Having played our opening game of the season three weeks ago, today was going to be another chance to see the Reserves in action – but crikey the preparation could have gone better. With the boss away on business in Turkey, this was an opportunity for Callum and Brian to prove their mettle as they were taking the lads over to take on Leigh Genesis knowing that our undefeated run since July was at stake here – and they were doing so with a depleted squad. With the Holt brothers still banned, we also have a growing injury list that saw Rav added to it overnight with a busted lip caused by his own dog! With Josh, Ste Palin and Jake still out and Nathan away on holiday, this was going to be a real test of the depth in this group of players. But forever optimistic, the lads set off in good spirits – but would they be coming home still feeling like that? We’d soon find out…
As we arrived the astro at Leigh Sports Village looked to have about 304 different coloured lines on it but the lads were quickly changed and out there warming up. The skies were cloudy and it was a dull afternoon if we’re honest – but as they limbered up, they looked in the mood for this. One thing that was strange was wearing our away kit for the first time this season so County were adorning our red kit this afternoon – and when the coaches announced the starting 11, it was done to fit the personnel available – because for the first time this campaign, we were going with a 3-5-2 so as to keep it tight at the back but still have options going forward. Pomf once again took his place between the sticks and the three in front of him was made up of skipper Matty, Gatesie and for the first-time this season, Liam Hulme was in for the ressies. There were debuts for Luke Harrison and Aaron Barnard in the wing-back slots and the solidity in the central areas was to be provided by Alex Williams – who worked really hard in training during the week – joined by Liam Haycock and Tom Robinson. That meant that we were going with the one and only Bradders up top and he too was joined by another debutant – Jamal – who also impressed up at Ladybridge on Wednesday night. There were only four named on the bench for this one – Ben, Callum, Jude and another new-boy in Sam. We were ready to go and with Wayne bobbing in via video-stream, the lads were set. Callum and Brian reminded them to just play their football and make sure we challenged for everything. There had been a late change to the match official for this as well and as he called the captains together, the next thing he did was blow sharply on his whistle and the game was underway…
Right from the off it was County on the front foot and it looked as though we had adjusted to our new formation well as we were spraying the ball about and playing it out from the back. Utilising the pace we had on the wings, it was long before Aaron managed to pick the ball up on the left flank and race at their full-back. Getting just enough space, he delivered a glorious ball into the box that saw Luke time his run to perfection – and as he met it, he calmly placed his shot past their keeper and into the back of the hosts’ net. 1-0 to County and we were off and running…
Using the roll-on, roll-off option, we decided to bring Jamal off for a rest and on came Callum Chadwick into the fray but the home side looked stung by the goal though and it wasn’t long before they turned the tables and snatched the equaliser. The ball had been played into the danger-area and some mis-communication saw them snap their shot in and it crept past Pomf’s hands and into the back of our net. We were all-square again and needed to re-focus to get back on top of this. 1-1…
Credit where it’s due though and our heads didn’t drop as we continued to play the brand of football that is now becoming regular with County’s ressies – playing out from the back and working our way through the thirds. Some good passing in the middle between Alex Williams and Robbo saw them break through the lines and an inch-perfect pass saw Liam Haycock take hold of it. He dribbled the ball around the Genesis defenders like a prime Christian Eriksen and from all of 25 yards out, he looked up and smashed a peach of a shot into the top bins – leaving their keeper with no chance of getting anywhere near it! What a strike! And as his team-mates rushed to congratulate him, the look on his face showed he knew how good that was. 2-1 to County and we had something to look after now…
The home side kept trying to come forward in search of levelling again but our back three and Pomf were performing heroics and with that brick wall there, they were struggling to find a way through – but when they did, there was our Pomf making some great saves to keep us in the lead. And when the referee decided he had seen enough and called a halt to the proceedings, it was the team in red going in with the lead. A good 45 – but another great 45 was going to be needed if we wanted to bring all three of these points home to Bolton…
