusted himself down to take the spot-kick, it felt as though every set of eyes were fully focused on his. Cool as a cucumber though, up stepped our No.9 and BANG – he sent the keeper the wrong way as he gave them all the eyes back. 1-0 to County but we still hadn’t really started playing football. We very nearly doubled our lead on 21 minutes when a free-kick from out wide was swung in by our Matty and evading everybody, the ball slammed against the bar and away from danger. Now though, most of the good chances were falling the way of the team in blue and that was at least better than the opening third of the game. And on the half-hour mark, we did increase our tally – and it was what is becoming a trade-mark of Robbie Smith’s – as he notched another great free-kick from distance. With a big home wall lined up, it made no difference as our Robbie curled another stonker of a dead-ball right over it and wide enough of their keeper’s grasp to slam into the back of the net from about 25 yards out. That’s two in two games for Mr Smith and it saw us go into a 2-0 lead. This was more like it…

That second goal seemed to knock the wind out of the Totty sails for a while so Wayne decided to bring Alex Williams off so Callum could get some action and Josh had worked hard enough running up and down that wing that he earnt a rest – so on came Jude to replace him. On went the game and on 37 minute we went 3-0 up. Winning the ball on our right, we fed the ball down the line and into the path of Ste’s run. He raced past their full-back as though he wasn’t there and as he swept his cross in, the ball flew over their keeper’s outstretched arm and into the opposite side of his net. A really fortuitous goal but Ste didn’t care – that’s three in three for him – but more importantly we had some breathing space now. 3-0…

The half petered out as both sides tried to maintain control – County holding the ball well in patches but rushing it in others – and the home side working hard to try and get in behind us to claw their way back into the game – but with hardly any injury-time added the man in the middle called time to a halt and it was County that were coming in with the lead. It was clear that Wayne still wasn’t happy though and as the lads gathered together, he set about telling them why…

Half-time: Tottington United 0-3 BOLTON COUNTY RESERVES

We had forgotten what had made us look so good in the previous two games so Wayne urged his troops to keep the ball and not rush it by simply kicking it. Do the basics right and with a three-goal lead, we shouldn’t ever lose a game of football. Two more changes were made as Kayden came on for Tom Robbo and Shaun came into the fray in a move that saw Matty move into the middle and Robbie Smith over to the right – with Robbie Holt having a rest – and as the lads went back out for the second period, they knew what was expected of them. What they didn’t expect was to wait so long for the hosts to reappear – and when they did, it was obvious what their half-time team-talk had consisted of. They restarted with a fresh oomph to their play and for a team of such young lads, they definitely aren’t afraid to put themselves about a bit. Fair play to them though – the experience of playing against men will be really good for them in the long-run – but some of their challenges were really close to the mark. On 48 minutes though, we came close to grabbing our fourth goal as the ball flew in the middle about 35 yards from goal and young Callum Chadwick took hold of it, sprinted forward and smashed his shot inches over the bar from fully 30 yards out. A great effort and it’s clear that this young man is engraining himself well into the squad. Shaun was already into the thick of the action as always and full of banter, it looked like he was enjoying himself playing against these young whipper-snappers. This was annoying them slightly and he was taken out royally on 53 minutes. Out on the left, Robbie Smith stepped up again and with the crowd looking on with baited breath, he curled in another great shot – only to see it clip the top of the bar and go out of play for a goal-kick. So close – but no cigar…

It didn’t take much longer for this pressure to count though and on 55 minutes, we went 4-0 to the good. Some great interlinking through the middle saw the ball forced out for a corner on our right. Matty strolled across to take it and as he floated it in, Ste managed to steal a yard on his marker and rising highest, he slammed his header back across goal and into the opposite side of their net. Another tidy finish from what looks like a great addition to the County family and as both teams got ready for the restart, that surely was the result out of sight now…

There were a whole host of changes made after that as Wayne wanted to rest some, give some minutes to others and try and see things that he could in the future – and as the minutes ticked away, the focus then moved towards keeping a clean sheet. That is the solid foundation of any good side and if we could get into that habit, there’s nothing wrong with that. Bradders came on over in front of Shaun and Jude got his wish of going into the central midfield role – with Josh coming back on and running his socks off again up top – and as the team in blue looked to manage the game well, we looked comfortable now. Matty and Robbie Holt were marshalling the backline well and Pomf wasn’t called upon much past the 75 minute mark so now it was about what could we do before the end? Callum saw another good drive flash narrowly wide of the mark on 87 minutes and that was the last bit of action really because not long after, the referee blew his shiny silver whistle for the last time tonight and as the players from both sides shook hands, they both knew they had been in a game tonight. Sure – we had won 4-0 – but that didn’t really show the full picture of this match and we have plenty that we can still improve upon moving forward. With a month to go until the season starts for real, we still have time and opportunity to see what’s needed and the home game against a strong Pennington Reserves on Saturday will be a real test. But for now, it was three wins out of three and that shows that we are building something here. Ste Palin was rightly awarded the MOM for his two-goals and all-round play and as we left the changing rooms as tidy as we could, that was that for another match. We’ll take this thank you…

UpTheCounty!