This is what it is all about. No amount of pre-season training or friendly games can make up for the real thing – so as we came into our first game of the 2023-2024, this time there were league points at stake. We’d had a pretty successful summer but now it was about making sure we got our campaign off to a positive start. Last season saw us lose our first four league games and had us sweating at the end – so tonight was all about giving ourselves a good platform for the busy time to come…
We were welcoming our old rivals from Walshaw Sports and being their first game as well, they had brought quite a few travelling fans over with them. The sun was blazing and there was a good little atmosphere building across the County Ground. And as our lads warmed up, it was good to see them adorning a brand new kit – once again kindly sponsored by PPSL Heating – and with the pitch looking in great nick, we were all set for a great night of football. The starting 11 was announced and it saw us going with our favoured 4-3-3 that had Pomf between the sticks and the usual back-four of Robbie Smith and Liam Hulme in at full-backs and Ben joined by Hodgy between them. Houghie partnered Shorty and Smalley in the midfield and tonight’s top there saw Robbie Pollitt and Kez flanked either side of debutant Dylan. The bench was made up of Asumani, Matty Hill, Zac and Cole and with both teams ready to go, they entered the arena to a warm round of applause…
The sun was beating down towards the Tyldesley Terrace so winning the toss, we decided to make them play facing it – so all that was left to do was to turn the teams around and with a sharp blow of his whistle, the referee got the 2023-2024 season underway. Both sides looked sharp on the ball and within 3 minutes, their No.5 Coleman stuck in a tackle to show that he was intent on a good, physical game already. The ball spent most of it’s time involved in a solid midfield battle and if the early signs were anything to go by, we were in for a real close game here…
But with 13 minutes on the clock, it was the visitors that struck first – and in truth, it was a soft goal to concede. A simple ball through the middle cut us in half and their No.9 Colinson raced through to slide it to Pomf’s left and into the back of our net. The Walshaw fans were jubilant and we had some work to do now. 0-1…
We nearly levelled from nowhere three minutes later when we played the ball into Kez and with their keeper expecting the cross, Kez sneaked a good shot towards the bottom corner – but their No.1 got across just in time to tip it wide. From the resulting corner, he came out to punch it well-clear but as least we were looking lively now. Back came the visitors though and on 20 minutes, they swung a good cross in that saw Pomf show great hands as he plucked it from the sky and out of danger. End to end stuff and the considerable crowd were enjoying what they’d seen so far…
23 minutes in and their No.5 put in his second hefty challenge – but this one saw the man in black take offence to it and he brandished his card of yellow in the direction of Mr Coleman – and he was walking a tightrope now. Especially a minute later – as County deservedly levelled the score! A good ball into the channel saw Kez beat his marker for pace and he raced into the box before clipping the ball over their advancing keeper and into the back of their net. A great finish and with the County fans bouncing, we were back in it. 1-1 and it was all-square again…
In patches both sides were playing some good football and whenever we sprayed it along the floor, we looked like we could get in behind them. Just past the half-hour mark, great work from Robbie Smith saw him feed the ball through to Robbie Pollitt and as he jinxed into box, he spotted Houghie making a good run so he slipped him in – but our No.4 could only slam it high over the bar from about 10 yards out. This was a good game so far and there was no doubt there were more goals in it…
There sure was. But unfortunately the next one came the way of the team in black and grey stripes – somewhat fortitiously – when their No.8 ran down their right and look to play a cross towards the back post only to see it evade Pomf and smash against the inside of the far post before crossing the line. 1-2 and if we all honest, it was somewhat against the run of play. We had it all to do again now though…
We kept going and as we poured forward, we looked to cause them trouble at every occasion. And on 43 minutes the pressure paid off. Tommo battled well to win the before about 30 yards from his own goal and he passed it into the feet of Smalley – who waited just long enough to slip Dylan through and fooling their keeper, he smashed it inside his near post when he expected the shot to go the other side. A tidy finish and more importantly, the scores were level again just before the break. 2-2 and we were going in knowing that this was still very much to play for…
Half-time: BOLTON COUNTY 2-2 Walshaw Sports
