That trip over to Lytham Town Reserves last weekend was definitely worth it – as the lads showed that they had the kahoonahs to pull back a 0-3 deficit when it looked to all the world that the game had gone. So as we started arriving at The County Ground for this one, the mood was good and we were buzzing. This game was supposed to be played over at today’s opponents Eccles United 2nd’s but the deluge of rain that hammered down this week soon put paid to that – so for the excellent work done by our Graham, we were able to switch it to ours and it was ‘Game On’ again…

Knowing that the league fixtures had been announced yesterday and that our visitors today were in division, it was a chance to see how we fared against a side that we’d play twice over the next 10 months. So as the lads gathered, it was obvious immediately that there would be changes to the team that started over on the Fylde coast seven days ago. And when the team was announced, there was a big surprise. The boss had decided to completely change his formation and told the squad that we were going with a 3-5-2 shape for this one. It was done for a reason – as some of these lads had not even been pre-season training yet – so they definitely needed minutes and work in those legs. It saw Steffan in net again with the three in front of him being Chris, Gatesie and Jack Holt – with Stephen on the left and Yatesy on the right as wing-backs. The middle three saw the returning Jude and Liam – joined by Robbie Holt – and then we had to go with Connor and Lewis up top after last weekend’s second half. That meant that we had Tyler, Matty, Cam and Aaron to call upon when needed and as the lads came out for the start, a good crowd had started to gather. The whistle went and our third friendly was underway…

Once again though, we were slow out of the blocks and it was obvious that the new formation wasn’t being adapted to very well. A long ball from the Eccles full-back was pumped down their right and catching us a little flat-footed, their winger managed to race through and with only Steffan to beat, he calmly curled his shot around our No.1 and into the back of our net. 0-1 and we hadn’t really started yet…

We started to pass the ball on the floor – as per the pre-match instructions – and when we do that, we look a really decent side. So it was no surprise when we equalised on 18 minutes as a good move down our right saw us win a free-kick about 30 yards from goal. Across went Connor and as he did last week, he crafted a delicious ball into the box that saw Yatesy rise highest and as he headed it across, there was Ste Palin ‘rising like a salmon’ (there you go fella – told you it was going in!) and he nodded the ball over their keeper’s reach and into the back of their net. 1-1 and despite the fact that we hadn’t clicked into gear yet, we were back level…

Then we imploded. For some strange reason we decided that we would try to just to pump the ball forward with no intent or purpose – and this just gave it back to Eccles. They then lofted it over the top and with us still struggling to get to grips with three at the back, as soon as we missed that first header they were through. And their striker made no mistake in getting to it before Steffan and curling his shot around him and into the back of our net. 1-2. And that soon became 1-3 when an almost carbon-copy ball over the top ended in the same result and as it nestled in the back of our net, we were 1-3 down and had it all to do again. We did it last week though so why couldn’t we do it again?

We then saw a bit of a MMA grabble and hold move as Gatesie marked their attacker so closely he was nearly in his shorts – and after some wrestling and a talking-to by the referee, both players got back to playing football. We had a great chance to reduce the deficit then – and as the ball was fired across the six-yard box, we all waited for Lewis to slam it home – but it looked like he had tried to flick it into the net and their defender/goalkeeper managed to stifle it and the chance was gone…

Half-time: BOLTON COUNTY A 1-3 Eccles United 2nd’s

As the lads came in, there was the usual chunner of disgruntled voices – but Wayne soon pulled it back and got into them. He took full responsibility for the ‘unusual’ formation – but that does not excuse poor effort and we needed to raise it hugely if we wanted to get back into this. We’d done it last week so there was no reason to doubt we couldn’t do it again. Pass the ball, move and get it back. Simple. The boss then announced that we were going to go with a 4-3-3 for this second 45 – so on came Tyler to drop in at left-back as Jack went to the right and we slipped Ste into the middle of the park with Yatesy joining Connor and Lew up top. That front three looked tasty – so let’s see if they could deliver now?

