Two defeats on the bounce. Seven goals conceded and not one scored. And after going all the way through to March unbeaten, these are truly hurt. So as we all awoke this morning knowing the task in front of us, it was going to be a really happy day – or another miserable Saturday night. 2nd-placed Tintwistle Athletic Reserves were to be the visitors to Radcliffe Road for this one and knowing that they’re up there fighting with Govan for the title, we knew we’d have to be much improved if we wanted to end that losing streak. With the rains falling on Bolton all week, it’s a credit to our groundsman that this game was on – and with the away side having to travel over 90 minutes to get here, it was good to know they were actually making that trip with a match at the end of it. So as people started arriving at The County Ground, a good little buzz started to fill the air…
With Bolton Wanderers playing last night, there seemed to be a larger crowd than normal gathering for this one and as Callum put the lads through their paces, Wayne took the defence and worked on keeping a line with them. We knew that after going to Manchester last week and trying to contain, today was about us being at home and going all-out on them. We needed to make them worry about us rather than the other way round and as the lads came back in to hear the starting 11, that was the message being conveyed. We were going back to the 4-3-3 shape that meant Pomf in net and a back four of Shaun and Matty at full-backs and the usual pairing of Gatesie and Robbie Holt in the central areas. The midfield trio saw Alex Williams joined by the returning Liam Haycock and a first start for Jack who has impressed on his two sub appearances so far. That meant up top we had the forward-pairing from last week – Ste and Nathan – flanking either side of Yatesy in the middle. The bench was strong as well – with Aaron, Adam, Callum Chadwick and Rav to choose from – and as the lads got together for their last briefing, Wayne’s message was clear. We needed to fight more. We have shown over those past two defeats that when the chips are down, we seem to shut up shop and go hiding. No team wins doing that – it is only the individuals out there that can put that right – and that started today. Win your own battle, keep the ball going to a blue foot and when the chance presented itself, strike at goal. And if the away side did take the lead, then we needed to regroup, encourage and find a way back into the game. The lads seemed to take the message on board – and then with a wry smile, the boss announced that he wanted to go right at them from the start – and laid out a ‘secret’ plan to do just that. The lads rallied each other and before we knew it, we were out there ready for action…
The rains had made it very soft underfoot and it was the away captain that won the toss, electing to keep his end so we won the kick-off. That fell into Wayne’s plans and although the lads changed it a little, we got the game underway – only to take the lead within the first 47 seconds. Liam laid the ball back to Alex and he played it straight forward to the right. There we had four men charging forward and as Jack went up for the header, their defender managed to get to it and clear it away. But all he could do was play it into midfield and in an instant, we spotted Yatesy making a darting run through the channel – so the ball was fed onto his right foot and he did the rest – by tapping it past their last defender and curling a delicious shot inside the right-hand post from about 16 yards out. A great goal – and even better because it was planned. We had something to look after now and with the score at 1-0, the smiles were coming back onto the County faces…
Pomf kept the scores level shortly after though because on 6 minutes, they had a great chance to level. A long ball pumped forward seemed to catch us unawares and as their striker burst through, he was clean-through on goal/ He drove his shot towards the bottom corner but there was Pomf to get down and parry it away from danger. An almost certain goal avoided by our No.1 and we had to make sure that he wasn’t made to do that too often…
The battle in midfield was fierce but with Liam Haycock back in there – and Jack playing really well – we seemed to be more than competing. Alex was working hard to lay off the simple pass and whenever we did get it forward, it looked like we could cause them problems. But when they had the ball, it was clear that they were searching out their quick No.11 on their right – and he had electrifying pace that was causing Shaun to work overtime in trying to get back goal-side of him. We were doing well to cover the spaces but it was something we definitely needed to consider…
But with 14 minutes on the clock, the score-line was level – and once again we had given our opponents a gilt-edge chance to get a goal against us. Like we said last week, no team seems to have to work hard to score against us and this time it was a silly penalty that was awarded to the visitors. They had a flurry of corners that we were doing well to defend but when this one came in, the referee blew his whistle and pointed to the spot – adjudging Shaun to have pushed his marker. A huge debate ensued in the penalty-box but the man in black had made his mind up – so up stepped their striker to send Pomf the wrong way and put his side level again. 1-1 and when are we going to learn eh?
