As we began to arrive at The County Ground this afternoon, it was good to actually see football again – as our last match was eight weeks ago now! That saw us go down to a 2-4 reversal at Manchester Gregs and drop into the bottom-two of the table – so this was a massive game if we wanted to get our heads above the parapet. However it was the visit of mid-table Chadderton Reserves that was on the cards for both Dave’s and Damo today so they knew that their troops would have to be on top of their game if we wanted to climb up that table…

The lads were quickly out there setting the pitch up and to the naked eye, it looked as though we had a really young squad on show for this. Dave Hough commented that this is probably the youngest squad our first-team had put out there – ever – but it is good to see the youth breaking into the hierarchy of the club. There were several reserves available and along with Jake – a promising talent in our Development squad – also amongst the ranks, it was going to be interesting to see what line-up we elected to go with. It was also good to see County old-boy Mal lining up for today’s opponents – but we hoped he didn’t have a successful afternoon! The lads warmed up as the misty, murky skies seemed to have a wetness that wasn’t actually rain and it was really good to see Club Captain Matt Ormrod, Joe Fielding and Eaves join the home supporters in cheering their colleagues on. The scene was set and the lads just now had to deliver…

With Charlie and Smalley not available for this one, we were still sticking with our 4-3-3 shape and it saw Pomf take his place between the sticks with a back-four of Liam Hulme and Robbie Pollitt at full-backs with Ben and Hodgy in between them. Houghie, Shorty and Robbie Smith made up the midfield trio and with a front three of Matty, Carl and Ax, we had enough to cause trouble. The bench saw Sean joined by Ste Palin – the ressies top scorer – and the young man Jake and with the coaches urging their players to relax and play football, the whistle went and the action began…

It looked as though our players hadn’t listened to start with as we seemed to be rushing when on the ball and not looking for the right pass – but it was County who had first sight of goal and only a fine save by the Chadderton No.1 kept the scores level. The ball was fed down the right into the run of Ax and as he cut inside, he had just enough room to slam his shot at goal – but there was their keeper with a strong hand to keep the effort out of his goal. We hadn’t started yet – but that was a good opportunity for us to get off to a great start…

But on 12 minutes, it was the visitors who took the lead – and in truth it was a soft goal to concede. A good attack down their right saw a cross lofted in and Chris Hough made a great defensive header to put it out for a corner. The ball was curled in and with the marking non-existent, there was their centre-half to rise high and slam his header past the out-stretched arm of our Pomf and into the roof of our net. A good header – but we didn’t seem to do hardly enough to stop him. 0-1 and we had to pick ourselves up now – and pretty quickly…

The away side seemed that little bit more composed on the ball and with plenty of movement off it, they were the side looking the more dangerous. However on 20 minutes, we had a great chance to level. The ball had been played down our right and with Matty seeming to have at least a yard on their defender, we thought he would burst clean through on goal. But their No.5 was quick to cover the ground and he put in a tremendous challenge to avert the danger to his goal and the chance was gone. We needed to do more of that though…

Back came the visitors and with 28 minutes on the clock, they thought they’s doubled their lead when a great move between their midfield saw their No.10 link up well with his team-mates and before we knew it, he had the goal at his mercy. But there was Pomf to dive bravely at his feet and as he gobbled up the ball, the Chaddy striker was left to rue his chance. We had to tighten up though otherwise they were going to score again – and that may have been a mountain a little too high to climb. Hodgy was playing really well as he was putting in tackle after tackle and as the minutes ticked away, it was becoming an intriguing affair. Shorty had an effort from about 25 yards out that went well wide of the target and then we won a free-kick when their No.4 made a bad challenge about 22 yards from goal. Carl put the ball down and as he hit, he managed to get it around the wall – but only into the grateful hands of the Chadderton keeper. This next goal was going to be crucial for whatever team got it – so we had to make sure it was us. 36 minutes in and our former player Mal used his pace to skip past our Ben and as he played it across the face of goal, it took a great tackle from Shorty to see the ball out for a corner rather than in the back of our net. Despite the miserable weather, at times this game was warming the cockles alright…

County saw another good chance go begging as Ax used his head to flick on a long free-kick into their box and to the feet of Matty – who then gave it back to him but as he hit his shot, it was easy for their keeper to smother it and hold it close. The chances were coming though and that was a pleasing thing. We just needed to convert one now…

The next chance fell to our Ax as well as a great cross in from the left saw him rise highest – but as he managed to twist his neck and get the ball on target, he just couldn’t get enough power on it to cause their keeper trouble. This was better though and the home fans were showing their appreciation…

Getting a second wind, back came the visitors and they had another chance to increase their lead on 42 minutes when another great ball across the face of our goal saw their No.10 inches from getting his toe to it – but it whipped right across the pitch and out for a throw on the opposite side of the pitch. A close escape and not good for the nerves to say the least. But that was that for the first period and as the man in the middle blew his whistle for the break, this was still there if we wanted it enough…

Half-time: BOLTON COUNTY 0-1 Chadderton Reserves

There was a chill in the air now and as the home supporters went in for a brew, the coaches set about trying to get their lads back into this game. We had been rushing it and we hadn’t played our ‘true’ football yet – so we just needed to calm down somewhat, take our time to find the right ball and when the chances came, we had to put them in the back of the net. One change was made – Sean coming on in place of Robbie Smith – and as the lads lined up for the next 45 minutes, they definitely had the backing of the home faithful…

