The 5-0 midweek victory over Heywood St James saw us earn a much-needed three points – but once again, Cup football rolled into town as we welcomed Uppermill FC to Radcliffe Road for this one – and with today’s visitors still fighting to finish near the top of the table, we knew they’d prove a tough test. That was for sure…

The sun was shining and although it was still a bit breezy, there were sure signs that spring is almost here – and as the lads warmed up, quite a crowd was beginning to gather. We had injuries though – in fact that bench was pretty much made up of lads that were carrying knocks of one sort or another – and with a plethora of games still to go, we can hardly do with losing any more. So when the starting 11 was announced, it saw us sticking with the 4-3-3 shape and Ryan between the sticks. The back-four saw Robbie P drop in to join Hodgy, Ben and Liam and the midfield trio was the usual Carl, Smalley and Shorty. Willow got a start – playing in a front three with Charlie and Matty – and with Ax, Chris Hough and Robbie Smith to call upon in very dire need, we were ready to go. The coaches reminded their troops to play their football and not give them any space to play theirs and as the match official counted the numbers and checked with his assistants, he blew his whistle and the game began…

Right from the off we saw one ploy they were going to use all game – as an early throw saw their right-back almost launch it into our box from just inside our half – so we would have to watch that one closely as the game progressed. And it was the team in red doing all of the pressing as three quick attempts at goal were thwarted by our Ryan. It took 9 minutes for us to get our first sight of their goal – and it was centre-back Jack that made the chance – when he launched a great cross into the back-post that saw Willow climb highest – but his tame header fell easily into their keeper’s hands and the chance was gone. Better though…

Already it was clear that our defence were going to have to be on it however and there were a couple of shouts for a penalty for the visitors – but Hodgy was looking up for the task already and winning yet another tackle, he fired a great pass out to the right and into the run of Charlie – but as it looked as though he was going to toe it past their full-back, he managed to get across to close him down just enough to force our Charlie to slam it wide of the upright. Back came the away side though and this time their striker muscled Ben out of the way all too easily. As he smashed his shot towards goal, Ryan got down quickly to make a fine save and the chance was gone. Pretty end to end so far and it was a good game…

Carl was looking neat and tidy on the ball and with 15 minutes gone, he played a great pass through the channel so that Matty could charge onto it. But once again, the Uppermill side used their strength to barge him off and we could already tell that we were going to have to work harder if we were to get anything here. But then it came. With 19 minutes gone, Ben was caught on the ball and as the shot was arrowed in, Ryan did so well to get to it – but the rebound fell so nicely for their No.7 who curled it expertly past our keeper’s outstretched hand and into the top-left corner of our net. 0-1 and now we had it all to do…

Right from the restart we had a chance to level it though but this time Carl’s aim was off-mark and his shot went miles wide of the target. We could tell that the weather was getting better at this point as the pungent smell of the horses in the field beside the County Ground could be smelt from a way away and when Liam took a nasty whack from their No.9, we all thought he was going to end up in with the ponies! The referee needed to have a word about that one – which he duly did – and not long after, Smalley had a good chance that could only see him stick it about two yards wide of their right-hand post. The next goal was going to be really important here – so when it came to the team in red on 35 minutes, it left a sinking feeling amongst the County faithful. A good move down their right saw them spray the ball into our box and once again, there was Ryan to get down well to save it. He could only push it out though and there was their No.9 to slam home the rebound from about 8 yards out. 0-2 and we were caught on our heels a little there…

That one seemed to stun us and if it wasn’t for a goal-saving challenge from Liam, they could have easily made it three. Their No. 9 beat Hodgy to it for the first time this afternoon and just as he was about to pull the trigger, across came Mr Hulme to thwart him. Every time their 7, 8 or 9 got the ball, they looked dangerous so those were the ones we had to work harder to deny. Despite the score-line, Hodgy was playing out of his skin and he was throwing himself into every tackle and every header as though his life depended on it. And he wasn’t too shabby with his passing either – this time setting Charlie free with a great pass – and as our winger fired it into the six-yard box, Willow was about to tuck it away as their full-back raced back to take it off his foot. It’s chances like this that we needed to be finishing if we wanted it to be our name in the hat for the 1/4 Final…