Half-time: Leigh Genesis Reserves 1-2 BOLTON COUNTY RESERVES
As they came in, the coaches gave them a stern talking to because this game was by no means over yet. Due to being bigger physically, the home side had started to put some hefty challenges in so we needed to focus on our own game and keep our playing our football. When we did that, there were opportunities arising so maintain that, keep defending as well as we had been and then these points were in the bag. Sam came on to make his debut in place of our Bradders and after what seemed like only 5 minutes, the referee had both teams back out there and we were off again…
The efforts the lads had put in was starting to show though and the legs were starting to tire – so that meant Callum and Brian had things to think about. Alex Williams had taken a knock to his ankle and although he was soldiering through, it was clear that he wasn’t 100% – so on came Callum in his place and on we went. But the Leigh players were determined now and on 58 minutes, they levelled again. A nothing ball caused too many issues and as the ball bounced around, up popped their midfielder to rifle it past Pomf and into the back of our net. 2-2 and it was very much still game on…
The County players could have gone one of two ways here – we could have retreated into our shell to protect the point we had and therefore our unbeaten run – or we could go for it to see if we could make it two league wins out of two. We were grafting hard and each and every lad out there was giving his all – so you can imagine the look of delight on Callum and Brian’s faces (as Wayne’s tuned in via Brian’s phone!) when we grabbed the fifth and decisive goal of the game? A quick counter-attack saw us move the ball well and as if fell to our Robbo’s feet. As always, he used his silky skills to move it away fromn the Genesis player and as his inner-De Bruyne came to the surface, he found enough room to carve out the space to curl a great shot wide of their keeper’s outstretched arm and into the back of his net. A great gaol and as he wheeled away, his team-mates rushed to celebrate with him and those celebrations reverberated as far as 3000 miles away with the boss jumping up and down. 3-2 to County and once again, we had something to look after now…
Liam Hulme had been showing what we’d been missing throughout pre-season as his performance out there this afternoon was first-class and ably supported by Gatesie and Matty, we were looking pretty tight back there. But the home side were pressing hard to get back into it and they were as that pressure grew, so our shoulders went back and we dug in. There was no way they were going to get back into this easily – but then our skipper signalled that he’d taken a bit of a knock and we had to change things. On came our Ben Stewart and having been away for four weeks and it not being his natural position, he was majestic in ensuring that the home side couldn’t get anywhere near Pomf. And let’s speak about Pomf. The lad has made a great start to the season and improving week on week, he had another storming performance out there today making some great saves. We needed to see this out though and upon asking the referee how long to go, he said ‘2 minutes’ – but then decided to play what seemed like another 10 minutes to the point we thought it would continue until they scored. But it didn’t. We defended like an army and when the man in black blew his whistle for the final time, we’d done it. We’d made it six points out of six and ensured that the undefeated run continued even in the absence of the Manager. The lads had really earnt that – each and every one of them – and as the handshakes were done, there was a level of respect amongst the players that was good to see. That’s handy – because we welcome them to the County Ground in a fortnight’s time. But for now we’d take this and as the lads left the field of play, they were quite rightly warmly applauded by the travelling faithful…
The coaches praised their troops to the hilt as that had been a great team-effort out there. We put our bodies on the line for the cause out there and the reward sees us sitting 2nd in the table and only us and Chadderton EDS with 100% records. That will do won’t it? Liam Hulme was awarded the Man of the Match for his David Wheater-like performance at the back there and it was great to see him back working hard. But credit goes to every lad wearing a red shirt today and they all played their part in this victory. A great day at the office all-round really…
There’s no game next week as our planned trip to Tintwistle has been postponed due to their participation in their County Cup so we’ll try and arrange a friendly but if not, it’s Leigh Genesis at home on 8th October. See you then yeah?
July to October unbeaten. Let’s hope we can say that again next month people…
#UpTheCounty!