And within two minutes of the restart, the score stood at 2-3. The ball had landed at Steffan’s feet and he played a glorious ball that saw Yatesy not only beat their last man but also their offside trap and he made no mistake in drilling his shot past their keeper from about 16 yards out. Already we had shown that we had more than enough to trouble them up there so Wayne and Brian urged their troops to keep going…

Aaron and Matty had come on by now and both adapted quickly to the pace of the game – but on 58 minutes, the visitors regained their two-goal advantage when their striker was given far too much time inside our box to turn and pick his spot before slamming it past Steffan and into the top corner of our net. In truth it was a great finish – but he should never have been allowed the time to do it. 2-4 and we had it all to do again…

No drama. Just past the hour-mark we managed to work the ball through our midfield with those quick, sharp passes Wayne had been asking for and at exactly the right time, Jude played an inch-perfect slide rule pass between their defenders and into the path of Yatesy. His pace saw him breeze past his marker and he clipped it over their keeper from about 14 yards out to see the ball snuggle into the back of their net and see the score-line stand at 3-4…

We had the bit between our teeth now and had started to play some really good football in patches – and having four at the back was really suiting us. Some good chances had gone to waste but the real goalscoring opportunities were coming our way and now we had to put one away. And on 71 minutes we did! The Eccles side had seen a good attack broken down by Robbie winning the ball in his own box and he drove out into open space quickly. Looking up, he played a fantastic pass into the run of Lewis who sprinted down our left at speed and left his marker for dust. With a superb exchange of passes with Yatesy, he got to the bye-line and fed a great ball across the six-yard that saw Connor get in there as quickly as we would expect and slam the ball home from close range. There it was! We’d done it again! We’d pulled back that half-time deficit so if only we could start from the first minute eh?

That equaliser saw us release the brakes now and we were purring with some of the passing going on in the middle of the park. Ste was putting in a right shift and ably assisted by Jude and Co., every time we played the ball out to the central area, it was the lads in blue that were getting the best of it. Their No.7 had been a constant threat with his guile and determination but apart from that, it was all County now. And with 78 minutes on the clock, we got the chance to take the lead for the first time this afternoon. More great football saw us get the ball into Connor inside their box and as he jinxed this way and that, their defender could do no more than swipe his legs from under him and the referee had no hesitation in pointing directly to the spot. Up stepped Mr Robinson and as he hit it, their keeper managed to dive to his left and stop it from going in. But he could only put it straight back to Connor and this time he remained calm, picked his spot and coolly slotted it home from about 8 yards out. 5-4 and we had the lead! Why oh why do we make it so hard for ourselves?

We hadn’t stopped there either. It was all County now and the swith in formation was really paying dividends. As the clock ticked into it’s 81st minute, another attack saw us feed the ball from left to right and back again and as it was forged into the path of Connor, he lobbed their keeper with panache – using the outside of his right boot – and the ball dropped under the bar and into the back of their net. Surely that was that now and with the score standing at 6-4, we’d shown that if we can do this from the start, then we can be a force to be reckoned with…

Wayne then decided to bring Connor off – so that he could receive the rapturous applause of the faithful County fans – and on came Cam to see a slice of the action. Robbie had taken a knock to his hip so came off and Gatesie came back on but in truth, this was done now so when the referee called time, both sides knew that they’d been in a right ding-dong this afternoon…

Handshakes were done and the players wished each other all the best for the coming season – we’ll play for six points during it – and as the lads left the pitch, it was a case of job done but hard work made of it. The real stuff starts in two weeks when we welcome Milton Reserves to The County Ground and when things get serious, we cannot afford to give away silly goals in the first half. Sure – Wayne knew that the 3-5-2 was going to be different – but when we’ve got jobs to do, we simply need to do them. Enough of that for now though. Three games into pre-season and still unbeaten. Sounds familiar doesn’t it?

Nuff respeck’ to the Eccles United players, coaches and supporters for making the journey over today – albeit at short notice – and we wish you a safe trip home. Thanks so much for leaving your changing-room as tidy as you did and we promise we’ll reciprocate it when we come to yours soon…

So with the dust settling for the afternoon and the County lads on their way to Tonge Cricket Club, we move on. There’s no game planned for next weekend although we are on the look-out – so make sure you keep checking back to see where we’ll be. You have to come and watch us. In the three games so far, there’s been 25 goals scored so you’re guaranteed entertainment even if the boss doesn’t like conceding…

Starting 11: 
Camps
Gates
Gettins
Holt. J
Holt. R (c)
Rawden
Haycock
Palin
Yates
Robinson. C
Cook. L

Subs:
Fearnley, Barlow, Cook. C, Barnard-Sutton

#UpTheCounty!