Horwich RMI 1 Old Boltonians 6
The Old Boltonians 1st XI started their first game of the 2008-2009 season in confident mood, with some new faces adding strength to the squad and the return to the club, of a few of the old faces (including Robin Myers, Sam Hancock, & Paul Wheatcroft) alllooking to have reaped the rewards from a hard pre-season training. Horwich RMI was to be the opposition in an away game that had not provided much joy in recent seasons.
Almost immediately from the kick off it was obvious that, as the Old Boltonians had become stronger from the previous season, Horwich had become considerably weaker. They started with a 4-5-1 formation and looked to be focussed on damage limitation from the off. The Old Boltonians began the game well. Despite the unaccommodating pitch, some neat passing was on display and the ball was retained well. A series of early chances were carved out, but without the required finishing touch; but the display was promising and it surely would only be a matter of time until the deadlock was broken.
The first goal of the game, and indeed the season, came after 25 minutes and it was the prolific Robert Taylor who continued his impressive pre-season form who got the goal. A long throw in from Robert Gamble was flicked on at the near post by David Owen and Robert Taylor was on hand to convincingly strike into the bottom corner of the goal. A response was needed by Horwich, who had been disappointingly ineffective thus far; otherwise any hopes of three points from the game were lost for them. Whether they attempted to raise their game or not was undetectable as a distinct lack of quality rendered any attacking threat they had toothless. However, the Old Boltonians were unable to add further to their tally before the half time whistle, and Horwich were still theoretically in the game.
It was a matter of minutes into the 2nd half when the Old Boltonians lead was doubled. Sam Hancock, making his comeback for the team after some years in the wilderness, went on a mazy run from right back. The Horwich defence parted like the red sea in biblical times and Sam coolly slotted the ball past the onrushing goalkeeper.
The spotlight then reverted to another Old Bolt who had spent significant time in apparent football retirement. Paul Wheatcroft, making his competitive debut for the Old Boltonians, scored two goals in the space of five minutes after coming off the bench at half time. Firstly, a neat finish from inside the box powered past the Horwich keeper after a few ineffective attempts to clear the ball and secondly a good glancing header after cleverly anticipating a superb cross from Rob Taylor and nipping in front of the static defender. Two goals to prove that Wheatcroft should be a force to be reckoned with this season.
Two further goals were added to the Old Boltonians tally, with Robert Taylor added his second after rounding the keeper and slotting in from a neat angle and Nick Luke opening up his account for the season with a nicely curled shot into the top corner.
The only disappointing aspect to the day was the concession of a goal late on in the game from a rather speculative effort from distance. But all in all a promising start to the season for the Old Boltonians, although there will be many harder games than this to come.