Horwich RMI were the opponents for a resurgent Old Boltonians side on this weekend where the seasonal weather engulfed Chapeltown in a vice-like grip. A freezing fog had descended onto the pitches in a scene that was reminiscent of a Stephen King novel and what followed was a performance that was nearly as horrific.

The Old Boltonians started the game in electric fashion. Horwich looked like the team that had succumbed to the Old Boltonians 6-1 earlier in the season, as it appeared a change in their personnel would not change the outcome of the game. To say that Horwich were ripped apart would be no over-estimation of the first half. Wingers Marcus Gavin and Ryan Ferris drifted past their respective full backs with apparent ease and Darren Dalton and Rob Taylor were giving their defenders a torrid time. The Old Boltonians took the lead two minutes into the game, as Darren Dalton neatly headed home a long throwing from Delap Gamble that was flicked on by Rob Taylor. The lead really should have been doubled, trebled and quadrupled in the following quarter of an hour, but a combination of poor finishing and a reluctance to pull the trigger ensured that the game remained at 1-0.

Very much against the run of play, Horwich forced an equaliser. An inept lineswoman failed to spot a conspicuous offside following a long punt over the top of the defence. It's not the first time this year that the Old Boltonians have suffered to a bad decision by one of the officials, but because of the nature of the game the Old Boltonians felt that it was just a matter of time until the rightful lead was restored. This was the case, as Dalton scored his second of the game having rounded the keeper and placing the balk into the empty net. Again, despite the Old Boltonians dominance the lead remained only by a single goal as the half-time whistle blew.

There is no explanation or justification for what followed in the second half. The Old Boltonians thought they had the game won and began to play complacently. This allowed Horwich to get slightly back into the game. Although a Horwich equaliser did not look likely. It took an almost incredible combination of individual mistakes and errors of judgement to allow Horwich an undeserved leveller. They weren"t mistakes committed deliberately and are very much one offs, so the perpetrators need not be identified, as they are not to blame for the final result.

Instead of keeping their composure, the Old Boltonians panicked to some degree and began to play scrappy, forced football. A number of chances were still created and the game still should have been put to bed, but this they failed to do. A side-effect of the craving to force the game was that the defence was left exposed to the counter-attack from Horwich, which they did not deal with well. In the end Horwich had a number of clear cut chances to win the game themselves, which were either squandered or well saved by kepper Dave Hopkins. The game finished 2-2, but the Old Boltonians trudged from the, now barely visible, pitch like they had tasted defeat. A team like Horwich should not have the ability to take points from the Old Boltonians and the fact they did means that something went very wrong and needs to be addressed before the next fixture