Old,Bolts 1 Rossendale 2

Old Boltonians welcomed Rossendale Amateurs to fortress Chapeltown knowing that nothing short of a victory would be good enough if they were to maintain realistic title aspirations. Preparation for the game was far from ideal, with injury and flight delays, amongst other reasons, meaning that only a bare eleven were available for selection. Needless to say, the team picked itself. Perhaps it was the poor preparation that caused the Old Boltonians to waver in concentration, but no sooner had the first half whistle sounded when Old Bolts found themselves a goal down. Some schoolboy defending, that is becoming more frequent in our game, was responsible and left Anthony Duffy with no chance as the forward coolly slotted home the one vs one. Old Boltonians needed to compose themselves and reconsolidate, but it was 2-0 within 5 minutes of the re-start. Again, Duffy was left with no chance as the ball was swept into an empty goal by the same striker. Somehow, Old Boltonians managed to scrape through the first half without further goals being conceded and further embarrassment.

It may have been Baz Culfs reinforcement that the long ball style of football wasn't conducive to good results or that the players finally realised that the best way to score goals is to keep the ball, but the second half was arguably our best display of football this season. The passing was swift and incisive, the movement good and every player looked composed on the ball. Rossendale received an absolute battering in the second half. Rob Taylor scored a cracking goal, beating two player before drilling a 20 yard shot into the bottom corner, Rick Mclellan and Nick Luke played some intricate one twos down the left hand side and David Owen and Ju Steven marshalled the midfield admirably. A plethora of chances were created, but the finish could not be applied.

The game finished with defeat, 2-1, to a team that will be there or thereabouts on all fronts this year. But in defeat, the team can take a great deal from the game and let us hope that lessons have been learnt and that the brand of football practised in the second half will be repeated in future weeks.

Craig Jolley