Nothing like an away day eh? Last weekend’s 3-3 draw away at Halshaw Moor saw us get our pre-season campaign started – but today was another level as we were making the trip over to take on Lytham Town Reserves on the Fylde Coast in what proved to be one of the best games of football we’ve witnessed for a very long time…
The squad is gelling again – as do most squads at this time of the season – but we were making this journey with a good few faces missing. Drafting in some triallists especially for this one, Wayne was going over here looking for more valuable minutes in the legs and not much else. Despite finishing 2nd bottom of their division last time out, they beat last season’s champions Eagley Reserves in a friendly last weekend so we knew that they would be a tidy outfit. So as we met early doors, the squad assembled and we began our 43 mile trip…
The maze of a changing room was compact to say the least and as the temperature rose, the lads got themselves ready. There were some new faces here for sure and as they warmed up, the boss had decided to revert back to the old style 4-4-2 so he could try and stay solid and see how some of the lads fared. That meant Steffan was starting in net for the second game running and our back four consisted of Tyler on the left, Bradders on the right and Gatesie joined by Chris in the middle. In front of them were to be Robbie Holt and Tom Robinson and either side of them stood Aaron on the left and Ste Palin on the right. Lewis Cook was once again starting up top but today he was joined by Connor Robinson – a guy Wayne has been after for a while now – so we looked potent in the attacking positions. The bench was big as well – as we had the likes of Simon Adams, Cam Cook, Lucas, young Harry Tomlinson and Matty Fearnley to choose from – and as the lads made their final preparations, Wayne’s words were loud and clear – pass the ball, do not simply hoof it and make sure you gave your team-mates options to give it back to you. The result wasn’t important – although we always want to win – this was more about getting to see how each other play together and more minutes in the legs. The referee informed the players that he had officiated the Bolton Wanderers game in the week just before he blew his whistle and in a flash, we were off…
The opening stages seemed to find us struggling to get out of first gear and the hosts could sense it – pushing up further back at every opportunity. Most of the early action was played out in our half and on 11 minutes, the Lytham side took the lead. As we tried to mount an attack, the final ball wasn’t good enough and in an instant, they were attacking us through the middle. We were outnumbered and as the ball was played into the feet of their striker, he drew back his foot and shot at goal. It looked like Steffan had got across and down quick enough to stop it – but the ball bounced off his wrist and fell just inside his left-hand post. Unlucky from the new lad – but he was going to redeem himself massively before the end. 0-1 and we had it all to do now…
We still couldn’t get going and whenever we did get the ball, for some reason we were just pumping it forward and not relaxing with it at our feet. That said, Chris was having a blinder in the middle of our defence and if he was trying to show what he’s got, he was succeeding. Winning every header with ease and every tackle with grit, he looks like a steal if we can convince him to wear the famous blue shirt for the season. But on went the game and on 24 minutes, there was nothing Chris or Steffan could do to stop them doubling their lead. Another quick break seemed to catch us flat-footed with their midfield charging forward – and as the ball was laid into the path of their No.8, he made no mistake in tucking it past Steffan from about 15 yards out. 0-2 and we needed to start playing our football rather than panicking…
Changes were made as Matty Fearnley and Harry T came on at full-backs and in truth, neither put a foot wrong all game. Matty was his usual terrier-like self and showed his strength at left-back and Harry belied his tender years with his composure on the ball and simple passing down the line to set up attacks. Both showed that there’s quality available to call upon and that’s exactly what we’re looking for at this stage of the season. But the next goal also fell the way of the hosts – and this one could have been avoided. They played the ball quickly down our left and won a corner when we felt it should have been a goal-kick. The corner was swung in and their big midfielder got between Gatesie and Bradders to rise highest and nod the ball past Steffan from about 8 yards out. 0-3 and this was about pride now…
Wayne was honest when he said the result didn’t matter – but the fact we’d made this trip over here should at least give us the passion to put the effort in on the pitch. We had to get back to basics, start marking our man but above all else – pass the blinkin’ football. With two strikers not over 6ft tall, we had to play it on the floor rather than up in the air. We had to move about so we were not easy to mark. And we had to start working a lot harder in the central third if we wanted to get back in this. The half-time whistle couldn’t have come quick enough for the gaffer and as the lads came in, there was plenty of work to do…
Half-time: Lytham Town Reserves 3-0 BOLTON COUNTY A
The drizzle hadn’t left us all afternoon and as the lads gulped their drinks, the boss set about his work. He demanded that they listen to him, get the ball down on the floor and start working it quickly so that the hosts didn’t get a chance to get to it. Good teams do not let you have time and space – and these were a good team – so we needed to turn it around and make them chase us now. Pride. Go out there and win the second half. More changes were made – the crucial one being swapping Ste onto the left to run at their full-back – and the lads went out knowing that they had 45 minutes to show that they were so much better than they just showed…
