Following on from our great win at Breightmet United last Thursday, this was the next chance for us to gauge where we are with this season’s second string – and it was the relatively short trip to Edgworth to take on Old Boltoninas Reserves that was on the agenda for this one. We were supposed to go over to Denton Town in midweek but having cancelled that one, this was another opportunity for Wayne to see what he has, see what he needs and for the lads to gel that bit more. The performances over at Moss Park a week over were great – but that would mean nothing if we didn’t carry it into this one. Sure – pre-season is all about minutes in the legs and that chance to work together – but there’s no better feeling than winning and when it means two on the bounce, that will always drive the coach! The weather was typical for Bolton on the last weekend in July – overcast and drizzly – but the facilities today’s hosts have take a lot to be beaten. Nestled in the glorious countryside, the views over the hills are outstanding and they have two top-quality football pitches faced by a great little clubhouse. All this is ‘usual’ for some people – but with the youth and inexperience amongst the ranks of the new-look County Reserves, it was going to be good to see how they coped. With Callum sunning himself in Rhodes, it was down to Wayne to take this – and with an 18-man squad to choose from, he had arrived knowing exactly what he wanted to do…
There were several absentees for this one as well – with Robbie Smith, Brian and Jonny Connor all called up to the first team and players like Tom Robbo at the Ipswich v Bolton game, Josh doing his CBT test and various others sunning themselves around the world – but as the boss looked around the changing-room, there was still some good, good players here. He reminded them all of his desire to play a certain way – with the ball on the floor, keeping possession and being patient whilst also giving the ball as quickly as we can to the forward four and making them press across their backline – and as he named the starting 11 for this one, it saw him going with a 4-2-3-1 shape. Pomf took his place between the posts and this afternoon’s back-four was made up of Shaun and Matty Lee at full-backs with Gatesie and Nico sitting the central areas. Alex Williams and Liam Haycock were the two tasked with sitting just in front of them and with an attacking three made up of Ste, Jake and Kayden, we had pace and skill in all of the attacking areas. Nathan was asked to play up top on his own and as Wayne urged him to chase down their backline and not give them a second, his cool response was ‘I got this coach!’ We were soon to see weren’t we? There was a good bench as well – made up of Callum Chadwick, Bailey Parrish, Ben Stewart, Jude Rawden, Bradley Andersen, Tom Jackson and new-signing Ricky Holt – and as the lads made their way out to realise the referee was five minutes late, we all got ourselves ready for the next instalment of the newly-revamped Bolton County Reserves…
And with the opening 100 seconds, it was the team in blue that took the lead – with a superb goal from start to finish. The hosts had tried to pump the ball forward but our defence dealt with it easily and fed the ball into the feet of Alex Williams. As he strode forward, he looked up and spotted Nathan making a great run through the channel. At exactly the right time, he slipped the ball through and leaving his marker for dust, Mr Bancroft charged onto it, looked up and as he saw their keeper racing out of his net, he simply chipped the ball expertly high and over their No.1 outstretched arms to dip perfectly and hit the back of their net from about 22 yards out. A super finish, a great pass to set it up and more importantly, we were in front. A long way to go for sure – but we’d rather score the first goal than concede it. 1-0 to County!
We were playing some lovely one-touch football in patches and whenever the team in stripes tried to break through, Gatesie and Nico were coping well with their runs in behind. Matty and Shaun were making their wingers work hard for anything and we were the team most definitely on top. With 17 minutes gone, Shaun made a great run down our left and Alex Williams doesn’t need telling twice – as he picked him out with an inch-perfect pass. Shaun took it to the bye-line and whipped in a beautiful cross that was met by the powerful head of the on-rushing Ste Palin and as it looked destined for the bottom corner, the County bench were already celebrating. But from nowhere, down dived the Old Bolts keeper and he managed to somehow fingertip the ball wide of the post and out for a corner. Honestly – it was a stunning save – and it had everybody from both sides applauding loudly. On went the game and if anybody was going to score again, we looked the most likely at this stage…
Jake had worked hard but needed a break – so it was time for Nathan to slot into his usual left-winger berth and on came new-face Ricky Holt. He looks a solid striker that has some power – so it was going to be good to see how quickly he got used to us and we got used to him. Well – within about 3 minutes of coming on he had everybody in stitches that’s for sure. We had once again worked the ball well down our right and as the cross was floated in, there was Ricky to rise high – but it looked like he did it a split-second too early and as the ball met him, it was his hand ‘Maradona-esque’ that put the ball into the back of the Old Bolts net. Unfortunately though everybody saw this one – including the referee – and not only was the goal disallowed but we all had a good laugh at the new-boy! At least it wasn’t long before he made up for it though…
But on the half-hour mark we seemd to switch off somewhat and at this level, good teams will make you pay. And that’s exactly what the hosts done when they managed to level the game on 33 minutes. A good run down their right saw the ball forced into our box and some slopping marking saw them have at least two players to choose from. Pomf seemed to have shot covered though – until it took a wicked deflection and slammed past him into the back of our net. As the finger-pointing started, Wayne was quick to remind the lads that this season is all about encouragement. No player will get better if he’s told he’s rubbish. Praise and encouragement will be the flavour of the Reserves this season and so many young lads in the squad, this will be the only way to develop them for the better. 1-1 and it was all-square again…
