This one felt worlds apart from seven days ago – when we lined up over at Astley & Tyldesley in almost 80 degree heat. Because this afternoon all that The County Ground has to offer was a bitter cold wind and dark skies looming overhead. It was the visit of league-leaders Walshaw Sports Reserves on the cards for the A team today and although it’s still early in the season, this was one that could really send out a message…
The less said about the drama even before the game started the better – but all we can do is apologise profusely to the Walshaw player that had to endure the sheer lunacy – but as we all got our game-faces on, this was going to be a good, good game if both sides played to their full capacity. We knew before the start that Chris was banned after his red-card last week and Connor could be out for a while with scans due to come back on his ACL – but there is depth to this squad now so we were looking forward to seeing the 11 the boss picked. It saw us go back to the 4-3-3 with Mitch once again taking his place between the sticks. The back four this week saw Robbie drop in at centre-half to rekindle his partnership with Gatesie and Harry came back in at right-back – with Tyler on the left. The midfield trio saw Tom joined by Jude and Jack and with Ste pushing up to join Yatesy and Lewis up top, we were good to go. The bench was strong for this one too – with Liam back and Nathan deciding where he likes the most – and they were joined by Spencer, Rav and Matty Fearnley. Wayne asked them to just play football and not get drawn into anything silly and if we did that, we’d every chance of getting what we wanted out of this. The whistle blew and before we knew it, the action was underway…
And 4 minutes in, it was Lewis that initiated the first goal-mouth action as he played in Tom with a precision pass. Unfortunately though Robbo struggled to bring it under control and as the chance slipped away, at least we already showed that we could get in behind them…
But the visitors started to get more of the ball and whenever they did, they would fire it down the wings and use the speed of their wingers. We gave away two unnecessary free-kicks on the edge of our box and the second one saw their midfielder strike it well – only to see Mitch somehow get his finger-tips to it and flick it onto the post and out for a corner. That was too close for comfort and we had to cut those silly free-kicks out…
When we did pass the ball, we were getting in and amongst them and Stephen was finding some success down our right. He put a great cross in after another good run on 17 minutes and with the goal gaping, we all thought Yatesy would score – only to see him put it over the bar. Unlucky John – but at least he was getting in the right areas. However on 25 minutes it was the visitors that took the lead – and it was another goal that we really didn’t need to concede. They managed to feed it over the top and as Mitch decided to come out for it, it looked as though he chose wrong when he elected to go with his feet and not his hands. Their striker’s eyes lit up as he knew that if he didn’t get around our No.1 then it would be a certain penalty – but he did get past him and as he shot, Mitch did manage to get down to palm the ball away – only to their advancing midfielder whose shot took a deflection before nestling in the back of our net. 0-1 and in truth, it was a scrappy goal – again. We needed to work hard now…
We looked downbeat for a while now – but with the coach urging them on and the large home crowd doing likewise, we kept trying. Tom was busy working hard in the middle to get things going and ably supported by Jack and Jude – who was putting in some great tackles – we were still very much in this. However we hadn’t even tested their keeper yet and that had to change…
Both sides huffed and puffed and it was a right old battle at times – but when the whistle went for the break, it was probably Wayne who was the happiest to be able to get his players together. Something had to change so what would it be?
Half-time: BOLTON COUNTY A 0-1 Walshaw Sports Reserves
The lads got their drinks and as the coach set about his task, he reminded his players that despite not even getting going yet, the score was still only 0-1 and if we could get the next goal, this game would change. We needed to cut out the individual mistakes and start passing the ball a lot quicker to catch them off-guard. Changes were made – with Liam coming into the middle in place of Jack and both full-back berths being taken by Rav and Nathan – the lads went back out there knowing exactly what was required…
The opening exchanges of the second period saw us doing the pressing and the team in black and white soaking it up – but on 51 minutes, we won a free-kick about 25 yards from goal. Wayne demanded Lewis take this – and so relaxed, he strolled over to place it down. The Walshaw keeper lined up his wall but he needn’t have bothered – because our Lew executed it with perfection – sending the ball soaring around that wall and nestling into the top corner of their net. Breath-taking! And we were back in the game. 1-1…
It got a bit nervy now as both sides knew the importance of the next goal – and once again, there were some hefty challenges being put in that seemed to go mostly the way of the visitors in the eyes of the referee. It looked for all to see that Lewis had been pulled back when he was clean through and then Robbo got taken out but nothing was given – however there were two yellows dished out to the team in blue. The game went on though and as we searched for that goal that could clinch all three points, the finger-nails were getting shorter by the second…
Liam had made an impact since coming on and as he drove his team-mates forward, we looked like we could unlock them if we just played it that little bit quicker. But for some reason we just weren’t clicking when we needed to and we could be made to pay for that. Then on 65 minutes, we were – as the visitors took the lead with yet another goal that could have been avoided. For some reason teams don’t have to work too hard to score against us as we give them the opportunities – and this is definitely something we need to work on if we want to be successful this season. This time they hit a long ball forward and as Robbie went across, it looked as though he went to head it low down when he could have found it easier to hammer his clearance into the horse-field. As he missed his header, the ball fell about 30 yards from goal and with only Mitch to beat, their No.15 managed to create just enough space to hit his shot goal-bound – and as it went towards goal, it looked as though Gatesie was going to dive to keep it out. Thankfully he thought better to avoid the ban – but as the ball nestled in the back of our net, it was now 1-2 to the visitors and we had it all to do again…
In an attempt to get us to play it on the floor through the channels, Wayne decided to bring Spencer on in place on Yatesy and shortly after, Jude came off so that Matty could come in at left-back, Rav moved over to the right and Nathan went into the middle of midfield – and on we went in search of that equaliser…
But it didn’t come. The away side showed their experience as they saw this one out by reducing us to the rare sight of goal and we just couldn’t muster that one clear-cut chance that would see us at least clinch a point out of this – and when the final-whistle went, it was the league-leaders that were leaving with all three points. In truth, a draw would have been a fair result – but we need to learn the lessons and stop giving away sloppy, easy goals. Ho hum…
The handshakes were done with pride and as both teams left the pitch, they knew they’d been in a dogfight out there. It’s dropping points in games like this that cost us last season so we’re just hoping that we can turn this around next weekend – as we welcome another in-form team in Old Alts to The County Ground. We have to get back to passing the ball as that’s when we’re at our best – so let’s see what training brings in the week and we know one thing for sure – the boss will be demanding more in seven days’ time…
A good effort against a good side today. But we shouldn’t be sitting here with nothing to show for it. Onto the next one eh?
#UpTheCounty!
