Well what a week that had been! Last weekend’s dismal display that saw us perform heroics to come back and not lose – followed by a turbulent training session – had seen a need to refocus and getback to what had served us so well since July. We needed to enjoy ourselves. We needed to smile. And we needed to make sure that we let our football do the talking. All that wasn’t going to be easy today though as a trip to Atherton Town is never a ‘gimme’ so we knew that we’d have to raise it a lot from last Saturday. There were also significant changes to the squad as well – as Robbie Pollitt and Smalley were joining Robbie Smith and Liam Hulme from the first-team and with Liam Haycock injured, it was pretty well-timed. So as the lads made their way over to Howe Bridge, there seemed to be a confident mood in the air. That changed as we turned up and heard Wayne singing at the top of his voice. Was that a good sign? We’d soon see…
The changing rooms couldn’t fit 16 players in all at once so as the lads got changed in dribs and drabs, it was clear from the outset that we weren’t playing on the pristine pitch at Butler Park – but more like the quagmire that was behind the trees! Oh how Division 4 is different eh? So as we made our way out for the warm-up, we didn’t realise it was about half a mile from the dressing room! So with lads forgetting their shin-pads, drinks and things, this wasn’t ideal preparation. And that was compounded when news filtered through that Liam Hulme’s groin hadn’t lasted the warm-up – so when the starting 11 was announced, it still saw us going with the 4-2-3-1 that Wayne seems to favour. Pomf kept his place between the sticks and the back four saw Robbie Smith drop in at left-back to join Matty on the opposite side and with Gatesie and Robbie Holt in the middle, we looked solid. Smalley came in to partner Alex in the two and with Robbo starting his three-match ban for last weekend’s early bath, we decided to pull Callum Chadwick in more centrally to play as CAM. That meant that Robbie Pollitt was starting on the left and it was a first start of the league campaign for Ste – out since the last pre-season friendly with a major shoulder injury – out on our right. Ricky was starting up top on his own and once again we had a strong bench with the likes of Bradders, Rav, Josh Nicholson, the returning Jude and Liam Hulme. As the lads gathered round, it was clear that a level of planning had gone into this – was Wayne had turned all ‘Joey Barton’ who diagrams and lists and stuff. But as he said, the coaching stuff were not just making things up as we went along. We do have a plan. And a Plan B. And even a Plan C if needs be. So if we did what we were asked, then there was every chance of picking up the three points here. So as the lads got themselves ready, the rain continued to drizzle whilst the camera-man made his last touches to his equipment. That’s right – this one was being recorded so we could analysis it intrinsically and as the referee called the captains forward, the scene was set. Both skippers were informed from the outset that neither keeper could go up for a corner – as they were both wearing green – and with that, he blew his whistle and we were off…
The game started at a frenetic pace with both sides getting accustomed to a pitch that was very soft underfoot and making turning sharply pretty difficult – but within the opening minute or so the match official really set his stall out when the hosts won a corner on their right. With their striker pushing and shoving, the referee halted proceedings to point it out to everybody and when the play re-started, we were sure we were going to see a free-kick or a penalty awarded as hands were everywhere – but we defended it well and managed to clear the ball from danger. Then it was our turn to attack and working the ball to Alex Williams about 22 yards from goal, he managed to side-step his marker and curl a glorious shot around their last-man only to see if flash inches wide of their upright. The game wasn’t even 5 minutes old and there had been chances at both ends already…
It was the turn of the team in yellow again and as they worked the ball into the centre, their No.9 managed to break free just enough to slam his shot towards Pomf – but across came Robbie Holt to make a great challenge to divert the shot over for a corner. Again – we defended it well – and on went the game…
