The rain had been relentless all week – but as we started to arrive for this one, the pitch at The County Ground once again looked in fine fettle – and we were welcoming our near-neighbours Tottington United Reserves for the next instalment of our campaign. Last weekend’s superb 6-0 win over Old Alts had probably seen us put in our best performance of the season so far – but that would count for nothing if we didn’t do that again here today – so as the lads got the goals up, the mission here was clear. Same again please…
There had been some good news prior to the game as we heard that Alex William’s ban has now been served so with Chris back from his as well next Saturday, competition for places is hotting up all the time – but this was about today and as the lads warmed up, Wayne and Brian knew their plans already. They knew them when the final whistle went seven days ago. How could they tinker with a team that had done so well? So apart from Mitch coming up between the sticks, it was the same starting team that were being tasked with replicating that win last weekend and if we moved the ball about as well, if we worked hard for each other and if we made sure we put our chances away, then this could be another successful weekend…
But for some reason right from the off we didn’t seem on it and we just couldn’t seem to get out of first gear. Things were made even worse when within 240 seconds, Tom Robinson had to come off – when he was taken out by what can only be described as a Tyler Barlow special! As the ball was cleared by the visiting keeper, Tom went to head it before their midfielder but from nowhere, in leapt our No.12 to climb about six foot in the air, miss the ball but catch our Tom in the ribs with his knee. Down in a heap went Robbo and when he doesn’t get up, you know something isn’t right. It took him a while to catch his breath and x-rays have since revealed cracked ribs – so he’ll be out for a couple of weeks at least – and as Tyler made his apologies, on came Jack and on went the game…
Despite not getting started, it was County who had the first chance of note when Lewis was put through by a good ball and as he hit it, we thought it was in – until their keeper made a good save low to his left to keep it out. And then the away side just seemed to take over. In truth they weren’t playing any decent football but they just seemed to be getting the rub of the green and every second ball fell to them, every throw went their way and we just appeared to look a little sorry for ourselves. We had to snap out of this and we had to do it quickly…
We didn’t. Because on 12 minutes the goal that the team in yellow had been threatening came – and it was a soft goal to concede. Having done so well to keep that first clean-sheet of the season last weekend, to see three yellow shirts unmarked 8 yards from our goal was a sorry sight to see. With a choice, they duly smashed it past Mitch and into the back of our net and with the score now 0-1, we had to get going now…
Wayne was furious on the touchline and with some of the lads pleading with him to calm down, we set about trying to work our way into the game. With 16 minutes gone, a good ball down the right saw us win a corner and as Lewis fired it towards the near post, Ste got his head to it to flick it goal-wards but could only put it over the crossbar. At least we looked a bit more lively now though…
There was a great chance for us to level on 19 minutes when great work from Harry saw the ball fed down the line and as Ste roasted his marker, he cut it back to see Jude come onto it just outside the box – but rather than put his laces through it, he tried to use the inside of his boot and the shot went wide of the mark. More good signs though and we had to keep this going…
But we made things even harder for ourselves on 22 minutes when we seemed to be in control of the ball in the middle third, played it to Robbie and as he attempted to hit it back to Mitch, he underplayed it – and set their No.10 clean through on goal. In truth, Mitch then made a great save to stop the initial shot going in – but their midfielder was first onto the rebound and as he tucked the ball away, the travelling fans couldn’t believe it. It was 0-2 to Tottington and this definitely wasn’t in the plan…
Another ball over the top down our left saw Tyler mistime his header and put their winger through – and it took a great tackle to keep him from getting his shot away – but all over the pitch, we seemed at least a yard off the pace. Liam was working hard to get us going and when we did manage to string some passes together, we did look dangerous. Jude put another shot wide after more good work down the wing but there was something just not right out there yet. That fast-flowing, attractive football we showed last Saturday was nowhere to be seen and the hard thing to understand is why? We know how good we can be when we play our football – so we had to start doing it and start doing it soon…
Half-time: BOLTON COUNTY A 0-2 Tottington United Reserves
As the lads sat down in near silence, Wayne did what was expected – and he let rip. There was no way on earth any of the players could sit there and look inside themselves saying they had given 110% so far. Therefore how could anybody be pointing fingers at others? Now it was about proving that we are a good side. That we can pull things around when the chips are down – and that we will never sit back and just allow a defeat to happen. This next goal would be crucial and if we could get it early doors, things would swing our way for sure.