Shortly after that we decided to bring Shaun off and replace him with Aaron – whose pace could potentially nullify their winger. It seemed to pay off as their threat down that side diminished and as the half wore on, it was becoming a really good battle out there. Pomf made another outstanding save as their striker burst through again but with Robbie and Gatesie playing out of their skin, their chances were very few and far between. All the lads looked up for this now and it was good to see that conceding the penalty had not knocked our confidence. We wanted this – and it was clearly showing. So when we retook the lead on 36 minutes, it had the whole of the County Ground on their feet. Some neat play down our left saw the ball fed towards the corner flag and not giving up the chase, Nathan kept it in when their full-back thought it was going out of play. He dribbled it past him and spotted Yatesy on the edge of the box. A crisp pass into his feet and in an instant, John saw Liam charging forward. With the deftness of touches, he laid it into his path and Liam did the rest – drilling it low and hard into the bottom corner and giving their keeper no chance of stopping it! A great goal all-round and more importantly we were back in front. 2-1…
Then came what looked like a nasty injury to Jack’s knee – and one that ended his game – when he went in for a big challenge with their central-midfielder. It was a hard, fair tackle – but as Jack got up and went to win the next one, his leg went one way and his knee the other. It ballooned instantly – so a trip to A&E it was for young Mr Holt. Such a shame as well because he had shown some great skills and an excellent first-touch – so we hope he won’t be out for too long. On came a handy replacement in Callum Chadwick and on went the game…
All over the park the lads in blue were giving it their all and Robbie was playing out of his skin – winning every tackle and every header with ease – so it was pleasing for the coaches to see the difference here compared to the previous two games. But the important part was not to ease up as there was still very much all to play for here. Yatesy saw a good run ruled as offside and Ste was constantly trying to run behind their left-back to get the ball across. We won a corner just before the break that saw us lining up exactly as the boss had asked and the great running of the three lads saw the ball swirled in and only just miss the rising blue heads that were trying to use every sinew to stretch their neck to reach it. So unlucky – but signs that we were not finished here by any means of the imagination…
Half-time: BOLTON COUNTY RESERVES 2-1 Tintwistle Athletic Reserves
As the lads came in, they knew that they had done well out there – but Wayne and Callum were quick to remind them that nothing was won yet. Sure – we had done everything we’d been asked to and it saw us come in at the break with the lead – but that could all be for nothing if our concentration and effort levels dropped so it was about going back out there and doing it again now. We had to stop that pass out to their right-winger and stop giving silly free-kicks away around the edge of our box. We also had to stay away from the referee because although some of his decisions were going against us, we simply had a job to do – and if we could at least keep this lead, then the points were in the bag. So with their drinks drunk and the skipper’s words ringing in their ears, they were back out there and ready to go again…
The second half started just as we expected with the away side quick out of the traps and looking to get back into this – but our defence weathered the storm and at times looked really comfortable in possession of the football. Gatesie was sleek with his passing and Robbie was a brick-wall that nothing or nobody was getting past this afternoon. Just past the hour-mark we decided to switch things up on the left – with Adam replacing Nathan and Rav coming on for Aaron – and on we went with our mission. A good move started by Alex saw the ball fed between him and Liam into the path of Callum. He sprayed it into the run of Ste who hooked a good cross in – but it just evaded Yatesy’s leap and Adam couldn’t get to it at the far post. Another good sign though…
However on 73 minutes we were all-square again – and it was another soft goal that saw it come. Their midfield had found a yard of space for probably the first time this half and they quickly fed it through the only gap there to see their striker run onto it – and he made no mistake in slamming it past Pomf and into the back of our net. Was all that hard work going to go to waste? Would we throw this away now feeling sorry for ourselves again? We’d soon find out…
The away side very nearly took the lead on 79 minutes as well – as a ball down their left saw the ball curled into our box and as Pomf came out to claim it, the ball seemed to curl away from him and stranded about 10 yards from his net, their nippy No.11 raced onto it. He clipped a great ball to the back post where three of his team-mates were steaming – only to see that man Robbie rise highest to nod it clear from danger. Great defending and definitely one to be considered for Man of the Match…
We then brought off the skipper who had given his all out there and Rav moved over to the right with Aaron sliding back on the left and as the seconds ticked away, if there was another goal then the team that got it would surely clinch all three points. Pomf made yet another fine save when they broke through but could only slam their shot into his mid-rift and if we did manage to hold on, he would have had a major part to play in it. But there was another goal – with 82 minutes on the watch – and it was County that got it! Winning a free-kick over on the right – after yet another fierce tackle by the away side – Alex Williams went across to take it. He told his colleagues where he wanted them to line up and as they duly obliged, the faithful home fans looked on. In came an inch-perfect cross and making a run to match it, there was the rampaging Robbie to climb highest – with Yatesy right behind him – and slam his header low and hard past the diving Tintwistle keeper and into the bottom corner of his net. Pandemonium set in around The County Ground with the players and supporters jumping up and down and if that was the last goal of the game, our efforts had more than warranted it…
The final minutes were played out with the away side pouring forward in search of an equaliser – and their bench getting more and more frustrated with the referee – but our defence stood tall and firm as they had done all game and there was no way they were going to let this go now. Tempers rose – on both sides in truth – but it showed the importance that these three points meant for both teams. But that was that. We had done it! The referee played about four minutes of injury-time that seemed to last an eternity but when that whistle went, it was pure relief for the boss. His troops had done exactly what he had asked of them and the proof was in the pudding – that had been a fantastic performance and a much-needed victory. The handshakes were done with passion and as both teams left the field of play, it was the team in blue smiling the most…
Even the Chairman came into the changing room to join in the celebration with the lads for this one and with the music booming, this is a better feeling than the one we’ve had for the past fortnight. Proof that working hard and giving your all does bring results really. Robbie and Pomf were the stand-out performers here today – but credit goes to each and every one of them for playing their part in keeping these three points in Bolton…
There’s a week off next Saturday so the next time we’re out is away at Heywood St James Reserves in fourteen days time. It would be great to see as many of you over there as we can as we look to grab another three points and finish as high up that table as we can. Today proves that we have it in us – we now need to do it consistently to show we mean it…
A great day at the office in truth. As the lads got themselves ready to party tonight, they deserved this one…
#UpTheCounty!