The midweek reversal at Leigh Foundry not only saw us out of the Atherton Charity Cup – but it hopefully also served as a reminder that no game of football at this level is a walkover. Sure – we haven’t had our full squad to choose from for a number of months now – but the players we have in this squad should be doing a lot better than we have been. So today was another chance to put that right as we made the trip over to the Phoenix Ground to take our Heywood St James who only got their first point on the board with a 3-3 draw at home to Springhead in the week and knowing that we won this fixture 5-0 last season, the mood in the camp was good as we arrived. Damo gathered his troops for their warm-up’s and as they stretched out, he was urging them to do what they do best – and that’s getting the football down and passing it sharply, moving into the spaces and getting in behind. The starting 11 was announced and it saw a debut in net for Matt Heaton – signed in midweek on a dual registration with Chorley FC and for the newly founded relationship, we thank Andy Preece and all the guys at Chorley. The back four was going to consist of Robbie Pollitt and Kieran in at full-backs and Finchy had Chris Hough in the central areas with him today. The three in the middle were made up of Shorty, Mal and Robbie Kennedy and the trio to give us that edge up top were to be Sean, Tom Ax and Carl Airey. There were only three on the bench as well – Robbie Smith, Brian and young Kain McGaughney – and as we made our final preparations, the lads seemed pretty upbeat. Would today be the day we broke our duck and got our season back on track? The next 90 minutes or so were soon to show us…
But things couldn’t have got off to a worse start really because within 4 minutes, it was the home contingent that were celebrating the opening goal of the game. They had played it forward and as we tried to shepherd it out for a goal-kick, in nipped their attacker to cut it back to the edge of the box and in running was their No. 8 to slam it past Matt and into the back of our net. A good finish in truth but we had it all to do now. 0-1…
Thankfully we didn’t drop our heads and as the half wore on, it was County that were doing all of the pressing. We were working it well through the channels and giving our attacking players plenty of chances to see the ball – so it was no surprise when we levelled just past the half-hour mark. The ball had found it’s way to Ax’s feet and as he shimmied this way and that, he made his marker dizzy before weaving towards the left and floating a glorious cross towards the back post – where Robbie Kennedy was steaming in and from a tight angle, he rifled his shot past the helpless St James No.1 and into the back of their net! As he wheeled away in celebration – with his team-mates rushing to join him – was that the goal that kick-started our campaign? Let’s hope so…
The rest of the first-half saw both sides trying to win the midfield battle and it was a pretty tight affair. Mal and Sean were working hard to find the spaces and Houghie and Ax were doing a great job in unfamiliar positions – and as the whistle went to end the half, it was still all to play for…
Half-time: Heywood St James 1-1 BOLTON COUNTY
Damo gathered his troops and reminded them that despite the fact we were still not playing to our full capacity, we were still very much in this game – so if we could make that final ball meet it’s man and then get round him to support, more and more chances would present themselves here. Keep it tight at the back and then we should be alright here. No changes were made and the lads were told that they had 10/15 minutes to go back out there and make sure it wasn’t them that was brought off first. The lungs were refilled with quality Heywood air and before we knew it, both teams were back out there ready to go again…
The second period was pretty much one-sided – with County dominating but just unable to find that final ball. We were pushing them back at every opportunity and when we did get in behind them, Carl and Sean were giving them things to think about. So it was a surprise to everybody in the ground when – against the run of play – it was the home side that took the lead again. A huge punt upfield saw their striker race clean through and as Houghie came across to try and deny him the shot, all he could do was bring him down and the referee had no hesitation in pointing directly to the spot. Up stepped their striker and BANG! – he smashed it past Matt and into the back of our net. Football can be so cruel and having made all the running, it was the team in blue that had to come back again. 1-2…
Parity was restored moments later however when we got the ball into their box and as Ax went to try, it looked like their defender had taken his legs from under him and once again, the man in the middle had no choice but to award the penalty. The responsibility was given to Mal and as he placed the ball down with confidence, the County supporters held their hands over their eyes. He made his short run-up and WHALLOP! – he drove his shot deep into the bottom corner and it was all-square again. 2 apiece…
We then forged forward in search of the winner and created numerous chances to do so – but that darn ball just wouldn’t go in! Ax and Sean had superb opportunities to get on the scoresheet but couldn’t force the ball home and Carl and Mal also saw good efforts saved by the St James’ keeper. We just had to keep plugging away and hoping it would come. Robbie Smith came on in place of Robbie Pollitt with 15 minutes to go and we kept surging forward whenever we got the ball down and moved it..
But then with what turned out to be the last kick of the game, the home side had a fabulous opportunity to steal all three points – and they would have done if it wasn’t for a world-class save by our debutant Matty Heaton. They had played the ball into the box and with their striker about five yards from goal, he hit his shot towards the roof of the net and to everybody in the ground, the ball looked in – until from nowhere, Matt had managed to cover so much ground to get his hand to it and push it over the bar and avoid almost certain defeat. What a save! He quite rightly received a rapturous round of applause from both sets of players and supporters and with that, the whistle went and we had secured our first point of the season. The handshakes were done with pride and we wish our hosts all the very best for the rest of the season – but as we walked off the pitch, it was a case of was that three points dropped – or did Matty’s save at least get us one?
Damo praised his boys to the hilt as they came in as that had been the best performance of the season so far so he made sure they knew it. If we can continue working as hard as that and getting our settled squad back in place, then the signs are there. But things don’t get any easier in this division as we make the trip over to take on Rochdale Sacred Heart – who currently sit third having won all three of their games – so the lads will need to be right at it from the start if we want to bring anything back to Bolton. Training will be used on Wednesday night to work on a few things and when we come out for that one, believe us when we say we will be giving it our all…
A massive thanks to the County supporters that made the trip over to cheer us on today and it’s always great to see you there backing us wherever we go. Let’s hope we can bring you joy in seven days’ time eh?
#UpTheCounty!