As we get right into the business-end of the campaign, there’s still lofty hopes for our reserves – but it’s a case of every single point matters now – so as we made the trip over to the Phoenix Ground to take on Heywood St James Reserves, we knew we’d have to be coming home with all three available if we wanted to take things another week in. Last time out had seen the lads put in a sterling performance to win at home to Tintwistle so all that the coaches wanted from this was a repeat of that one really so as some of us got caught in the traffic in Bury, the mindset was clear. We attack from the start…
The pitch looked alright considering the rain we’d seen all week and as Wayne set up the warm-up cones, he’d just dropped the last one before he was told that he’d have to pick them all up again and go to the other end. The scene was set – this was going to be a tough battle – and knowing that these had taken a point away from The County Ground back in October, we knew we’d have to be on this from minute one. The lads came back in and when the starting 11 was announced, it saw us going with the 4-3-3 that brought us the success it did a fortnight ago. Rav came in for Shaun at left-back and with the likes of Alex Williams and Tom Robinson missing from the midfield, today saw Jude back in the ranks after serving his ban and he was joined by Liam and Jack. Ste and Nathan were either side of Yatesy up top and with Lewis Cook back in the squad, he was on the bench with Aaron, Bradley and Shaun. The lads were told to work hard, pass the ball well and make sure they shot on sight – and as they made their way out there, a tidy little crowd had started to amass…
Right from the off both sides were snapping into tackles and their No.7 injured himself in his first real challenge and had to be replaced. Jude then stuck in a crunching block on their experienced No.3 to show that he wasn’t going to be bullied out there and it was clear that the battle in there was going to crucial in how this game panned out. Jack had our first real chance of note on 6 minutes but he could only stick it wide of the upright and then the next real opportunity should have really seen us take the lead. A great ball from Robbie Holt was floated to the back post and with both Yatesy and Nathan going for it, the latter managed to get his instep on it – but could only see the ball slam against the post from about 4 yards out and go for a goal-kick. 22 minutes gone and if anybody was going to score, it was us who looked most likely…
And it was! With 28 minutes on the clock, we won a free-kick after yet another foul on Yatesy and this time he dusted himself down and laid claim to the dead-ball kick. Their keeper lined up his wall – but our No.9 didn’t care where they stood as he strode up and smashed a powerful shot over them and what looked like straight into the back of their net. But their keeper managed to get his hands to it somehow and tipped it against the bar – but as it bounced out, there was Robbie Holt to rifle the rebound into the roof of their net and we were 1-0 to the good. His second goal in two game and we had deserved it really. A platform to play our stuff now perhaps…
We made our first change on 37 minutes as Rav had put a lot of effort in running up that mountain of their left-flank and on came Aaron – only to play what looked like pass of the season to see us double our lead. Runnung onto the ball, it looked like he had just punted it clear – but it turned into a glorious pass that saw Nathan spring their offside trap and set off clean through on goal. As he got 1-on-1 with their No.1, the travelling County fans held their breath as it seemed he had too much time – but Mr Bancroft did not disappoint as he picked his spot and finished well inside the far post. 2-0 and with 42 minutes gone, we were in control now. Nathan sprinted off with an Alan Shearer-esque celebration but importantly, we had a cushion now…
It could have become 3-0 before the break as well when Ste played a great ball inside to meet Jack’s run – but his left-foot curler went inches wide of the right-hand post with their keeper beaten all-hands down. But that was that for the first period and when the referee blew for the break, it was the team in blue coming in the happier…
Half-time: Heywood St James Reserves 0-2 BOLTON COUNTY RESERVES
Despite being in front, Wayne was quick to remind them that although we had been doing alright, we hadn’t been doing everything we should have been. There were times where we were too narrow so we needed to keep our width. We also needed to get tighter to them when they had the ball as their No.10 and No.6 were seemingly the only threats they had so we had to stop the supply to them. And if we could all raise it another 10%, then we surely would have enough to see this through. No changes were made and as they made their way back out there, the home side were already waiting for us. The next 55 minutes or so proved to be really eventful…
Within 10 seconds of the restart it should have been 3-0 when Yatesy was played through – but he smashed his shot high over the bar when he had more time than he realised to pick his spot. That was soon followed by Liam seeing a powerful shot raise about two inches from the floor from the edge of the box and although it beat their keeper, it also beat the far-post before going out for another goal-kick. And then the game swung – on a dubious decision that amazed everybody in the ground – even the home bench and supporters. Sure Gatesie was guilty of trying to play out from the back and as he gave it to Matty, there seemed to be no danger. But their No.7 – who had come back on at the break – nipped in to get in front of him and as he went down, the man in the middle adjudged Matty to have dragged his arm back and awarded the penalty. There was amazement around the Phoenix Ground but the decision had been made – and their No.7 made no mistake in rifling his shot past Pomf to reduce the deficit. 2-1 and it was game on again now…
