Saturday’s 7-1 drubbing of Hattersley FC saw the lads go into tonight’s opening game of the Atherton Charity Cup in high spirits – and it was a trip over to our old rivals Pennington on the cards this evening. We know what games against these consist of and finishing 4th in the table last season, we knew it was going to be a tough ask if we wanted to grab the three points on offer. But we were up for it and as the group started arriving, the mood in the camp was good…
With holiday absentees and more new faces in the ranks, there were significant changes from the starting 11 that took on the South Manchester side at the weekend. Warmed up and ready to go, the starting team was announced and it saw Pomf take his place between the sticks and a changed back four of Kez and Louis Johnson at full-backs with Liam Hulme moving inside to join Ben in the central area. The midfield trio was to be made up of Shorty, Houghie and Boothy and with a front-three of Asumani, Dylan and Ax, we had more than enough to trouble them. The bench was made up of Louis Robinson, Nathan, Callum Short and Phil and with the preparations complete, the lads made their way out onto the field to a rapturous noise being generated from the travelling County fans…
The attacking prowess from the weekend was quickly evident again and we started strongly by making ground down both wings. The final ball wasn’t quite right though and we weren’t really making any clear-cut chances. The hosts were trying their usual diagonal balls over our full-backs but up to now, we were covering the spaces and denying them any opportunities. It was pretty nip and tuck and up to now, neither side looked as though they were on top…
But that all changed on the half-hour mark when a break down the right saw Ax breeze past the defenders with ease and as he looked up, he drilled a low cross into the near post that saw Dylan off the mark quicker than their defenders and he got there first to poke it home. The County fans were jubilant gathered over on the left and as his team-mates rushed to celebrate with him, that was his 4th goal in only our second friendly. Surely that’s a signature we need to clinch now! 1-0 and we had something to look after now…
The home side started to push further forward now and they managed to break through just before the half-time interval. Some sloppy play saw them gifted a chance to equalise but as their striker tried to lob our Pomf, he was perfectly positioned to get his finger-tips to it and push it over the bar. A great save and he’d made sure we were going in with the lead…
Half-time: Pennington 0-1 BOLTON COUNTY FC
The coaches were pleased with what they’d seen so far – but knowing Pennington as we did, we knew that they’d come out fighting in the second period. They would not want to allow us to leave here with the victory – so we had to dig in, see the first 15 minutes or so through and then build from there. Changes were made as Phil and Callum came into the fray and as they gulped their drinks, they knew that it was only half a job done…
As expected, the hosts did come out looking more threatening and the changes seemed to have disrupted our rhythm somewhat so they started playing higher up the pitch. They managed to cut through our defence on 52 minutes and a good ball into the danger-area found their winger unmarked 6 yards from goal – but he could only head it over Pomf’s bar when it looked easier to get it on target. Next up saw a cross swung into our back post and as our defence seemed to stop, their striker could only hit it wide from close range. We were still in front but this was getting so close for comfort at points…
And so it proved when they punished us with their next attack. A ball that looked to have crossed the line and gone out for a goal-kick saw us stop again – but play was waved on and as the ball was fired into the box, they managed to scramble it home from close range. 1-1 and it was all there to go for again…
It was end to end now but the game had become a little scrappy and we needed to settle down again and get back to playing our football. We kept trying to press them high up but the ball just wouldn’t drop nicely for the clear-cut chances we needed. But that was until an attack from the lads in blue saw the ball pinball around their penalty box before falling at the feet of Shorty who cooly dispatched it into the bottom corner from about 10 yards out. A great finish! 2-1 and we were back in front! There was definitely a sense that we could do this now…
The hosts threw the kitchen sink at us now but whatever they tried, our defence were coping with it. And with 82 minutes on the clock, it should have been County that sealed the win. With the ball at his feet, Ax danced and nut-megged his way through their defence and as he slid an inch-perfect pass into Dylan about 6 yards out, the County contingent expected the net to bulge. But this time the hit-man could only steer it inches wide and the chance was gone. That would definitely have been that…
As the game edged towards it’s finale, we played with a steel and determination that showed we wanted this win bad – and when the final whistle did eventually go, it was a solid victory that will give the lads a whole new confidence as the season quickly approaches. Three now against Atherton Town next week will see us progress into the quarter-finals later in the season so if you wanna call it a friendly, then that’s up to you…
A huge thanks to the County fans that made the trip over to cheer us on tonight and we hope that we’ll see you for the next one as well. And once again, thanks to guys over at Pennington for their fantastic hospitality and we wish you all the very best for the season – apart from our two games obviously…
Overall a good night’s work. That will please the bosses…
#UpTheCounty!
