The preparations were done. Pre-season had gone a little better than expected – apart from that debarcle over in Whitworth last weekend – but today was what it was all about as we were welcoming Milton Reserves to The County Ground for the opening game of the 2023-2024 season. This was the visitors first competitive action in the Manchester Football League and as they arrived, they were warmly greeted. There’s always an excitement when points are there to be won and as our lads got themselves ready, there was a buzz about the place…
There was tinged with some trepidation from Wayne though as it became apparent that our keeper hadn’t arrived and leaving it so late, there was no time to call Callum up either. So hastily arranged, Ste Palin was going to be between the posts today and as the lads began their warm-up’s, it was already a case of backs against the wall. But that’s how we like it and as they were put through their paces, the boss knew what he wanted to do. And when the team was announced, it saw us keeping with the 4-3-3 that has served us well over the summer. Gatesie was joined by Robbie in the heart of the defence and there were full debuts for Tyler Barlow and Harry at full-backs. The midfield trio saw the return of Robbo as he slotted in beside Jude and Liam and the top three stayed the same considering how potent they have been off late. We had three on the bench for this one – Matty Fearnley, Callum Keegan and Spencer – and with the boss urging them to play the ball on the floor, we were good to go. The weather looked as though it wasn’t going to be kind to us but hey – it’s August in Bolton! – and with a sharp blow of his whistle, today’s match official Mr Hayes got our season underway…
The County lads looked like they wanted this and the early exchanges saw us seeing most of the ball. With 6 minutes gone, Jude set the pattern to his afternoon when he played a delicious pass into the run of Connor on the right and as he beat his marker, he looked up and saw Robbo making a charging run into the middle. A great ball saw our No.10 smash his shot goal-bound – but he could only direct it straight into the mid-rift of their No.1 and the chance was gone. A good start though…
Minutes later we nearly took the lead again and this time it was the opposite way round. Connor raced down the right flank and left his marker for dust – before chopping it back to the edge of the box where Jude was running in. He wrapped his foot around the ball and as it looked destined for the roof of their net, their keeper managed to get across just in time to tip it over for a corner. A great effort and we looked the most likely at this point…
The only blot to this so far was that we hadn’t taken the lead – but we soon put that right on 22 minutes. More good work between the midfield and the front three saw us win a corner over on the left and as Connor swung it in, there was Yatesy to climb highest and hammer his header into the back of their net – leaving their keeper wondering where it had gone! A great finish and eventually our pressure had paid off. 1-0…
That soon became 2-0 as just past the half-hour mark, Jude showed a skill above his years as he hustled and bustled their midfielder from just inside our half. The guy in green tried all he could to wrestle our Jude away from him – but our No.6 didn’t give him an inch and as he forced him to face his own goal, the only thing the Milton player could do was try and pass it all the way to his goalkeeper. But he didn’t account for Yatesy’s pace and as our No.14 raced through on goal, the outcome was inevitable. The ball nestling in the back of the opposition’s net and we were 2-0 to the good. All credit to Yatesy for the tidy finish – but Jude made it no doubt. We were playing well now and the lads were enjoying it…
The visitors heads seemed to drop at this point and minutes later, John should have had his hat-trick. Not allowing their full-back any time, Lewis made a great tackle and came away with the ball. He raced down the flank before firing a great ball into the near-post – but this time Yatesy could only direct it wide of the mark and the chance was gone.
Not to be thwarted though, with 35 minutes on the clock he got his third goal – and once again Jude was instrumental in creating it. The visitors tried to play the ball out from the back and Jude intercepted it expertly before sliding it into the run of Connor on the right. He cut inside and showing great composure, he fed it through the gap so that Yatesy had the simple task of picking his spot and burying it into the bottom corner. 3-0 and that had been a great piece of play from the team in blue…
When we got it down and played it quickly, they just couldn’t keep us with us – but at times we got complacent and began forgetting the good stuff. That allowed the team in green to see a bit more of it and Stephen was called into action on 42 minutes as he managed to bat away a good effort from their right-winger. The rain had been a constant downpour throughout the half so when the whistle went for the break, there was no point in going in. That had been good – but nothing was won yet…
Half-time: BOLTON COUNTY A 3-0 Milton Reserves
The lads came in knowing that they’d done well out there – but that was so far – so we needed to concentrate and keep a clean-sheet now. Wayne and Brian asked the front three to get closer together and whenever we did pour forward, we had to remember to defend as well. Harry had done really well so far and some of his simple passing belied his tender years and all across the park, we were doing our jobs. Just raise it 10% now and let’s see where it takes us. Matty came on in place of Tyler and as the second half began, we knew that there were more goals here if we wanted them…
And within three minutes of the restart, it was 4-0. The Milton defence tried to hoof the ball clear again and this time, Robbo rose like a salmon in the middle of the park to plant a solid header through the channel and into the path of Lewis. Once more, he used his silky skills to breeze past their full-back before cutting it back inside to find Jude charging forward – and calmly our young No.6 side-footed into the bottom corner of their net! A stunning finish and it was in the second it left his boot. 4-0 and we just had to keep going now…
A clash of knees saw Robbie go down in a heap and as Wayne and Brian rushed on, he was already signalling that he needed to come off – so there was a chance for Callum Keegan to come in at centre-half and show us what we’ll be missing when he goes back to Cyprus tomorrow – and as the game wore on, it was clear that we’d taken our foot off the gas now with the result all but secured. With Wayne bellowing out the need for clean-sheet, that seemed to be the focus now. Lewis had two good chances to increase the lead as more good football saw him clean through – but both times he tried to curl it around their keeper with the outside of his boot and both times he was thwarted. If goal-difference is to count at the end of the season, we may look back on this one and wonder why?
