Don’t you just love this time of the season? The hard pre-season is over. The players are primed and ready. And it’s all about that first whistle going to commence the season where who knows, we’ll get to May and hopefully be there or thereabouts. And it was no different for our u12 Bullets as they welcomed our old mates Oxford Grove Tigers to the Stadio Del Leverhulme to start their 2023-2024. The lads looked ready – now they had to go out there and show it…

A good support for both sides was present as that first whistle went – but after the first 10 minutes it was the team in orange who were the happiest. They raced into a 0-3 lead as we found it difficult to find our feet – but to their credit, they never gave up and started to forge their way back into the game. And showing the character that galvanises this team, we fought our way onto the scoresheet – and then didn’t stop! The half-time whistle went at 1-3 – but we knew that if we kept it going, we’d make them panic and push them into giving us opportunities by which to get back in this…

Half-time: BOLTON COUNTY BULLETS 1-3 Oxford Grove Tigers

The coach made sure his players took on board lots of fluids as he reminded them to work hard, pass the ball well and make sure we made our chances count – and as they gulped their drinks in the heat, the County fans had a funny feeling. It was one of certainty. Certain that we were going to claw our way back into this. The lads got themselves ready and before we knew it, they were out there ready to go again…

And we took over then! As we seem to do each week, we only really started when a third of the game was gone – and now the challenge is to do that from minute one – because we saw fantastic performances all across the park. Josh was on fire and managed to notch a good goal and the returning Leo The Lion smashed one in as well. And when Noah scored to level it, the County fans gathered to the left were ecstatic – jumping up and down as though we’d won the league! It was great to see and justified considering the effort we’d put in out there…

And when the final whistle went, the honours were even – as we’d managed to claw it back to gain the point that our performance more than deserved. The handshakes were done with pride and as both teams left the pitch, the supporters showed their appreciation. What an advert for u12’s football in Bolton that had been…

Daniel gathered his troops and reminded them that if they work harder than the other team, results will come. The second half we showed that – as we had the Oxford Grove defenders working overtime trying to stop us surging forward – so now it’s about doing that from the moment that first whistle blows…

The Players Man of the Match was awarded to Harley and the Coaches version – ably assisted by Mason – went to Archie. Both had worked tirelessly out there and typified what this team is all about. Well done lads – good effort out there…

Now it’s on to Adlington away next week – so we’d love to see all of you fans over there roaring us on for that one. It really is appreciated when we know we have you all behind us so keep it up people – and we could be in for a cracking season here…

#UpTheCounty!