Ste made a great run down their left and as he played it in, there was Yatesy to knock it past his defender and force their keeper into a great save that he managed to palm out – and there was Jack who could only ram his shot over from a tight angle. And from that, they managed to loft a long-ball over the top that looked as though our back-line had moved up in more than enough time to catch them offside. With their No.7 at least three yards offside, our defence stopped – but the whistle never came and he ran on to slot the ball past Pomf with ease. The County players and bench were dumb-struck – there has never been a clearer offside decision all season – but it had been given and now with the score at 2-2, it was all to play for again…
Thankfully it was County who scored the fifth goal – and this time it was a fine indiviual effort from Liam Haycock that saw us get it. He made a great run inside their box and seemed to dribble it past at least three on-coming St James’ defenders before shooting and their keeper managed to get down quick enough to get something on it. The ball looped up and with Ste there to apply the finish touch if needed, it looked like the ball had gone over the line – which was a blessing really as Ste looked to be offside. There was a slight silence – and then the referee signalled to the centre-spot as he had awarded the goal. Phew! We were back in front and great work from Mr Haycock. 3-2 and we were back in front…
That seemed to reignite our attacking prowess and on 63 minutes, we made it 4-2. This time it was good work by Nathan on our right flank that saw him beat their full-back and slide a neat little pass into Lewis – who had replaced the cramping Yatesy minutes earlier – and he fed it into the path of the on-rushing Jude who made no mistake in calmly slamming his shot into the top corner of their net. A goal on his return and as his team-mates rushed to celebrate with him, was that the goal that had secured the points. We’d soon see – but there was plenty of drama still in store…
Because with 68 minutes gone, we all thought we’d scored again when a great ball was played into the danger-area and there was Jack to turn neatly and slam his shot into the back of the net from about 12 yards out. Somehow though the whistle had gone – and when the referee claimed that he was offside, there was more bemusement from the County bench. Wayne asked the referee how he come to that decision – only to be greeted with the award of a yellow-card. Shocked, the boss asked what that was for – only to see the referee turn back and change his mind to producing his red-card and sending Wayne to the stands. Unbelievable. But the show must go on and with his troops still having a job to do, it was about keeping a grip on these points and taking them all home to Bolton…
Bradders then came on in place of Ste and with 78 minutes gone, we decided to shut up shop a little as Jack came off, Aaron slid into centre-half, Shaun went to left-back and Robbie pushed into the middle of the park. It seemed to give us a little more balance on the left and that man Shaun does what he does best on 81 minutes – when he was put clean through by yet another great pass from our midfield only to slam his shot wide from about 20 yards out. Then came a really cheeky moment that could have seen goal of the season – as a long-ball was pumped forward and as their No.7 got to it, he played a really clever mid-air back-heel that evaded Pomf but thankfully slammed against his crossbar and over for a goal-kick. That could have made things interesting…
Lewis had been all over their defence since coming on and on 88 minutes, he was pivotal in causing enough confusion to get the ball into the feet of Robbie Holt – but he could only shoot wide as their defenders rushed out to close down the space. Rav then came back in place of Matty and the look of joy on his face as he was handed the captain’s arm-band was brilliant to see. But as the game ticked into injury-time, there was still enough left to give us heart palpitations as the hosts managed to score again. The ball was fed long into the box and as their No.7 got to it, he lobbed Pomf that well that our keeper made no attempt in chasing back as he knew it had beaten him fair and square. 4-3 and surely with 93 minutes gone, there wasn’t enough time for us to throw this away now…
It didn’t matter. Because as the game ticked into it’s 9th minute of added time, the last goal was scored by the team in blue – when Lewis was played through and like the player of old, he looked up and chipped their keeper from about 22 yards out. The ball beat him easily – but it cannoned against the crossbar and as it dropped, there was Bradders making the run in to tuck it away past their keeper into the bottom corner of their net. 5-3 and we had done it. Mission accomplished…
That was that as there wasn’t enough time for the re-start – and when the whistle went for the end of the game, the County contingent breathed a sigh of relief. We had made hard work of that out there and with the games we have coming up, we really need to make sure we do better. The handshakes were done with pride and as both teams left the field, Wayne was already standing at the changing-rooms waiting to praise his soldiers…
And that was the talk in the changing-room after. We had won and we’d done what we set out to do when we got here – but there were 10 minutes or so in the second period that we lost it and we need to cut that out if we want to still be challenging in the weeks to come. There are some massive games coming up and we will need all of our grit and guile if we want to still be fighting for that top three or better. Next up is Atherton Town A at home on Thursday 13th April so another win there will really put us in the mix and with games against Govan and Chadderton to come at home, it’s a case of keep winning that’s required. Another win though and that can never be grumbled at…
Liam was awarded the MOM for this one – run closely by Nathan and Robbie – but all the lads can be proud of their efforts on a boggy pitch out there and now we just need to keep this going. Training will be back on the grass from this Wednesday so the lads will work on a few things and be determined to come out against Atherton Town looking to make it to 30 points for the season. We’re not going to stop there though that’s for sure…
So as we made our way back to Tonge Cricket Club, all focus and attention turned to Bolton Wanderers at Wembley tomorrow and with a real good buzz in the air, it was another Saturday done. Three points for County Reserves. Standard…
#UpTheCounty!