As the lads trotted in, they knew that they’d done alright – but that if we could raise it a little, all three points were there to be won. We needed to pass it better now – keep possession of the ball – and whenever we got the chance to get in behind them, make sure we filled the box and gave it our all. The effort needed to be maintained and if we finished our chances, these points were very much still up for grabs. The drinks were gulped and as soon as we knew it, both teams were out ready to go again…
And within 2 minutes of the restart, it was County that took the lead for the first time in the game. Quickest out of the blocks, we played it about before releasing Robbie Pollitt on the right and with the away bench screaming for offside, the match officials waved play on – and our Robbie finished it smartly leaving their keeper no chance of stopping it. The County players jumped on the scorer and with the fans now cheering loudly, this was turning into something good now…
Back came Walshaw though and on 50 minutes it took a great double-save from Pomf to keep us in front. Firstly their No.9 bent a great shot that looked destined for the bottom corner until Pomf got down low to his left to push it wide for a corner. They swung it in and there was that No.9 again to plant a bullet-header towards the roof of the net and again, Pomf was there to get his palm to it in a flash and divert it over the bar. Great goalkeeping from the Big Man and that had the home fans purring for a little while…
With 53 minutes on the clock the visitors made their first changes – with Taylor and Martin coming on in place of Smethurst and Benson – and as the game went on, the next goal could be the crucial one. We thought we’d got it shortly after when Houghie tucked one away from about 10 yards – only to be adjudged to have been offside – and as we ticked over the hour-mark, we saw a mad passage of play that resulted in the scores being levelled again. Charging into their box, we played the ball in and it looked to all and sundry that it had struck their defender’s hand and a spot-kick would be awarded. But the decision wasn’t given and they hit it long into our half to see their striker latch onto it and race into our box. Pomf came out and in an attempt to get the ball, he took the man – and rather us get it, the visitors were the ones get a free-kick at goal from 12 yards out. Up stepped their No. 10 and he made no mistake in tucking it away to see the score back level at 3-3. This was a corker – and it wasn’t finished yet…
Both sides were going for it and not holding back, it was making for a real spectacle for the crowd. 66 minutes in and Houghie struck a free-kick from 30 yards that grazed the top of their bar and a minute later, it looked as though Robbie Pollitt had been taken out in their box – only to see the decision not given again. This one infuriated Houghie Snr and his protestations led to the referee showing him a yellow card. Passions were running high that’s for sure…
We decided to make our first change in the 70th minute – with young Zax coming on in place of Robbie Pollitt – and as the seconds ticked away, it was clear that we wanted more than a share of the spoils. We were working hard to get numbers forward when we had the ball and it paid off because in the 77th minute, we grabbed our fourth – and decisive – goal of the game. More good work in the midfield saw the ball played into the path of Dylan who did what he does best – and he lifted the ball over the on-rushing Walshaw keeper and into the back of his net! Pandemonium in the County ranks and with around 15 minutes or so to keep this, would we be securing the first three available points of the season?
We were defending well but starting to sit further and further back – which allowed the visitors to obviously push higher up the pitch in search of the equaliser. And on 88 minutes, everybody connected with County held their breath as it looked clear as day that a blue hand had struck the ball in our box. The only person who didn’t seem to see it was the man that mattered – thankfully – and with the away contingent screaming for the penalty, we may well have just got away with one there…
The last few minutes were frantic – with the away side throwing all but the kitchen sink at us – but we soaked it up and when that final whistle went, the look of relief on the County players was there for all to see. What a great result and an even better performance! That’s exactly how we wanted to start the season that…
Handshakes were done with pride and as both teams left the pitch, all that was left was for the fans of both sides to go home knowing that they’d been treating to a real feast here tonight. Seven goal. Great football. And three points for County. What more could we ask for?
A massive thanks to the visitors, their players and their supporters for making the short trip over and we wish you all the very best for the season and a safe journey home tonight. We move on though – and it’s us making the short trip on Saturday as we look to take this display into the next game at Elton Vale. It would be great to see you all over there cheering us on and if we can play like we did tonight, who knows? We could be sat here with six points out of six in four days’ time…
Well done lads. That was fantastic out there and we all enjoyed it…
#UpTheCounty!
