A fresh Saturday morning greeted the Old Bolts team in this vital away fixture against Bolton Lads Club, a game in which it was vital that the team returned with nothing less than the three points after the good work put in the previous week against a determined Rossendale outfit. The pitch, although slightly undulating, was more than suitable to play attractive football. However, with so much at stake it was disappointing not to see the effort, desire or concentration (some may call it ‘fire in your bellies!!) in the pre-game warm up. As ever the lads were in a boisterous mood but if one scratched the surface to examine the underlying mood across the camp, one might have been disheartened to find less desire than may have been present in previous weeks.
The management opted for a 3-5-2 approach in an attempt to control the midfield and exert the Old Bolts authority on the game. Coupled with the lacklustre warm-up and new formation, both of which are unforgivable in hindsight, the Old Bolts started in the game in a complacent manner. In contrast, Lads Club were quickly out of the blocks and ready to seize upon any error made by the visitors, of which there were many!! Not long into the first half and the opening goal was conceded by the Old Bolts, who seemed somewhat dumbstruck that they could concede to such opposition!
One would hope that this might spark the Old Bolts into life and replace the feeling of complacency with a matter of urgency into the team. Unfortunately, this proved not to be the case. Despite continued pressure the much desired goal wasn’t to be and the lads went into the break 1-0 down. A sensible decision to revert back to 4-4-2 was made at the interval with some harsh, but albeit fair, words said.
The second half began with the Old Bolts in search of that vital goal to get back into the game. Worryingly the game continued to slide into obscurity and whilst the drive to maintain the title push was still present, if one looked hard enough, another flurry of half opportunities came and went. The 80th minute approached and the Old Bolts won a corner in the sloping, tree-infested corner of the ground. A muddled confusion and a plethora of swinging legs aiming in the direction of the ball later and the ball dropped to the forever centre half, Rob Myers!! For the first time in the game it seemed lady luck fortuned the brave and the ball bobbled into the path of the goal machine Myers who sliced the ball into the roof of the net for the equaliser.
Five minutes later and with the Old Bolts not content with a draw the opportunity came to take all three points. Once again the referee decided to make it ‘all about him’ and awarded a free-kick at the edge of the box. Whilst the wall set itself and the keeper was positioning, some thoughtful thinking and a precise finish from Nick Luke placed the ball beyond the despairing dive of the Lads Club keeper to make it 2-1. The home side protested furiously with the referee but to no avail and the visiting defence kept the door firmly shut to ensure a 2-1 victory.
A true undeserving victory in every sense of the word for the Old Bolts and the team can count themselves lucky to walk away with three points. A number of lessons are to be learnt here yet the title push remains strong and the lead at the top has been extended due to a number of rivals slipping up. Not every game throughout a season will be easily won but the true sign of champions is winning those in which victory seems all but lost!!
A great man once said, ‘the hard work is done long before you get to dance beneath the lights’ – a statement perhaps worth remembering until the end of the season!!