It’s always good when you can put the pressure of points to one side for a while – and whenever Cup football comes around, it always brings a different feeling. This one was big. It was the Lancashire Amateur Shield and we were making the trip up to Preston to take on Lostock St Gerards so already we knew this was going to be a task and a half. Today’s hosts currently sit 3rd in the Premier Division of the West Lancs League so as we began to arrive, we knew that there was a challenge in front of us. We were up for it though…

There was a good set-up over here and although the main pitch had taken the brunt of the persistent rain we’d seen all week, we were playing this on their second pitch and as a tidy little crowd began to assemble, the County lads were put through their warm-up’s. Right from the outset we could see one major face missing was that of Dylan’s – sunning himself on a beach somewhere – so whoever was tasked with filling his boots would have a large role to play out here today…

And when the starting 11 was announced, it saw us going with the usual 4-3-3 shape that saw Pomf between the sticks and a back-four of Houghie and Hodgy in the middle and Liam paired with Ben T at full-backs. The midfield trio was made up of Smalley, Louie and Shorty and those attacking three were to be Ax partnered by Asumani and Phil. The bench had Robbie Smith – back from injury – Matty Hill and Nathan Bancroft and as the lads made their final preparations, the message from the coaches was clear. Just play our football and not the occasion and make sure that we work harder than them. Sure – it was going to take a mammoth effort for us to get anything out this – but we have it in us so go out there and prove it. Both sides made their way out to a rapturous round of applause and before we knew it, the whistle had gone the action had started…

There was a frenetic pace to the opening exchanges as both teams really went for it from the off and with the hosts attacking well down their right-flank, Liam was working overtime to stop them getting through. The partnership between Hodgy and Houghie at centre-half – albeit fledgling – is quickly becoming as solid as a brick wall and as the game moved on, there weren’t many clear-cut chances of note…

With 9 minutes on the clock, it was the hosts that had the first real sight of goal when they won a corner over on their left and as it was swung in, up leapt their midfielder – but thankfully he could only divert his header wide of Pomf’s left hand post and away from danger. Signs that they could press us when they went forward though so we needed to keep an eye on that…

They then began launching long-raiding, diagonal balls over the top of Liam and although he dealt with most of them well, there were a couple of occasions where their winger managed to get in behind but we smothered whatever he tried to muster and on went the game…

It took us until around the 20 minute mark to really get going and when we did, we were pinging it about well and looking to probe – but without the attacking prowess of Dylan up there, we just looked a little lack-lustre in the final third. We did have a great chance to score when Phil picked the ball up in the middle of the park and set off on a mazy run that saw him cut through the Gerards’ defence – only to see him shoot wide with the whole goal opening up in front of him. Unlucky – but if we want to win ties like this, we need to put away any chance that came. At least we were making them though…

The hosts won a flurry of corners that we defended well and on 37 minutes, their midfielder threaded a good ball through the channel to see their No.9 hit a good volley towards goal – but we managed to deflect it wide for yet another corner that we defended well again. In truth it was the home side that were looking the more likely – but we were still very much in this that was for sure…

Half-time: Lostock St Gerards 0-0 BOLTON COUNTY

As the lads came in and grabbed their drinks, Dave and Damo were quick to praise them and told them that if we could raise it, there was something here for us. Focus and concentration and making sure that when the space did open up, we took full advantage of it. Good effort so far but there was still another 45 minutes to go so go out there, pick it up a little and let’s see what happens. With the lungs re-filled, we were back out there and ready to go again…

And the first real chance of the second-half fell the way of County and should have seen us take the lead. Winning the ball in the middle of the park, we worked it well up the pitch and as it came to Smalley on the edge of the box, he hit it sweetly and the ball looked destined for the back of their net. That was until their defender got across to block it somehow and the ball deflected onto their keeper at pace – but they managed to swipe it away and the chance was gone. We thought that was in…

Back came the hosts though and they were inches away from going in front after a superb cross was swung in inch-perfectly only to see the header diverted just wide of Pomf’s upright and out for a goal-kick. This first goal could prove to be crucial here…

It came on 56 minutes. But unfortunately for us, it was the home side that got it and if we’re honest, there wasn’t much that we could do about it. They worked it quickly down their left and that pesky winger of theirs – who had already shown glimpses of what he could do – managed to turn us inside out before curling a delightful shot around the outstretched dive of Pomf and into the opposite corner of our net. A good, good goal and even the County fans appreciated it. We had work to do now. 0-1…

Going behind could have made us go into our shell here – but we did the exact opposite and just past the hour-mark, we made our first change of the game as Robbie Smith came on in place of Ben T. We saw a good effort from a free-kick blocked by their wall and as the game moved into it’s final-third, it did appear to be County doing all of the pressing…

Nathan came on in place of Smalley on 75 minutes and as with County doing most of the attacking now, it was the St Gerards side that were showing their defensive qualities now. We had a couple of good efforts blocked and there was some good last-ditch defending by the team in stripes as we kept peppering away at their goal in search of that elusive equaliser. Matty came on in place of Louie on 82 minutes and with the County faithful urging their heroes forward, we had around 10 minutes to stay in the County Cup…

But that was that really. We just couldn’t find that cutting edge that would provide the gilt-edged chance that we needed and when the whistle went to end the game, it was the side from Preston that were in the hat for the next round. Our lads had given it their all though and as the handshakes were done with pride, both sets of players knew that they had been involved in a really good cup-tie here today…

Massive respect to Lostock St Gerards for their hospitality today and we truly wish you all the best for the rest of the competition – we’ll be keeping an eye out to see how you fare. And as for the County lads, they can make that trip back down the M61 knowing that they had given their all for the cause and there’s not much more anybody can ask for really is there?

Next weekend sees us make a rare home appearance as we welcome Atherton Town to The County Ground so it would be good to see as many of you down there as possible cheering us on for that one…

So. We’ll have to wait for next year if we want to claim the County Cup. Oh well…

#UpTheCounty!

(Copyright of the photos to SnapperNat Photography – and thanks to today’s hosts for allowing us to use them!)