We were seeing more of the ball in good areas and when we did get it down and play, we were working our way up the pitch menacingly. With 9 minutes on the clock, Ricky made a great run down the left-hand channel to pick out a great ball to find Callum on the edge of their box and his shot was deflected over for a corner. Robbie Smith swung it in and Gatesie connected well to see his header go through their keeper and into the back of the net – only for the referee to blow his whistle and adjudge that he had leant on his marker. Harsh – but at least we were showing more signs now…
Back came the hosts though and straight from the free-kick, they launched an attack down their left that saw their winger race past Robbie and into the box. From the angle, he hit a smart shot that took good concentration from Pomf to push it over for a corner. Again we cleared it to the edge of the box and the shot that came back in was tame enough for Chris to gobble it up. Still 0-0 but both teams had seen chances to score already…
And then it came. We worked the ball into the feet of Ricky who sped down their right and lofted a cross in that the home side managed to head out. But it fell to Smalley who dribbled past two defenders and as he hit the bye-line, he slid his cross right across the six-yard box and there was Ste Palin to slot it home from about 3 yards. As through all pre-season, he called when he was going score in the car journey to the game – and he had done that again today. 1-0 to County…
We were playing well now and knocking the ball about – whilst also sticking some great tackles in all over the park. Firstly Matty won three in a row to clear the ball from danger and then Alex Williams won a great challenge that ended up being a shot such was the force of it. This was more like the County of old and it was good to see…
Atherton did get sight of our goal on 22 minutes when Pomf punched a long-ball into the box clear – and although he looked offside, their No.9 was able to swivel and lob the ball back in only to see it go over the bar. Warning signs that we needed to stay switched on though…
We were getting on top now and as we always say, when we pass the ball about it’s difficult for any side to get it off us and with 26 minutes on the clock, we pressured them well enough for them to lose the ball about 30 yards from goal and Robbie Smith smashed his shot in only for their keeper to make a good save – but we now needed to get that second goal so that our pressure counted for something. But then we made that fateful mistake of being caught trying to play at the back and they managed to nick it off Robbie Holt and with their first-team’s top scorer Jack Valentine latching onto it, he made no mistake in taking his time before slotting it into the back of our net. All of the hard work and good football let down by one silly mistake. Heads up though – there was still plenty of time to go here – and we had gifted them a way back in so we just had to get back to what we had been doing well for the opening half-hour. 1-1 and it was game-on again…
Ste’s shoulder was starting to show signs that he was coming back from a long lay-off so we decided to bring Rav on at left-back and moved Robbie Smith up one with Robbie Pollitt switching to the right – and on went the game.
Getting the equaliser seemed to give the hosts a fresh impetus and it took a great save from Pomf to keep it level – as he managed to get back to tip over a good strike from about 25 yards – but for some reason we started forgetting that good passing that had served us well for the opening half-hour and the team in yellow started seeing more of it in our half. Their No.10 did get a 10 minute sin-bin for protesting about not getting a free-kick too much but rather than use that numerical advantage to our favour, we seemed to slow things down. Robbie Pollitt did have a good chance but a great last-ditch tackle put his shot out for a corner and then Gatesie took an almighty whack to his ankle as he tried to clear it – and as the seconds ticked away towards the break, we knew that we needed to keep it solid.
