Less than 48 hours ago, the lads came off this pitch with a credible point against title-chasing Pennington – but there was no time to sit on our hands with that one as this afternoon saw Uppermill making the trip to the County Ground. They really did a job on us in the Bolton Hospital Cup a few weeks ago so we knew that we’d have to be better than we were that night if we wanted anything from this. At least the weather was slightly better this afternoon though…
With the lads warmed up, it was clear that there would be changes to the team that started against Pennington – and when the team was announced, it saw three changes and several positional changes. Ryan was again between the posts but this time Kez came in at left-back in place of Liam. Carl dropped into the middle three with Smalley and Shorty and the front three saw Ax joined by Asumani and Matty. The bench was made up of Chez and Nathan and with the lads being told to keep away from the match official, we were ready to go. This referee doesn’t seem to be the biggest fan of County based on previous games – so it was a case of just doing our jobs and not getting involved. The lads trotted onto the pitch and in an instant, the game was underway…
As they did in that Cup game a few weeks ago, Uppermill quickly deployed their long-ball tactics that had served them well – but we were battling it and dealing with it a lot better so far. And when we got the ball forward, we were giving them more to think about – with Ax already getting plenty of joy down our right. He should have broken the deadlock as well – when he was brought clean-through but could only shoot straight at their No.1.The game had a good pace to it that was for sure…
Our defence was working that well that Ryan didn’t have a save to make – and as our defenders dealt with their No.9 – who had somehow won the Bolton Hospital Cup with Prestwich Heys the previous evening – the away side weren’t getting a sniff of our goal. And when we could get the ball into Carl’s feet, he was causing them no end of trouble in the attacking third. However he was almost cut in two by a horrendous late tackle and true to form, the referee produced a yellow card when that was a red all day long. But it was County that looked the most likely and as the half drew to a close, it was still all to play for…
Half-time: BOLTON COUNTY 0-0 Uppermill
The lads knew that they had done well out there – but there was still another 45 minutes of graft to be done so nobody could relax just yet. When the ball did find itself in a shooting opportunity, the players were encouraged to take a pop and test this keeper – and the defence were simply asked to keep doing what they had been doing so far. Don’t give them anything easy and if they were to score, let’s at least make sure they have to work hard for it. The drinks were drunk and with a renewed vigour, the players were quickly trotting back out there to do it all again…
But within the first five minutes of the restart, it was the visitors given a glorious chance to take the lead – when from nowhere the man in the middle awarded them a penalty! A shot had been fired in that appeared to hit Shorty on the top of his shoulder less than two yards away – but the referee had no hesitation in immediately pointing to the spot. Everybody knew that this was coming and the first chance they was, there it was. With the County Ground mumbling about the decision still, up stepped the Uppermill player to dispatch it past Ryan with ease and now the score stood at 0-1, we had it all to do…
But to their credit, the lads rolled up their sleeves and took control of this football match from this point forward. We should have been level on 75 minutes as well – when the ball was fed into the path of a marauding Charlie down our right and he played an inch-perfect cross into Ax who was two yards from goal. As everybody awaited the net to bulge, the ball did no more than roll wide of the target towarss the County Clubhouse and the chance was gone. Surely our work here wasn’t going to go unrewarded…
We continued to surge forward in search of this equaliser and it meant that the Uppermill lads were constantly on the back foot. And with 86 minutes gone, the pressure told and County were back in it! A good through-ball split their defence in half and Asumani latched onto it in a flash. He took a touch to get it under control and then cooly chipped their advancing keeper to finish fantastically into the bottom-right corner of their net. A delightful goal and we were back in it now. 1-1…
Both sides wanted all three points now and as we pushed for that winner, it left us open – and we almost paid for it with a sucker-punch. Breaking quickly down our left, they managed to pinch the ball and punted it straight upfield. Hodgy slipped as he went to clear it and it left their striker clean-through on Ryan’s goal. He somehow managed to evade our keeper’s attempt to get it and with the goal gaping only 10 yards in front of him, all he had to do was roll it home. But for some reason he tried to make it look good and as he curled it, the ball flew well wide of the far post. What a silly decision! That could have been all three points there…
But that was that and for the second time in a couple of days, we’d earned another point in our mission to get as many as we can between now and the end of the season. Overall a draw was a fair result and one that we’ll go home not too displeased about…
We move on. Next up for the lads is that trip that we always enjoy – away at Hindsford – on Wednesday night and knowing that there are still 18 points to play for, we’ll be looking at getting as many of those as we possibly can. Thanks to those of you that came down to cheer us on today and we hope to see loads of you over at Hindsford as we can…
Our Premier Division status is looking more secure as the weeks go by people – but there’s still plenty of work to be done…
#UpTheCounty!