This is never a trip to be relished as it’s always raining when we travel over to take on today’s hosts Springhead FC – and that task was going to be made a little tougher today considering the poignancy of the day for the home side. Their Manager Lee McAllister was making his 600th – and final – appearance in the dug-out and then stepping into his capacity as their Club Chairman after the game. So you can imagine the passion and desire from the hosts to get a ‘win for the boss’ here…
Both sides would be looking to get back to winning ways after away defeats to Moorside and Govan & Uni of Mcr and as our lads began to warm up, the rain continued to fall. It was clear from the off that we had several players missing today as some were in Prague and others at weddings – but we still had enough available to more than give a good account of ourselves. The starting 11 was announced half an hour before kick-off and it saw us electing to go with the 4-3-3 shape again. Charlie was back between the sticks after his excellent clean-sheet for the A team last weekend and our ‘make-shift’ back four consisted of Keiran and Alex at full-backs with Houghie and Liam Hulme providing the steel in the middle. The midfield trio was made up of Shorty, Smalley and Louis and with an attacking three of Sam, Dylan and Phil, we were good to go. Cole and Asumani made up the bench and as the coaches gave their final instructions, the scene was set…
Both sets of players and the match officials rightly provided a guard of honour for the Springhead Management team as they made their way out onto the pitch and as the teams got themselves ready for the off, we had a mission here. All of the jovial pleasantries had to go out of the window now as we had a football match to win. The whistle went and we were underway…
And right from the off it appeared that the passion of the day had already got to the hosts as within the first five minutes there could have easily have been three yellow cards dished out to the hosts for some rash tackles – but the referee allowed play to go on and as the game progressed, it was County that took control – with some good football and a few half-chances falling our way. The final ball was just lacking but at least we were getting on top of the battle now…
We were looking sharp in the attacking areas now and with our front three giving their defence plenty to think about, we took the lead on 18 minutes. Winning a corner, Dylan had the thought of mind to do things quickly as as he spotted Kez jogging up from the back, the Springhead back-line didn’t – so he rolled the ball to him and from 15 yards out, our Kez passed his shot into the far corner of their net leaving their keeper no chance of stopping it. A good strike and more importantly, we were now in front. 1-0 County and that quietened the home support somewhat…
It was all the team in blue now and when we did get it down and play, we looked good. Smalley and Shorty were once again dominating the central areas and picking out some good balls when they found an inch of space. With 32 minutes on the clock, we managed to surge forward again and all the home defender could do to stop us advancing was give away a free-kick about 20 yards from goal. They lined their wall up – but they may as well have bricked one – because Dylan leathered his dead-ball kick into the opposite top corner of the net and as their No.1 bent down to pick it up, there was nothing he could do to prevent it from happening. A fine strike and as the County players rushed to celebrate with the scorer, we now had that two-goal buffer. 2-0…
The hosts tried to huff and puff but whenever they did get it forward, our defence were coping with whatever they had to offer. Just before the break, we thought we’d gone three goals to the good when a great ball from Sam played in that man Dylan again and from an impossible angle, he managed to strike the ball back across goal only to hit the post and go away from danger. He was so unlucky not to have grabbed his brace there and could we be left to rue that opportunity?
Half-time: Springhead AFC 0-2 BOLTON COUNTY
As the lads sat down, the coaches set about their task of ensuring these three points came home with us now. We need to relax and keep focused as we knew they would be their changing-room receiving a royal roasting right now – which meant that they would come out all-guns blazing from the restart. Dig in, see through the first 15 minutes or so and then we go hunting. Cole came on in place of Alex and as the lads went back out there, they all knew what was required…
We were right. They did come out looking more lively – but it looked as though they had abandoned their attempts to play football and had chosen to pump it forward and see what they could get from it. We all thought they had grabbed a goal back on 54 minutes as they managed to strike it past Charlie – but the flag was up on the opposite side and despite the protestations of the home faithful, the goal was ruled out. A warning though…
Just past the hour mark Kieran took a knock and couldn’t continue – so on came Asumani to give us that pace for the last 30 minutes. And it wasn’t long until a golden opportunity presented itself to him to grab our third goal and to sow this game up – only to see him screw it wide and the chance was gone. Liam Hulme had picked him out no more than 4 yards from goal and with the net gaping in front of him, he could only stick his effort wide when it looked easier to score. The County bench held their heads in their hands as they knew that was it – but on went the game…
And the very next attack from the home side saw a slight lack of communication make Cole put his defensive header out for a corner when letting it go would have resulted in a goal-kick for us. They played the ball in and obviously – they managed to get a good header on it and the ball rocketed past Charlie and into the back of our net. 1-2 and that had got the home fans rocking again…
This was a good game now as both sides knew they could get at the other but it was County that should have scored next when we broke well and as Louis was about to stick the ball in the net, it looked for all to see that he had been taken out by the home defender. The only people that didn’t seem to see it were the ones that count – and as the referee waved play on, the action continued…
We definitely should have scored on 70 minutes when a poor clearance from their keeper fell at Asumani’s feet and as he shaped to knock the ball into the empty net, it looked to bobble and he could only slice it out for a goal-kick. We were getting the chances but we had to convert one soon…
Because then came the sickener. We had worked hard to keep control of the game but on 81 minutes, what seemed like a poor cross from the Springhead winger just got to our near post with no attackers anywhere near it. Unfortunately as Charlie went to claim it, he could only spill it right into the path of the only oncoming Springhead player and from about 5 yards out, he didn’t pass up on the gift-wrapped present and slotted the ball home. The scores were now level and there seemed to be a party going on in between the home fans now. 2-2…
The equaliser made for an interesting last 10 minutes or so as we still pressed in search of the winner – but that vital goal just wouldn’t come for either side and when that final whistle went, both teams knew they’d been involved in a good, good game here. In truth it had been a valiant effort from the County lads with so many missing – but in reality, it felt like we’d gifted them a point here with two unnecessary sloppy goals. The handshakes were done with passion and as both teams made their way from the pitch, it was clear that the hosts had a good night planned for their departing boss. Everybody connected with Bolton County FC wants to wish Lee and his coaching team all the very best for the future – and we are sure that Springhead will continue to prosper with him at the helm. Don’t be a stranger – and make sure we see you at The County Ground for the reverse fixture…
We move on. There will be more options to choose from as we welcome 4th-placed Dukinfield Town to Radcliffe Road next weekend but we do need to praise the lads that were here for their efforts today. There were debuts for young lads from the Reserves and they did their best to compete – so the future looks good as well as the present. We hope to see as many County fans there as possible cheering them on in seven days time and let’s hope the weather’s a little more welcoming as well eh?
A point is what we started the day with. A point is how it ended. Not bad really…
#UpTheCounty!