There are weekends when you realise why you love this game so much! And this was one of them. We’d had some tough times of late so knowing that we were travelling over to Rochdale to take on the reigning champions – on the pitch where nobody had won for over 16 months – didn’t bring about the best of optimism. Well do you know what? This was the best we’ve played in a long, long time…
Right from the start the vibe in the dressing-room was the best it had been for a while as the lads were smiling and looking forward to the game. They got ready with vigour and carried that out with them as they warmed up. They looked sharp and that home defeat to Bolton Borough in the week looked like a distant memory. And as they worked their muscles into game-mood, each and every one of the lads in blue looked up for this…
When the starting 11 were announced, it really did see the management team take a gamble – as they swapped personnel and formation – but boy did it pay off! We had Pomf between the posts and a strange looking back four of Houghie slotting in next to Hodgy at centre-half and Ben sliding to right – with Liam on the left. Smalley and Shorty were joined by Phil and Sam out on the wings and with a top-two of Ax and Dylan we were good to good. The trio to call upon when needed were to be Robbie Pollitt, Callum Short and Louie – who was difficult to drop after his recent performances but he’s a top lad with a great attitude. That was it. We were set. Now could we take all this positivity into the game. Too right we could!
Right from the off we looked dangerous and with Dylan and Ax joining up together whenever they got the ball, they looked a real threat. With Smalley and Shorty doing what they do best – ferreting around the central third and breaking up whatever the home side were trying to muster up – we were denying them space and time to work anything towards our box and the opening stages were pretty good. Shorty was even drilling passes with the outside of his left-boot, that’s how confident the lads were…
And to the pattern of the game, it was County who took the lead – and what a strike it was! The ball was played towards the edge of their box and as Ax robbed their centre-half of it, the next thing we saw was Dylan take aim and from all of 30 yards out, he struck it top-bins leaving the Sacred Heart No.1 no chance of stopping it. The County fans were dancing and even the home faithful were appreciative of the strike. 1-0 County and that was deserved…
Like Champions do though, the home side managed to pull level somewhat against the run of play when a quick move saw the ball fed into the middle and their striker tuck it away with ease but to our credit, we didn’t let that stop us and we kept passing the ball well and working it into good areas. So it was no surprise when we retook the lead as Ax sprinted down the right and as he fired the box across the six-yard box, there was Sam to get to it before their defender and slot it home. Another neat goal and we were looking dangerous whenever we went forward now. 2-1 and we just needed to see this through to the break now…
We didn’t though. Because once again the home side showed their credentials as they – from nowhere – managed to make the score all-square again before the half-time whistle. A good ball through the channel saw them managed to squeeze it into the box and there was their midfielder striding forward to smash it home from about 10 yards out. 2-2 and despite County being the team on top, we were going in level….
Half-time: Rochdale Sacred Heart 2-2 BOLTON COUNTY FC
As the lads came in for their drinks, the coaches set about their business – as they reminded their troops that all they needed to do was keep doing what they had been. At times they couldn’t keep up with us so we needed to keep the ball moving quickly and not get bullied off it. We were more than in this and what a message it would send out if we could leave here with anything. The lads had more than ‘anything’ in their eyes as they trotted out for the re-start – and it was as though they knew something we didn’t…
There was a look of worry on the County contingent’s faces when on 50 minutes, Dylan had to come off due to a knock to his ankle that he’d taken just before the break – so on came that lad Louie and we reverted back to our more usual 4-3-3 shape. Then more concern on the hour-mark as this time it was Ax coming off having succumbed to a hamstring injury and it was Robbie Pollitt that was called upon in a move that pushed Sam up top. Robbie came on looking like he had a point to prove and from the moment he got hold of that ball for the first time, he looked as sharp as he has been in while…
On 65 minutes, it was County that took the lead – some may say fortuitously, others may say by skill – but a goal’s a goal at the end of the day. We won a corner over on the right and as Phil went across to take it, the usual hustle and bustle was taking place in the penalty-area. That didn’t matter though – because our Phil curled the ball in directly to the top-corner of the Sacred Heart net and there was absolutely nothing their keeper to do about it! 3-2 and the County players rushed to celebrate with the goal-scorer. Could we hold on to this now? That was the plan…
Well we did more than that. Much more. Because although we’d lost the quality of Dylan and Ax up front, to have the option to bring on fresh legs who ooze class is a great thing and whenever we could get the ball forward, we were giving their defence plenty to think about. And on 70 minutes, we were given a great chance to increase our lead when Phil jinxed his way into the area and all the home defender could do to stop him advancing was to bring him down. With no hesitation, the man in the middle pointed directly to the spot – so up stepped Ben to shoulder the responsibility. With the vociferous home support doing all they could to put him off, our Ben stepped up confidently and BANG! – he dispatched it with ease to see us go 4-2 to the good! This was exactly what we wanted – a bit of breathing space – and as the home side rushed to get the ball back for the re-start, now it was about game-management if we wanted all three of these points…
There was a look of steel to the lads in blue now and with the bit between our teeth, we decided that we were going to dig in now and soak up whatever they had – then pouring forward whenever we did manage to get the chance. The home side began throwing everything at us but with Houghie having a storming game in the middle of defence, we were holding out well. Ben T was top-drawer and coupled with Pomf looked unlikely to get beaten again, we looked solid as a unit at the back. It was going to take something for the champions to get back in this now…
And that was made even harder for them when we got our fifth and final goal of the game – and one that capped a stunning performance from that man Phil. This time he received the ball on the turn and as he chopped inside two defenders, the space opened up for him. He made full use of it and with the goal at his mercy, he wrapped his foot around the ball and curled it into the top corner expertly. A stunning strike and a goal worthy of clinching any game! 5-2 to County and the jubilant travelling fans were definitely making themselves heard…
And that was that. We’d done it. The whistle went and we’d become the first time to win on the champions home patch for over 16 months – and done it in style. This wasn’t a lucky win. This was well and truly deserved and as the players from both teams shook hands with respect, they all knew it. The best team had won – and we’re so proud to say it was us!
As the lads came in, there was nothing but praise from Tommo and Damo. That had been a brilliant performance and one that we definitely need to build upon. We wish Dylan and Ax speedy recoveries as we’ll need them in the coming weeks – but it was great to see their replacements slot in and do a fantastic job. As was said in the dressing-room before the game, there is a really competitive squad building here and with a number of players missing – the likes of Charlie, Robbie Smith, Willow and Kieran unavailable for this one – and Matt Ormrod and Josh Evans still to come back in, the future is looking really positive. Today’s result only further cements that…
The youth in this squad also means that with nurture and them all listening in training, they will only get better and better. Ten of the fourteen in this squad today were under 23 so that can only bode well as we move forward. But today was about today – and the lads can all go home tonight knowing that they played their part in this. We had come over to Rochdale – to the home of the Champions – and we were going home with all three points. That will do right?
#UpTheCounty!