With 64 minutes on the clock, Yatesy came off to a warm round of applause for his efforts and he was replaced by young Spencer Derbyshire – making his County debut – and within 83 seconds it was an inspired substitution. We won the ball in the middle and fed it into Harry who was again remained relaxed and kept possession of the ball with a great pass down the line. We raced forward in numbers and as the ball came into the mixer, there was Spencer to get to it first, take it past his marker and drill his shot into the back of their net from about 10 yards out. A great strike and what a start in the County colours for the lad! 5-0 and that clean-sheet was the thing Wayne wanted most now…
We had the bit between our teeth now and some of our football was blistering. We were moving it quickly and the movement off the ball at time was superb. Jude and Robbo – ably assisted by Liam – were well on top of the midfield battle and the former pair exchanged passes numerous times before Robbo slid it through to Lewis and this time he made no mistake as he smashed it under their advancing keeper and into the back of his net. 6-0 and this was turning into an opening day that we could have only dreamt about…
In sliding in for challenge on the half-way line, Callum had pulled his hamstring and although he tried to soldier on (see what we did there?) he had to come off – so back into the action came Robbie Holt. And on 77 minutes, he was glad he had – as he got his name on the scoresheet as well. We won yet another free-kick on the right and Connor swung it in expertly to see Robbo there again – climbing highest to plant a great header towards the top corner. It was in all the way until their keeper managed to get there to push it over and from the resulting corner, we fired it into the danger-area and despite it bobbling around, there was Robbie to smash it towards goal, deflect off their defender, onto the bar and into the back of their net! 7-0 and as he wheeled away in triumph, Wayne was quickly telling him that was going down as an own-goal! (It hasn’t mate – don’t worry…)
Then it came. The one thing the boss wanted to avoid. They pumped it forward and rather than go to head it, we let it bounce. Sure – there was some pushing and shoving going on – but we had ample opportunity to clear it before it found it’s way to their No.11 and in fairness, he clipped it really well to catch Stephen slightly off balance and the ball glided into the top corner nicely. A good goal to be truthful but one that we didn’t need to give away. 7-1 and that slightly took the gloss off an otherwise perfect afternoon…
There was still more to come and we then scored what was arguably the best goal of the game. At times our passing had be so fluid that they couldn’t match us and this move was absolutely breath-taking. Stephen had the ball and saw Robbo in space so gave it to him quickly. Robbo fired in thigh-height to Lewis who got his leg up high enough to flick it back inside their defenders to where Robbo had continued his run. He took it forward with their midfield trying their best to get back and cover and at the exact right time, he fed it out towards the left-wing where Lewis took hold of it again and as he sprayed it across the six-yard box, there was Connor to move quicker than anybody else and he slotted it home leaving their keeper no chance of stopping it. A great goal from start to finish and one worthy of ending the afternoon. 8-1 and this had been a good start to the campaign that’s for sure…
And that was that. The man in the middle blew his whistle to end the game and a special mention must go to Kaan Hayes for top-class officiating – letting the game flow and making sure the players knew what he expected – so we wish you all the best for the season Sir. And top marks to the Milton players and supporters for never giving up and always being part of this match. The Manchester Football League is a good, good league and we hope you keep your chins up as the season goes on. A safe trip home and we’ll see you all again soon…
Jude was quite rightly awarded the Man of the Match today – closely followed by our Robbo – but they can all go home tonight knowing that they’d given their all for the cause. We wanted three points when we arrived and we got them. Job done. There’s no game next weekend and we’re back out again on 26th August when we welcome other newcomers Avenue Reserves to The County Ground. Knowing that they’d lost 3-8 to Little Lever Reserves today means nothing as our lads will have to play as well as they did today every week if we want to be successful this season – so make sure you get down for that one as it’s sure to be a cracker…
One game. One win. Say we are top o’ League….
#UpTheCounty!
STARTING 11
S. Palin
T. Barlow
H. Tonlinson
A. Gates
R. Holt (c) (1x goal)
T. Robinson (1x assist)
L. Haycock
J. Rawden (1x goal, 1x assist)
C. Robinson (1x goal, 2x assists)
L. Cook (1x goal, 2x assists)
J. Yates (3x goals)
SUBS
M. Fearnley
C. Keegan
S. Derbyshire (1x goal)