But then the inevitable happened. Rather than playing the simple pass, we were guilty of trying to hit it 30/40 yards and when it broke down, their No.9 played it out to their left-winger. Although we all thought he was in an offside position, the referee didn’t – and their No.16 had the simple of task of smashing his shot past Pomf and into the back of our net. The match highlights later showed that the referee had made the right decision and the lad was in fact onside – but now we had it all to do – again! 1-2 and there wasn’t long left until the break…
Half-time: Atherton Town A 2-1 BOLTON COUNTY RESERVES
Rather than walk the long-trek back to the changing-rooms, we decided to do the ‘re-boot’ at the side of the pitch in the rain – and there wasn’t much to be said really. Two silly mistakes had seen us behind but we had played enough good football for this not to be the case. The coaches therefore decided to change it – and we were going to start the second half going with a 3-5-2 shape so that Ricky had more support up top. That meant Matty, Gatesie and Robbie Holt would be the back three, both Robbies would occupy the wide flanks and we’d have Jude joining Alex and Smalley in the middle of the park. Josh was coming on to support Ricky and as Wayne, Callum and Brian urged them to get back to doing what had seen us take the lead in the first place, before we knew it we were back out there ready to go again…
It didn’t take long for Josh to get his first sight of goal because on 47 minutes, he put a good shot wide of the mark after some more good work from Ricky saw him hold it up and spray it out to Robbie Smith who delivered a dangerous cross that saw Josh get in front of his man but could only divert the shot wide. This was better though…
Jude was already putting himself around the place and making some good tackles and the change in shape seems to settle us a litte because it gave us more space down the wings. And that was proven when Robbie Pollitt took hold of the ball and evaded the challenges of no less than five yellow shirts before slamming his shot into the knees of their No.1 and out for a corner. Robbie Smith drilled it in towards the front post and Alex got in front of his man – but could only flick his shot wide of the target. This was better now though and we looked like we wanted this…
Once again though we were guilty of giving the ball away in a dangerous area and it was that man Valentine again that raced through and although he looked offside, he took it a bit wide around Pomf and as he hit his shot, the ball flicked against the back-tracking Gatesie’s head, smacked against the post and back into play. Thankfully none of the Atherton players had gambled – they thought that their talisman had scored – and we managed to clear the danger. It showed how easy this game could slip from our grasp though and we had to keep concentrating…
Robbie Smith’s crosses were causing them issues all afternoon and another beautiful one should have seen young Josh open his tally in a County top. However rather than use his head, he tried to get his foot to it about four feet in the air – and the chance was gone. It’s things like this that the young man will learn in his first season in Open Age football and we cannot wait to see the joy on the lad’s face when he does notch. Now would be nice though…
It was Robbie Smith again who produced our next chance when he slipped a great ball into Jude just inside their box but rather than put his laces through it, he used the inside of his boot but couldn’t generate the power to get it past their keeper who made an easy save. End to end stuff now but we all knew how important that next goal was going to be…
Matty had been struggling all game to be fair – so back on came Rav as we continued our search for an equaliser. There were some hefty challenges going in that the referee seemed to want to let go and as the minutes raced past, we looked destined for our first defeat of the season. But there is a character to these lads that comes out sometimes (not all the time like the coaches would want) and we kept plugging away looking for a way back. Alex, Smalley and Jude were bossing the midfield battle now so all we needed was for one of them to find that pass to unlock this stubborn Atherton defence. But it was Ricky that made the next good opening when he swung a deep cross to the back post to see Robbie Smith in acres of space – but he rushed his shot and could only hit the ball high and wide of the target. We needed to put one of these away – and we needed to do it quickly…
We then won a free-kick about 25 yards from goal after yet another cynical tackle by a player in yellow and this time Smalley placed the ball down – before curling his shot agonisingly wide of the mark – but it was all County now and all we needed to do was put the ball over their goal-line. We were doing everywhere else well but as the seconds ticked away, it was looking ominous. Even more so when an Atherton player hit a snapshot from all of 30 yards that looked like it was dipping in – until Chris managed to get a finger-tip to it to knock it onto the underside of the bar and as it bounced down, all that their No.9 had to do was put it away to win the points – but he smashed his shot high and wide and the chance was gone. We couldn’t keep letting them in otherwise all this effort would be in vain…
