Last weekend’s hammering of Leigh Genesis in the County Cup had seen a few more smiles around the camp during the week – but today it was back to the nitty gritty of league action with the visit of our old friends from Manchester Gregorians and a game that we knew we needed to win to get our season well and truly back on track. Today’s visitors were coming over having only secured one point from a possible 15 so far so as the lads started arriving, they knew that the time was now…
The weather wasn’t being too kind to us as the winds had picked up and the rain had reared it’s ugly face for the latter half of the week – but the pitch at Radcliffe Road looked nice and would have a definite zip to it – made for our flowing football. The lads were put through the paces and when the starting 11 was announced, there was only one change to the team that started seven days ago – with the returning Tom Aspen in at centre-half replacing Hodgy. Charlie once again had a starting role up top with Kain in net and the bench was made up of Robbie Smith, Matty Leatham and Smalley. The management trio just reminded their lads to play their own game, make sure we worked hard for each other and when the chances came, we had to put them away. With the last preparations done, both teams entered the field of play to a warm round of applause and the next 90 minutes provided bags of entertainment…
The opening exchanges were pretty scrappy as the wind played it’s part – but there were still easy chances for both sides that should really have been converted. The ball was spending most of it’s time either in a midfield battle or in the air where it wasn’t going to cause either team problems so with both Dave’s urging the team in blue to relax and get it down, on went the game. And just past the half-hour mark, the first real chance of note came and that was by way of the referee blowing his whistle and pointing to the spot. A good ball through the gap saw Robbie Kennedy race onto it and as he approached their keeper to go round him, all their No.1 could do was bring him down and the man in black had no choice but to give the spot-kick. Up stepped Ax to take it and as he made his run-up, the home supporters expected to see the net bulge – only for their keeper to get across and make a great save. The rebound thankfully fell to the feet of Ax again and this time he managed to bundle it over the line to give us the lead. 1-0 to County and we’ll take anything at the moment…
Going behind seemed to spur on the visitors and it wasn’t long until their first real bit of football to note saw Kain bending down to pick the ball out of our net. They managed to slide the ball across the six-yard box and there was their striker with the simple task of tucking it home from close range. 1-1 and it was all to play for again…
Things got worse before the break though and this time is was Kain that had a rush of blood as he tried to play the ball out from the back – and as soon as the Gregs player robbed him of the ball, there was only going to be one outcome He strolled forward to stroked the ball into the back of our net from about 8 yards out – meaning that as we went in for the break, it was the visitors that were in the lead. This was definitely not in the script…
Half-time: BOLTON COUNTY 1-2 Manchester Gregorians
As to be expected, the language coming out of the home changing room at the break was more blue than our kit as Houghie set about changing their mind-set. We were giving them this game so far and they were not having to work hard for anything so that needed to change – and it needed to change now. We had to get back to doing what we do best – crisp, quick football – because if we didn’t, this game was going to run away from us. The lads seemed to be taking it all in as they knew things could be a whole lot better and with their lungs re-filled with air, they were back out there ready to put this right…
And right from the whistle that re-commenced proceedings, it was the home side that looked the most lively as we got the ball down and started to play football. We were making them work hard tracking us up and down the flanks and the gaps were appearing for us to pass into. Ax drilled a good effort just past the post and as the minutes ticked by, the ball was spending most of it’s time in the Gregs half. We just needed to convert one now…
Changes were made that saw Charlie and Robbie Pollitt replaced by Matty and Smalley and soon after, we were back on level terms. A brilliant passage of play saw us move the ball from left to right and back again before it was fed into the feet of Robbie Kennedy and he tapped the ball home past the helpless Gregs keeper. 2-2 and we were back in this now…
But that old adage of staying tight after just scoring came into play again and within a minute, the visitors were in front again. Having just come on, Smalley was guilty of calling for the ball but the Gregs attacker got there first and as he slotted the ball past Kain, we all stood around looking at each other. The elation of pegging it back to then going behind within a minute was clear for all to see and we needed to stop feeling sorry for ourselves and get to work again. 2-3…
And boy did we! Because in the next attack, we were straight at them and a great 1-2 between Carl and Ax saw the former take hold of the ball on the edge of their box and as he looked up, he spotted just enough space to whip his shot around the outstretched leg of their defender and inside the far post! What a goal! And at 3-3, this game was still there to be won by either side…
Having come on up top, Matty had been causing all sorts of problems for their defenders and it was he who grabbed the seventh – and decisive – goal of the game. Released by a great ball down the left, he managed to take hold of it and as their keeper came out to narrow the angle, Matty managed to scoop the ball over him and into the back of his empty net. Another great strike and a goal worthy of winning any game. The home fans were ecstatic and as his team-mates rushed to celebrate with him, the look of his face showed he knew how good that was. 4-3 to County and now we had something to look after…
We did look after it and when the final whistle went to end the game, all three points were staying in Bolton – but fair play to the visitors as they really made a game of it. We wish them all the very best for the rest of the season and if they keep playing like that, it won’t be long until they start seeing more points on the board. But for now this was about us and these three points were much needed. The handshakes were done with pride and as the teams left the field of play, the supporters rightly showed their appreciation…
The bosses were rightly pleased with the result and as they gathered their troops, the message was clear. We made hard work of it – with some individual errors proving costly – but a win is a win and we move on. This win takes us up to 12th in the table and with the next league game being away at Springhead in a fortnight, these points were gratefully received. Next week is back to County Cup action and it’s West Lancs League Division 1 side Carnforth Rangers making the 53-mile journey to Radcliffe Road for the 2nd round tie. We’ll be hoping for a good performance from the boys as we look to progress and we’d love to see as many of you there as we can cheering us on…
So as the dust settled on another Saturday, it was back to Tonge Cricket Club to chew it over with a pint and some sarnies and as the lads relaxed, they knew these could be an important three points somewhere further down the line…
#UpTheCounty!