After what seems like months, it was good to finally have a game of football to look forward to – and what a battle we had in store. The last weekend in October and that penalty shoot-out defeat in the County Cup was the last time we played so there could be no excuses of rustiness or fatigue for this one…

This was by no means going to be an easy afternoon though as it was the visit of 2nd-placed Astley & Tyldesley Reserves we had in front of us – and thoughts automatically go back to that heated battle we had at theirs back in September. We threw a 3-1 lead away that afternoon when we got involved in the shenanigans and were fortunate to come home with a point – so that needed to be completely different this time. Due to the awful weather that we’ve seen for the past few weeks, the decision had been made to play this at Ladybridge High School – and as we started to congregate, it was clear the visitors had been here a while already…

Female changing-rooms it was for us then! And as the lads got themselves ready, it was really good to see Robbie and Connor there backing their colleagues. News came in that it’s a lengthy spell out for the latter and knowing that it was against these that he suffered the injury, it was added-incentive to grab all three points here. Out for the warm-up we went and just as the stretches began, so did the rain…

Competition for places is really hotting up now as lads come back from suspension and injuries – but there was only one change made to the team that played so well against Whinney Hill four weeks ago. That was due to Robbie serving a one-match ban for accumulating five bookings before Christmas – so in came Jack to make the midfield trio. We had Jude, Matty, Harry and Spencer to choose from when we needed to switch things up and as the lads made their way out there, all Wayne and Brian were asking was for us to play our football on the floor – and quickly…

The game started and within the first 50 seconds, the scene was set as their flags-man awarded his side an obvious throw for County. Our coaches had demanded that none of us even spoke to their bench today and just let our football do the talking – and on 3 minutes, we had them infuriated as we took the lead. Winning the ball in the middle of the park, we played it into the feet of Yatesy and he spotted Lewis making a great run through the channel. Expertly, he fed it in and with their bench screaming for offside, the referee waved play on – and our No.10 planted his shot calmly past their keeper and into the bottom corner of their net! 1-0 and we now had something to look after – and a long way to go still…

We were looking good though and some of our early passing was crisp and on point. The ball was spending more time in the visitors’ half and that’s always good. 8 minutes in and Liam took a big knock as he went to smash the ball – and the A&T player’s boot got there just as he let rip. A sore one – but he was good to continue – thankfully…

Lewis was running their right-back ragged at this point – so it was bad news when he had to come off on 17 minutes – feeling his calves popping strangely – so on came Spencer and on went the game. The good chances were appearing in their penalty box but for some reason, we just couldn’t put it away – again. With 21 minutes on the clock, we forged yet another glorious chance when Liam got to the ball and flicked it over their defender’s head and into the path of a clean-through Ste – who elected to connect with a good looking volley from about 20 yards out – and with the County fans waiting for the net to bulge, it was a surprise when the ball bounced just wide of the post. These opportunities that were not being converted could come back to haunt us you know?

And they nearly did on 36 minutes. As when we played at theirs, they looked their most dangerous from set-pieces and when we gave away another free-kick about 25 yards from goal, we were just asking them to make us pay. Up stepped their midfielder and he managed to curl it around the wall and towards the opposite post – with Mitch well beaten! Thankfully for the ball slammed against the post but with their attacker stood in our six-yard box all on his own, it should have been 1-1 – but he could only head it wide when it looked easier to score and we were still in front. A warning though…

Alex and Jack were ably supporting Liam in the central areas and Mr Williams was beating their player – who must have been a foot taller than him – to every header. This was helping us find the time and space to attack them at will almost and a minute before the break, we should have doubled the lead. Jack set off on a mazy run towards their box but just overran it a little – only to see it run in front of Yatesy. He drew his right foot back and as he let fly, the ball clipped the woodwork and went over the bar. So close – again…

Half-time: BOLTON COUNTY A 1-0 Astley & Tyldesley Reserves

A bit like the County Cup game, there wasn’t much for Wayne and Brian to say really. The opening 20 minutes or so had seen us playing some nice football – and it seemed that we’d just taken our foot off a little for the rest of the half. Focus. Concentration. And keep our minds on the game and nothing else. That’s what would win this match – alongside actually putting the ball in the back of their net! In truth it could easily have been 5-1 so we needed to be clinical in front of goal now. No changes were made and we were back out there ready to go again…

Nathan and Rav had been working hard all game and that continued as the second half began – with both giving us options down both flanks – and as the game settled down again, once more it was the team in blue that looked like they were in control. We were getting in behind them and with Spencer’s silky feet and Ste’s speed, we were still causing them problems whenever we went forward. Gatesie and Chris had the beating of their strikers and we looked solid all over the park. That second goal really needed to come soon though…