Sweeping changes were made – with Rav and Matty Fearnley coming on at full-backs, Stephen dropping into middle so Nathan came on top in place of Jude and Yatesy came in for Spencer. 4-3-3. Jack and Liam were tasked with sitting just behind Ste and Nathan and Lewis pulling far out wide to give themselves room to run at their full-backs – and now we had 45 minutes to go and put this right…
And right from the restart, there seemed to be a renewed vigour to our approach – with the passes being crisper and the determination seemingly increasing – and on 48 minutes, we got that important third goal of the game. A good ball into the central area saw Jack spot the run of Lewis out of the corner of his eye and head the ball into the exact right spot, seeing our Lewis race onto it and drill his shot past their advancing keeper and into the back of their net. 1-2 and it was game on again now…
Liam was orchestrating things in there now and on 54 minutes, he was pivotal to us grabbing the equaliser. Winning the ball in the middle, we played it around their midfield and into the path of Mr Haycock – who picked out an inch-perfect pass in front of that man Lewis again and he once again finished with aplomb to see the score now stand at 2-2. The impetus was definitely with us now and we had to keep up this pressure and not give anything silly away now…
Matty was having a storming game down our left and over on the right, Rav was working hard to co-ordinate things with Nathan in the attacking areas. Jack and Ste were complimenting Liam well in the middle and with Yatesy’s experience now giving their centre-halves plenty to think about, we were looking the stronger side now…
Just past the hour-mark, we thought we were about to see a rarity as the ball dropped to Matty about 35 yards from goal and he took it past one man before unleashing a shot that rocketed towards goal but went just over the bar with their keeper beaten. Next up was when another good move down our left saw Lewis race past their full-back as though he wasn’t there and as he crafted a glorious ball into the six-yard box, Yatesy met it with a great header that looked destined for the bottom corner of their net – until their keeper managed to get down to make a great save and keep the scores level. This was a good game now – because most of it was being played in the opponent’s half…
And on 66 minutes, we took the lead – and by now, we did deserve it. Rav had worked hard down our right and as he saw the gap, he played a great ball into the path of Yatesy who done what Yatesy does best – and he fired it into the back of their net leaving their keeper no chance of stopping it. 3-2 to County and the home supporters were cheering now! Why do we make things so hard for ourselves?
We were firing on all cylinders now and on 73 minutes, John managed to play a great ball back to Liam – but from about 25 yards out, he could only slam his shot high over the bar and as it whistled into the car-park, was that the chance for us to clinch it or for the away side to find their way back into it? We’d soon find out…
It was all County now though and another great run from Matty down our left saw him feed the ball into the feet of Yatesy who in turn picked out Lewis in space. He shot and the keeper managed to push it onto the bar and out for a corner. From that, we swung the ball in but Ste could only head it wide and on we went…
There was a point where we thought we just wouldn’t score again – especially when we saw Yatesy in the middle of the goal with the net at his mercy – but their defender somehow managed to get his toe to it and divert it wide for another corner to the team in blue. Sure – we may have been in front – but that lead was so slender that we really had to grab our fourth if we wanted to make sure of these points…
Then on 82 minutes, Nathan produced a moment of magic that will have his doubters coiling in the corner. Having spent the early stages of the campaign in and around the 1st and Reserve team, he came up with a piece of skill the likes of which we’ve not seen hardly enough for a player of his calibre. Moments before, their full-back had been in his ear telling him this and that – and then when Rav had won yet another tackle and sent Nathan on his way down our right-wing, their full-back was made to eat his words. Mr Bancroft not only flip-flopped the ball past him with his quick feet – but he left their full-back that dizzy with his movement that he had time to come back again to nutmeg him – further putting him in his place – before spraying it up to Ste Palin. This time Ste came inside and as it looked for all the world that he was attempting to cross it to the back-post, it evaded everybody – including their keeper – before dropping under their bar and into the back of the net. Ste will tell you he meant it – he possibly did – but they all count and with the score now stood at 4-2, surely we wouldn’t give this away now. We’d worked too hard to turn it around…
The rest of the game was played out with the Tottington lads knowing they’d let go of three points and the players in blue realising that if they’d woke up earlier, this wouldn’t have been such a challenge – but when that final whistle went, it was Wayne and Brian that were the happier of the coaches. My word we’d earnt this victory here today…
The handshakes were done with pride and the Tottington lads can be praised for never giving up and working until the end to try and salvage something – but it was all about us clicking into gear eventually and when we do that, not many teams will be able to live with us. We just need to do that from minute one next week. A massive thanks to the travelling contingent that made their way over for this one and we wish you a safe journey home and we’ll see you at yours sometime later in the season…
We move forward. This win puts us 2nd in the table after Astley & Tyldesley Reserves lost at home to Leigh Genesis – but with Walshaw and Little Lever amassing big wins, there’s definitely lots to play for and we’re only just coming into October. Our next task is going over to Heywood St James next Saturday and putting in another performance that shows just why we’re up there fighting for the top places in the league. The second half display here – and the 90 minutes against Old Alts last weekend – prove that when we play our football, we’re a force to be reckoned with and with the squad getting even bigger next week, things are looking really good. Let’s hope that continues eh?
#UpTheCounty!