And my word did they do that! From the second the whistle went to restart proceedings, it was County that were on the front foot and we were first to everything now. The comeback started on 51 minutes when some great work down the right saw the ball played into the danger-area and as their defender went to smash it away, he didn’t account for Connor’s pace off his toes – and he managed to get to the ball and direct it into the back of the net from just inside the six-yard box. A great finish – and as he rushed to get the ball from the back of the net, there seemed to be a renewed passion in all of their eyes…
That was made even brighter when we got our second on 62 minutes – because Lewis Cook scored an outrageous goal that had everybody applauding. More good, sharp passing saw the ball fed into the path of our hit-man and as he went to shoot, their defender came across to put in the tackle – only to be put on his backside as our Lew dragged the ball back through his legs. Next came their keeper and as he went to guess the way he was going to shoot it, Lewis once again dragged it back, put him on the floor where his team-mate was still sat – and dinked the ball over both of them and into the back of the net. Two great pieces of skill and a great finish! 3-2 and this was game on again…
Ste coming in from the left was providing dividends as well – as he was roasting their right-back every time he got the ball into his feet – and most of the good things coming our way were coming down that flank. And it wasn’t long before he was involved again as Matty sprinted past three Lytham defenders and played it into the path of Ste. Once again he made easy work of getting past their No.3, he cut inside and as he played it across, there was Robbo about 25 yards from goal. He played it from his left to his right and smashed a great shot goal-wards – and some may say it took a deflection but if he hadn’t hit it, it wouldn’t have gone towards goal – and as the ball flew into the back of the net, we’d only gone and pulled it back. From the misery of the first 45 minutes to these absolutely superb 30 or so, we were a different team – and one that the travelling County fans liked to see. 3-3 and could we go on and win this now?
The simple answer to that was Yes! Because we have no clue how it happened – but Gatesie then scored two – yes two – goals in the same match! This lad goes months without one and then he grabs two stunning headers to put us 5-3 to the good. The first one came from a peach of a cross from Connor that was inch-perfect and saw Gatesie rise like a salmon, twist his whole upper body whilst in the air and generate enough power in his header to see the ball fly past their No.1 from about 10 yards out. A fantastic goal all-round and as the County lads celebrated like they’d won the Champions League Final, there was more to come…
Because with 81 minutes on the clock, he got another one – and this was just as good. It was another exquisite cross from Connor that did most of the work but this time, the ball came in a bit lower and as their defender went to challenge Gatesie for the header, our No.5 managed to flick it with the back of his head to see the ball rise over the out-stretched hand of their keeper and dip in time to drop into the back of his net. Another great goal and we were now somehow 5-3 up. This had been fun whatever the result now…
As always though, we’re never more vulnerable than after scoring ourselves – but to concede straight from the re-start was somewhat hard to swallow. They kicked off, dribbled it through our middle and passed it into their striker and he had the easy task of picking his spot and slamming it past Steffan. 5-4 and surely we wouldn’t throw this away…
Gatesie then had a chance to score his hat-trick – and the weird thing was that he called it as well. We won another free-kick on the left and for the third time in a row, Connor swung in a glorious cross – but this time it fell to Gatesie’s right boot and he could only swipe at it and see the ball swerve away from goal but stay in play. That would have been that there’s no doubt…
As the game ticked into injury-time, we thought we’d done enough to clinch this now – but that was until the tired legs of Robbie Holt saw him clumsily take out their forward and without hesitation, the man in the middle pointed directly at the spot. Such a shame that we’d come back so well and this was going to be what made the game end in a draw. But do you remember when we said after they took the lead that Steffan would redeem himself? Well this was it – and as the whole ground expected the net to bulge, their No.4 smashed the ball at goal and there was our new keeper to get across and make a good save away to his right. Fantastic! The County players ran to congratulate him and with the ball still out of play, the whistle went to end the game! We’d done it! 0-3 down to end up winning 5-4! That’s what we call a good day at the seaside…
Massive respect to today’s hosts who provided a great game, a great pub to eat and drink in after (ironically called The County we hasten to add!) and we wish you all the very best for your upcoming season in the West Lancs Reserve Division 2. Thanks for today and hopefully we can reciprocate it next season…
The lads were quite rightly buzzing and as expected, Wayne was joyous that they’d started to play football and showed how good they can really be. There were plenty of players missing today but this set of lads more than proved their worth as well. But this is pre-season and we need to keep this momentum going as we go over to Eccles United Reserves next weekend. They are in our division this season so it will be a good gauge of where we are so far. For now though, we enjoyed this one and having had a few pints in The County, it was off to Blackpool for some of the lads and gawd knows what debauchery they got up to…
All that is left for us to say is that we do really like to be beside the seaside…
#UpTheCounty!