Especially when against the run of play, they equalised! 57 minutes in and once again, a little naivety saw us give away another freekick- this time about 22 yards from goal. We lined up a wall and stood there – but there was absolutely nothing we could do as their player struck it superbly and with Mitch beaten at his near-post, the ball was soon nestling in the bottom of our net. Their bench and coaches celebrated as though it was the Champions League Final – we’re glad a league game means that much to them – but with over half an hour to go, this was now still very much to play for…

Wayne then made our first change as Jude came on for Jack and as the boss urged his troops to just relax and get back to playing our passes, on went the game. We were still on top of the midfield battle and when we did get it into the final third, we were moving it well in little triangles. Ste and Yatesy swapped quick passes that saw the latter shoot straight at their No.1 on 66 minutes and two minutes later, it was the County bench jumping for joy when we deservedly retook the lead. Yet another moved knitted together by Alex and Liam saw the ball fed out wide where Nathan had surged down our right. He fired it into the danger-area and as their defensive line scrambled to get it clear, the ball found it’s way to our Spencer – who kept his cool and dinked the ball into the gap and over the line! 2-1 and as we wheeled away in jubilation, Wayne and Brian knew this was an important last 20 minutes or so…

The visitors almost got straight back in it though when a long ball through the middle saw their striker get it into a shooting position – but from nowhere, Rav had sprinted back and managed to get his leg in front of the ball and divert it away for a corner. Great defending from the lad that…

We then saw some superb skill from Nathan as he dragged it back and made their defender dizzy with his quick feet – and once again, he played it in and we really should have scored but just couldn’t get it over the line. Another change was made as Matty came on for Rav – who received a warm round of applause for his efforts – and with the coach urging his lads to play this sensibly now, we went towards the final 10 minutes or so…

More good work from Ste and Nathan saw us rip them to pieces down our right again – and with Nath floating a gorgeous cross into the six-yard box, Yatesy rose highest to get a great header on it – only to see their keeper pull off the save of the game as he managed to dive full-length and get his fingertips to it to push it over for a corner. That was the winner right there…

Their bench had been remonstrating with the referee all game – which saw the flash of yellow at least once in their direction – and as the game ticked into injury-time, they were screaming for everything and arguing all of the man in black’s decisions. True – a couple of the offside decisions did look a little dubious – but there was no need for the berating of a match official who was probably the best we’ve had all season. They really didn’t want to lose this…

So it was a massive strike to the heart when – with 93 minutes on the clock – they did manage to level the game with the last kick of it! They’d thrown everybody forward for the dying embers of the match and as they hit it long, the ball bobbled around our box before their striker smashed it towards the top-corner – only to see Mitch pull out a stunning save to stop it. The ball was still there though and it took another two top-quality saves from our No.1 to keep it out – until rather than just smashing it out, we tried to feed it to the left – and there was the Astley man to force it home and with it claim a point that they really didn’t warrant. We were dumbstruck. All that effort only to see two points snatched from us right at the death. Sickening. Especially when we saw their bench sprint onto the pitch sliding and everything. Two games against each other with six goals scored by both. Not a cigarette paper between us eh?

That was that. There wasn’t enough time to restart and when the final whistle went, it felt more like a loss than a hard-fought point. We’d played so well that’s the worry. You know when we said would those missed chances come back to haunt us? Well it proved that they did…

Fair play to the Astley players as the handshakes were done with pride – and both teams left the pitch knowing that they’d been in a real battle out there – so we wish you all the best for the rest of the season and a safe journey home…

Onwards and upwards though. We’re still doing alright and if we can win our games in hand, then the table will look a lot healthier than it is. There needs to be a special mention for all of the players today as they really did play their hearts out – Nathan and Rav excelling and our midfield winning their individual battles a majority of the time – and Spencer got yet another goal to add to his tally. All in all, there was nothing to be too disheartened about and if we’re upset with a point, it just shows the expectations of this squad. These were 2nd at the start of play and we played them off the park really. Good signs moving forward…

And that starts next Saturday with another difficult fixture – away at Bagueley Athletic Reserves – but if we play as we know we can and put our chances away, there’s every chance we’ll be sat here in seven days time with all three points. Fingers crossed people…

Massive respect to the County Barmy Army that were there in their numbers this afternoon – we really appreciate it – and as the dust settled on another Saturday’s football, it was back to Tonge Cricket Club we went…

#UpTheCounty!