Then we should have seen the equaliser when another quality pass from Robbie Smith saw Robbie Pollitt charge in from the right and as he cut his shot back across goal, it went past their stranded keeper – but also past the opposite post. So close – but once again, despite our superiority, the score still stood at 1-2 in the home team’s favour and time was running out…
Ricky then went down with a bad case of cramp – as the old man had put in a ton of work this afternoon and don’t forget, he is nearly 30! – and then the home side made yet another questionable tackle that resulted in only a yellow and us awarded another free-kick. But it came to nothing and with 80 minutes now on the clock, this was running away from us now…
Another good move saw Ricky played through by a great reverse pass from Alex and as it looked as though he got past his man, a big arm came out and pulled him back. Surely that was the last man? The referee went to his pocket – but only produced a yellow to the amazement of the travelling contingent. Alex took the free-kick but it came to nothing and still the search for the leveller continued…
We then made a change that was going be all or nothing – and brought Ricky off to bring Ste back on up top. We pushed both Robbies further up and then had a bank of four or five whenever we got the ball forward. We had to create something now – and thank the lord, we did. Because a great cross from Rav saw him swing the ball into the middle and there was Ste to connect with his header. He couldn’t get enough power on it really – but their keeper still fumbled it but grabbed it at the second opportunity. Sign of things to come in the last seven or so minutes? It sure was…
It was! 83 minutes gone and Robbie Smith nicked the ball off the toes of the Atherton player to knit together a quick 1-2 before playing a glorious pass with the outside of his foot that cut their defence in two – and saw Robbie Pollitt race clean through. As the County supporters held their breath, he held off his man and from the edge of the box, he drilled his shot low and hard to their keeper’s right and into the back of the net. At last we’d done it! The pressure had been telling and we had finally made it count! The County supporters were jubilant – and their No.8 was furious! 2-2 and now it was there for the taking…
Then was a funny moment as in an attempt to tackle Robbie Pollitt wide on the right, their defender could only slide in and take out one of the Atherton Town contingent on the side-lines! Laughter all round – but there was still two more points on offer here – so with about 6 minutes plus added-time to go, we were now looking to claim them all. Jude and Rav had made such a difference since coming on and it was the former that won a free-kick that Alex swung in – and as Gatesie rose highest, we all thought it was in – only to see the ball fly wide of the target when it looked easier to score. Was that the moment? Would we see another one? Unlucky that…
Final throw of the dice – to bring Callum back in top up with Ste in a hope that their pace would clinch it for us – and within seconds it paid off! It was all County now and we moved it up our left again into the feet of Callum. He came inside and laid off a simple five-yard pass to Alex and as he looked up, he spotted a gap to the opposite side of the net. With that cultured left foot, he curled his shot high over their No.1 who was rooted to the spot – and it dipped in just enough time to drop under the bar and into the back of their net. There was pandemonium in the County ranks because with 88 minutes gone, we were back in front! 3-2 and this had been a tremendous effort from the boys in blue..
Alex made himself sick in the celebrations the poor lad – so on came Bradders to help us see this through – but we weren’t finished there. Oh not by a long way. A moment of pure brilliance saw Robbie Smith outsmart two defenders with the same movement and as he nutmegged one of them, the County fans were loud in their appreciation. And then the goal that clinched it. And a good of class from start to finish. Great battling from Jude saw him win the ball over two Atherton players and he gave it to Smalley – who turned sharply on the half-way line and set off. He advanced with options either side of him – but he elected to go to his right and find Robbie Pollitt. He used his tricky feet to dazzle his way past one then two defenders before looking up and slamming his shot past their keeper from about 10 yards. That was that! 4-2 and we had swung this game right around in the last 7 or so minutes. The County fans and supporters alike were jumping up and down and Wayne, Callum and Brian were simply relieved. We’d made hard work of this again – but at least we’d done it…
There wasn’t much time left for any more action in truth so when the referee decided he had seen enough and blew to end proceedings, it was County that were claiming all three points and on the balance of play, we deserved it really. Each and every one of them had played their part in turning this around and the only down-sides to it were giving them their two goals. Apart from that, it was pretty much as planned today and as the lads congregated in the changing rooms, that’s what the boss told them. We had done as we were asked and it paid dividends. Let’s hope they do it again at Horwich RMI next weekend as well…
And as the lads made their way back to Tonge Cricket Club, there was already talk of watching the video – so make sure you check it out here. Thanks to the County fans that came over to cheer us on today and we hope that we served you up a treat. That was a great game wasn’t it?
#UpTheCounty!