And by stark contrast, the away side seemed to be able to find the back of the net – which they did for the third time as the game ticked into added-time at the end of the first half. Another superb save from Ryan led the home bench to cry ‘Lucky we’ve got him between those sticks!’ – but from the resulting corner, there was nothing our No.1 could do as their No.6 had come up from the back to rise highest and slam his header into the roof of our net. 0-3 and if we didn’t wake up quickly, we were going out of the Gilcryst Cup…

Half-time: BOLTON COUNTY 0-3 Uppermill

A stern talking-to was in order here because although at times we need to defend these players, there are other times when they need to be reminded of actually how good they can be – and that first-half was most definitely not one of those occasions. All over the pitch we needed to brighter. We needed to be sharper. And we needed to be more competitive. There were 45 minutes for us to go out there now and restore a bit of pride – so with the coaches’ words ringing in their ears, they were trotting back out there ready to right the wrongs…

The second period started with both sides looking to get the upper hand as soon as they could – which meant it became a bit of a midfield battle at times. With 52 minutes gone, their midfielder took a knock and as Ryan kicked it out so he could receive treatment, their bench screamed that he had miskicked it. All good humour when they threw it back to us when he was alright though – so it was back to trying to claw our way back into this…

Some great work by Robbie Pollitt saw him charger down our right and as he fed it into the path of Matty, he could only slam it over from the edge of the box. A lot better from County though and it was giving the home fans something to cheer. But that was until the half-mark – when a long ball over the top saw Liam playing them onside – and their No.9 strode forward with enough time to pick his spot and hammer his shot past Ryan to make it 0-4! That was that surely. It was all about pride now…

More good work from Carl three minutes later – after some good movement on our right – saw Mr Airey dribble it past a couple of defenders but he could only stick his shot over the top when the chance presented itself. We then made a change as Ax came into the fray in place of Charlie and as the game continued, everybody in the ground knew that the result was done now. Shorty saw a ball pop up just in front of him on 66 minutes and with the outside of his right boot, he curled one inches wide of the post – but all the home fans wanted to see now was a goal to celebrate…

And it very nearly came on 73 minutes when yet more good work from Carl saw him win a corner on the left. He himself went across to take it and as he crafted a great ball in, it seemed to hit Matty about 2 yards out – but went straight into their keeper’s hands! It seemed that no matter what we did this afternoon, it wasn’t going to be going our way…

Their No.18 then got a daft yellow card for kicking the ball away – which was quickly followed by Smalley’s name going into the same note-pad for a rash challenge on their midfielder – but there was good respect and as both lads shook hands, it was really good to see.

81 minutes. 81 minutes it took for us to get our goal – and when it came, it made us wonder why we hadn’t got one earlier! Some great work by Matty saw his cross the ball into to the back post and there was Ax to jump and side-foot volley the ball back where it came from – giving their keeper no chance of stopping it. The County fans were delirious – but with the score now stood at 1-4, there surely wasn’t enough time for us to produce the comeback of all comebacks…

There wasn’t. The only real thing of note between then and the end of the game was when the Uppermill lads had another golden opportunity. With County pushing higher up the pitch, it was leaving gaps at the back that the away side were good enough to exploit. A great shot managed to evade our Ryan and looked destined for the back of our net – until it hit the base of the post with venom, bounced across our goal-line and then out for a corner to the left. That came to nothing thankfully – and it wasn’t too long after that the man in black decided he had seen enough and blew his whistle for the last time. Defeat in the Cup. Not what we planned or wanted – but now more chance to focus on those crucial league points we needed to preserve our place in the Premier Division. The handshakes were done with pride and as both sides left the field, the crowd knew that they had been treated to a great game of football this afternoon…

Those league points start on Wednesday night – as we make the trip over to second-bottom Old Alts – and we all know that it is imperative we bring at least something home with us from that one. It would be great if we could see as many County fans there as possible roaring us on but if you can’t make it, then we’re at Royton Town next Saturday. It’s all about points on the board now that’s for sure…

And as the dust settled on another weekend – and the County Ground started to empty – it was time for contemplation and forward-thinking. Forget this one. It’s all about Altrincham on Wednesday now…

#UpTheCounty!