The result away at Royton Town Reserves last weekend sent shockwaves around the Manchester Football League and showed the way that our Development squad are settling themselves into Open Age football – but today was going to be another mammoth task for Steve and his troops. We were welcoming our near-neighbours Bolton Lads & Girls Club Reserves to St Catherines Academy for the Open Cup game and we knew that if we wanted it to be our name in the hat for the next round, we’d have to be at the top of our game – again. But guess what? Our lads were that alright…
Because this ended up being a cracking cup-tie that went all the way to the dreaded penalties. Dreaded if you’re the team that losing anyway. And that wasn’t us..
The game started at a frenetic pace and it was County who took the lead on 22 minutes when Matty managed to hold off his marker before turning well and sliding a great pass into the path of Sterling who finished with aplomb into the bottom corner. 1-0 to County and we had something to look after now…
The visitors did manage to level before the break though and as both teams went in for their drinks, it was still very much all to play for…
Half-time: BOLTON COUNTY DEVELOPMENT 1-1 BLGC
Ste rallied his troops and told them that we were very much still in this – so if we could just raise it another 10%, this was there for the taking. The lads gulped their drinks with gusto and before we knew it, they were back out there ready to go again…
And straight from the restart, we retook the lead! More good work in the middle saw the ball land at Sam’s foot and he picked out a glorious pass into the run of Will who did the rest – racing past their defence and rifling the ball home from about 18 yards out. A great goal and we now had the advantage that we needed to keep this time…
Once again though, the Lads Club got back in it on 54 minutes when they finished off a good move down their right and this was turning into a proper cup game. 2-2…
Then came what was probably the best goal of the game when County won a free-kick about 23 yards from goal. Lewis placed the ball down and as the away side prepared their wall, he was already eyeing up where he wanted to put it. The whistle went and BANG! – he arrowed his deadball kick into the roof of their net leaving their No.1 no chance of stopping it. 3-2 to County and we were back in front…
It looked like we’d seen it out with some dogged defending and excellent effort – but the most contentious moment of the game came two minutes into injury-time when the match official decided to award a penalty that only he must have seen. The County lads were devastated as there was no way it was even a foul – but with all the pressure on his back, their player done well in slamming home his spot-kick and with that, the game was going straight to penalties…
Penalties that our young lads did so well to handle – and we went through 5-3! Ali, Will, Sam, Dan and then Lewis all finished theirs well and with the away side missing, it was County that were going through! Another great result and another great performance. Things are really looking up for these lads you know…
Ste was jubilant when he was asked for his thoughts and he said ‘What a display from that set of lads. There was only 12 of them available but each and every one of them did their jobs to the max for me out there! Injuries to Louie and Bobby made things a little nervy as well – so when that spot-kick was awarded, I was doubly on edge! However they did me proud and we’ll take whoever in the next round!’ With that he was off – and it was County onto their way to the next stage of the Cup. Sounds pretty good that doesn’t it?
UpTheCounty!