The goal seemed to knock us a little and we started rushing our play – and this is one thing that the boss wants to eradicate. If we simply just kick the ball, it goes straight back to the opposition and they can come at us again. A simple 5 yard ball sideways or backwards rather than lumping it means we keep possession of the ball and if our movement is good, we will always have options. But we forgot that and with 39 minutes on the clock, it was the hosts that took the lead. Far too much time of the ball allowed their midfielder to pick out the striker and as the ball fell just inside our box, miscommunication between Matty and Alex Williams allowed their No. 8 just enough time to rifle his shot just wide of Pomf’s dive and into the back of our net. 2-1 and we had it all to do again…
Thankfully going behind seemed to kick us back into gear and with four minutes of the half remaining, we were back on level terms again – and once more, this was a stunning team goal that started right in our left-back position. Nathan was back defending like a terrier and he managed to muscle their winger off the ball before racing down the wing at speed. Despite their full-back running full-tilt trying to get back goal-side, he couldn’t catch our man and he played a glorious ball into the path of Ricky. He laid it off instantly to Kayden who had already seen the run of Ste down the right and as he slipped it inside their full-back, our winger had the time and space to pick out Ricky about 10 yards from goal and with one-touch, he brought it under control and slammed it past their keeper and into the roof of the net. A great goal! 2-2 and County were back in business…
The referee decided soon after that he had seen enough for the first-half and as he blew his whistle for the break, both teams made their way in knowing this was still very much all to play for…
Half-time: Old Bolts Reserves 2-2 BOLTON COUNTY RESERVES
As the lads gulped their drinks and got that fresh air back into their lungs, the coach set about his job. He reminded his troops that for the first 30 minutes we were in control – but that lapse in concentration will always be exploited – so we need to stay switched on from minute one to minute 90. Some of our football was a joy to watch so we had to keep to that. Keep making the ball do the work and make sure that we kept pressing them high up the pitch. A couple of changes were made – with Callum Chadwick coming on for Kayden and Tom Jackson slotting in at left-back in place of Shaun – and as the lads trotted back out there, it looked like they wanted this…
The second half started with our boys getting back to basics – passing the ball well and waiting for the right opportunity – and on 49 minutes we though we had retaken the lead. Another great move down our right saw the ball pinged into the box and nipping in front of their Harry Kane lookalike centre-half, he managed to wrap his foot around the ball to fire it goal-wards – but it smashed against the base of the post and away from danger. So close -but further proof that if we played our football, we would get more chances. But on 66 minutes we saw a strange moment – when Pomf went down complaining of blurred vision. A keeper that can’t see is a worry – but he said he was alright to continue until a couple of minutes later he asked to come off. This caused some confusion as there wasn’t a back-up keeper here, so in a move that saw Ben Stewart come on, Alex Williams go in net and a bit of a reshuffle here and there, we were ready to go again. Pomf was O.K and we hope that he’s alright for Wednesday as well. On went the game though and with Alex in net, this was sure to get interesting. And boy did it – with the lad making a world-class save when their striker thought he had curled one into the bottom corner – but there was Alex to dive full-length and tip it around the post for a corner. We were all stood there in disbelief. A superb save! But he followed that up by making a hash of at least three other shots – as they either went through his hands or his legs – and with Wayne standing there holding his heart in his mouth, Alex was right when he reminded everybody ‘none have gone in have they?’ Class…
But there was still a game of football to be won here and Bailey came on in place of Nico as we pushed on for that all-important fifth goal. With 72 minutes gone, Gatesie set off on a mazy run through the middle and from all of 35 yards out, he connected sweetly with the ball to see his shot rise and just go over their bar. Unlucky – but another sign of the growing confidence within these players. And the look of joy when we did finally grab that next goal was a joy to see. More neat football between the front four saw the ball out on the right and as it came into the box, we all filtered across – to see it played back in and there was Ste Palin to just about get his boot to it and flash it wide of their desperate No.1 and into the back of their net. 3-2 to County and as his team-mates raced across to celebrate with him, that was his second in two games. A good acquisition to the ranks already some may say…
We weren’t finished there though. Oh no. We had the taste now and some of football was flowing, quick and on-point. And with 81 minutes gone, the pressure told as it was the team in blue that scored again. Liam had won the ball in the central area and as he drove forward, he found the feet of Ricky just outside the box. As Liam kept running, Ricky dribbled around their centre-halves before sliding it inside and there was Mr Haycock to finish with aplomb from about 15 yards out. 4-2 to the County and surely that was that now…
Jude and the returning Bradders then came on in place of Ste and Nathan respectively – both of whom were giving a warm round of applause from the travelling County fans gathered behind the respect barrier – and as the seconds ticked away, the coach reminded his players that they needed to stay focused right until the end. And they did. Each and every one of them out there today had put in a shift and as the referee blew to end the game, it was another deserved victory for the lads. Good work-rates. Great football. And only a 10-15 minute period where we switched off and were made to pay. We’ll take that – and we’ll move forward determined to put those things right. The handshakes were done with pride and we want to thank Stew and the lads at Old Bolts for welcoming us so warmly. A great work-out and we wish you all the very best for the coming season. But this was about us again now – and with two wins back to back, we move on to Tottington United Development squad on Wednesday night looking to make it three out of three. There will be faces missing from today – but also faces coming back in – and with all of this geared towards the opening game of the season in five weeks time, things are looking good that’s for sure…
What more can we ask for eh? Seven goals scored. It’s the four conceded that we’ll be working on but for now, we’re more than happy. Ricky had a great debut as did Jake and with the younger lads getting valuable minutes, things are looking good. Long may it continue eh?
#UpTheCounty