The first real chance after the re-start went to the visitors when Hodgy missed his header – probably his first mistake of the fame – and it saw their striker race towards goal with a glint in his eye – but from nowhere came our Ben to ensure that he couldn’t get his shot off and the chance was gone. Houghie was rallying his team-mates from the middle of the park but on 53 minutes, we saw what turned out to be the most contentious moment of the game. A long ball over the top saw their No.10 race onto it from what looked like at least a yard offside – but the Assistant Referee kept his flag low to his body and the Chaddy striker smashed his shot past Pomf from about 15 yards out. The County players and bench alike were furious and remonstrated with the match officials – but the goal was given and as the ball made it’s way back to the centre-spot, we had it all to do now. 0-2…

The goal seemed to knock us a little and Houghie made a couple of dodgy tackles that seemed to go unpunished by the man in black – so with the coaches urging him to calm down. the game went on. Rightly Dave Hough was overheard to say ‘we won’t get back into this with 10 men’ so we needed to keep our cool and play our football if we were to get back into this. And just before the hour-mark, the home fans were left holding their heads in their hands – as we should have equalised without a doubt. Their keeper had kicked it forward and Ax won a good header in midfield to see the ball into the path of Matty. In an instant he flicked it around their last man and Houghie was clean through with the goal at his mercy – only to screw his shot well wide from about 12 yards out. We were waiting for the net to bulge and all we saw was a goal-kick for the visitors..

Next chance that came saw that pesky No.10 of theirs once again using his silky feet to dance around our defence not once – but twice – before it looked as though he had thrown himself to the ground inside our box. In truth, he didn’t appeal it at all – but it had the home bench screaming and the away bench replying from across the pitch. What was clear was that we needed to ensure we kept our eyes on the ball and not his feet and as the game went on, it was clear we needed to keep an eye on this fella..

A good move by the team in blue saw the ball into the feet of Matty who hit a good shot towards goal – only to see their keeper equal to it once again. It was going to take something to beat this guy today but we knew we had it in us and we just had to keep plugging away looking for that elusive goal to find a way back into this. Ax played another good pass into the feet of Chris just inside their box and he used his great feet to get just enough room to have a sight of goal. As he went to slam his shot home, their defender was there like a whippet to not give him the time to shoot and the chance was gone. But it was all County now and if we could get one soon, it would make for an interesting last 20 minutes or so…

Chances were coming now and on 73 minutes, great work between Ax and Carl saw Matty flick his header into the path of Sean and with the goal at his mercy, he fluffed his lines by screwing it wide – only to be really pleased to see the flag up for offside and save his blushes. We needed to convert one of these soon though…
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The bosses decided to make another change and it saw young Jake get his first taste of first-team action – replacing Robbie Pollitt – and that saw us go with what looked like a 3-4-3 in an attempt to get something out of this game. And with an instant impact, he was heavily involved in our next clear-cut opportunity – as the ball found it’s way to Carl and he surged into their box with nobody near him. With the home fans expecting to see the net bulging, they were so deflated when all Carl could do was hit it high and wide from about 10 yards out. We hope it took a bobble at the last minute – but only Carl will know the truth in that. On went the game and with 79 minutes on the clock, Chris received the yellow card that had been coming for a while when he put a late tackle in on the Chadderton skipper. The away side were calling for a red but thankfully the referee wasn’t swayed – but it was a warning for our No.4. The away side then decided to bring off their No.10 who had been a thorn in our side all afternoon and then minutes later, they replaced their No.11 as well as they looked to shore things up and take all three points home with them. But we had another chance when Matty was played through and as he charged towards goal, the flag was raised and the play was brought back. Well that set off our Mr Hough and very Arteta-esque, he was down the touchline demanding answers. The man in the middle was quick to remind him of who was the boss though and with just over 10 minutes to go, things were hotting up. Mal then had a chance to clinch the win for his new team when he was played clean through and as he went to loft the ball over Pomf, he misjudged it and put it about 10 yards over the bar. Losing is one thing – but a former player scoring – now that would hurt! Time was ticking away from us now though but on 86 minutes, we got the goal that our play had really deserved out there. Winning as free-kick on the left, we curled it in and as the away side cleared it to the edge of their box, there was Sean to hit it on the half-volley from just inside the box. Their keeper managed to get down to his left – but he could only fumble it over his line and we were back in this! 1-2 but was it a little bit too late now?

We were pressing hard for the leveller now though and a constant flurry of free-kicks saw us craft in some great dead-balls – but the Chadderton back-line were working hard to keep chances to a minimum and their No.6 had a great game for them out there commanding his troops. And try as we may, we just couldn’t force the ball into their net again and as the referee decided he had seen enough and blew his whistle for the final time, it was the team in red taking all three points clockwise on the M60 – and we were left to rue missed chances. The handshakes were done with pride and as both teams left the field of play, the supporters warmly applauded. We had put a good effort in at stages out here and there had been some individual performances. But points on the board are what is needed and that moves onto welcoming the only team below us – Heywood St James – to Radcliffe Road next weekend. Having lost 2-8 at Royton Town today, they too will be looking to get off the bottom of the table – so this is a really big game for us. We’d love to see you all there cheering the lads on again as your support is greatly appreciated…

Onto next week it is then. Same time, same place people…

UpTheCounty!