After a really sad week that has seen the whole country – if not the world – mourning the loss of Queen Elizabeth II, it was going to be good to have something else to focus on and that so happened to be the first game of the 2022-2023 for Brian and his u8 Panthers. These kids have worked hard throughout the summer so it was going to be really good to see them in action for real. Today’s visitors were to be our old friends from Moss Bank and with the sun surprisingly shining from the Bolton sky, everybody was excited to see football back again. Brian warmed his troops up and his last words of encouragement were the words we want to hear all coaches of these age-groups say. ‘Just go out there and enjoy it!’ Simple as that. And you know what? My word they listened to him…
Impeccably observing a minutes’ silence in respect of Her Majesty, when the game got started it was Bolton County that shone. From front to back, each and every player that represented County out there this morning really done themselves proud as we played some glorious football out there. Wearing his cool shades, Joseph performed heroics between the sticks – making some fantastic saves to keep the Moss Bank shots out – and with Cian marshalling the backline superbly, he even notched himself a screamer of a shot from about 20 yards out and slotted home a coolly-taken penalty. With those two in this form, we were looking good every time we got the ball…
Credit to the visitors though as they kept plugging away and they were making it a good game but with Arthur controlling the right-wing, they were finding it hard to get out of that area. Our Arthur was getting up and down the wing providing some sumptious crosses for the strikers to attack and he even got himself on the scoresheet with a neat finish from about 8 yards out. Whenever we poured forward we looked likely and the home supporters were showing their appreciation over to the left. This was good stuff…
Archie was putting himself about up top and whenever he got the chance, he was giving their defenders so much to think about that it was creating spaces and openings for his team-mates. Leaving every ounce of himself out there, he was rightly awarded the Man of the Match today as he gave even more than 110%. Well done Archie!
Let’s not forget how well our Keaton did either. Playing in left-midfield, he got stuck in like a mini-Hulk out there this morning and whenever he found the space, he was picking out some inch-perfect passes to set us on our way. And when he was called upon, off came Theo from the bench to get involved straight away and he made some awesome dribbles that made the defenders dizzy – whilst getting the ball into the box whenever he could. All in all, each and every one of the County players out there played their part in a fantastic victory and when the final whistle was blown, it was the team in blue that were the happiest. The handshakes were done with pride and as both teams left the field of play, they rightly received a warm round of applause. That had been a great game of football out there…
Massive thanks to the Moss Bank players, coaches and supporters that came over this morning and we wish you all the very best for the remainder of the campaign. And as for the County fans, what can we say? You were marvellous again and we love seeing you there cheering us on every week. We travel over to take on Ladybridge Pumas next weekend so hopefully see you there…
That was the start Brian had dreamed about last night. Mission accomplished and onto the next one…
#UpTheCounty!