We needed to put that first league defeat of the season to the back of our minds as soon as could – and going to the home of the league-leaders was going to be the first chance we had to do it as today saw us travel into central Manchester to the Armitage Centre to take on Govan and Uni of Manchester Reserves. These guys have been scoring for fun – with 68 goals in 15 games so far – so as we made the trip over, we knew this was going to be a tough one…

As we arrived, it felt as though we had walked into Hockey-Land as there were so many games going on all around us. But the 3g pitch stood empty – and that’s where we’d be playing. The weather was miserable once again but as the lads started to gather, at least the mood in the camp wasn’t. We seemed up for this and now we had to show that out there…

The distance from the changing room to the pitch meant that as we went out for the warm-up, we weren’t coming back in – so it was clear as soon as the players came out that we didn’t have a recognised striker with us today. So with that in mind, the boss decided that we were going to go with a 5-3-2 formation to try and counter-act their attacking potential and on the break, we could split it down the lines and try and get in behind them. Pomf started in net and with Rav and Adam Webber starting on the flanks, we had Gatesie, Robbie Holt and Matty in the middle. Smalley had come into the middle of the park to join Alex and Tom and we had Ste and Nathan trying to give them things to think about when we got it forward. The bench was made up of Shaun, Jack and Bradders and as kick-off approached, we looked ready. But we weren’t really…

Because despite playing some nice football and competing, we really weren’t at the races and when they punted the ball long 12 minutes in, it evaded our retreating defence and their striker simply rammed it past Pomf and into the back of our net to put them in front. 0-1 and when you looked at our players, they looked beaten already. This isn’t the County Reserves we’d seen for so much of this campaign and we needed to shake ourselves down and work harder to put things right. Not feel sorry for ourselves…

That 0-1 became 0-2 on 34 minutes when another ball over the top caught us flat-footed and their striker took it down to rifle it home from about 14 yards out and with that, we may as well have come home already. We had to improve our attitudes and we now needed to play for pride as well…

Half-time: Govan & Uni of Manchester Reserves 2-0 BOLTON COUNTY RESERVES

As the lads gathered for their drinks, the coaches set about their tasks – and they told their players that once again, two goals that we’d conceded hadn’t seen the opposition have to work at all for them. We really had to cut that out and make sure that whatever happens, we out-work them. We decided to go to 4-3-3 that saw Jack come into the fray and Shaun was on for Adam – and as they made their way back out there, Wayne urged them to play for their pride now. Make sure we won this second-half and come off that pitch at least proud of your own efforts…

But we just couldn’t get going and despite some huffing and puffing, they seemed to be dealing with whatever we could muster really. Bradders came on and as the game continued, we were at least not rolling over and letting them take us lightly – which is what the coaches had asked for at the break. Sure – the hosts got their third and final goal of the game on 75 minutes but by then the result was never in doubt. And when the whistle went to end the misery, we were back in the changing rooms ready for the de-brief…

All Wayne asked for really was some fight. Not in terms of punching and kicking. But in terms of not showing the opponents that we were beaten as soon as they score a goal. No team in the land wins football without commitment and that’s something we need to learn. Going unbeaten through to March was good – but now the chips are down, that work-ethic is the only thing that’s going to get us out of this tricky time. Only us to can do it…

And that starts with another tough challenge in seven days’ time as 2nd-placed Tintwistle Athletic Reserves make the long trip to The County Ground – so we will use training in the week to work on some ideas and the plan will be to come out again and show people what we are really made of…

Thanks to those of you that made the trip over to support us this afternoon and we’re sure that you’ll agree – despite the result there was some good football being played especially in the opening 20 minutes. We know need to learn how to do that consistently and not let our shoulders drop when we concede. Then we’ll see the true quality of this group of lads…

#UpTheCounty!