The quarter finals of the LAL cup provided a welcome break from the league for the Old Boltonians where they have been struggling to find a meaningful result of late. A favourable home draw against Division 1 outfit Mostonians gave the Old Boltonians hope of saving their season with a run to the cup final.
The conditions at Chapeltown were ferocious. A strong, swirling wind had the potential to act as a leveller and override the greater football ability of the Old Boltonians. After ten minutes of football, it was clear they needn’t have worried, as the scoreline rested at 4-0. Mostonians were clearly not the team that was relegated from the LAL Premier League in the previous season. They were slow and vulnerable at the back and toothless in attack.
The first goal was scored from the penalty spot by Kieran Walsh. Darren Dalton hounded the Mostonians right back into making a mistake and surged into the penalty area. The defender unnecessarily hacked Dalton down and the referee duly obliged with the awarding of a penalty. 1-0. The second goal was also scored by Kieran Walsh with the wind claiming a definite assist. The ball was whipped in from the corner and found its way directly into the net. A nice strike but a little fortuitous. 2-0. If the second goal was a little lucky, the third has to go down as luck of Man United proportions. Another testing ball from the left flank was fired into the danger zone by Kieran Walsh. The Mostonians defender should have dealt with the ball but sent a 45 yard looping, venomous header into the top corner of his own goal! A late shout for goal of the season! 3-0. The fourth goal was nothing to do with the conditions and exuded class. The ball was kept effectively by the Old Boltonians backline, was fed through midfield and finally to Kieran Walsh. His pinpoint cross into the box was met by a surging run into the area by Matt McCllelan, who headed home to make the score 4-0.
Mostonians also used the wind to their advantage by scoring directly from a corner, although there was more than a hint of a foul on keeper, Anthony Duffy. 4-1. After that brief interlude, the Kieran Walsh show continued as yet another testing ball was arced into Mostonians territory. The defenders again showed a lack of ability to be able to deal with the delivery and allowed the ball to bounce towards the area. Rob Taylor nipped in front of the hesitant defender and the oncoming keeper to nod the goal into the empty goal – 5-1. The lead could and should have been extended, but the score remain unchanged at half-time. With three assists and two goals, Kieran Walsh could be happy with his contribution to the game so far!
Old Boltonians started the second half in a slightly sloppy manner. They failed to deal with a long punt into their half and lost concentration when they should have tracked their runners. The result was an early goal for Mostonians. 5-2.
The sloppy start to the second half was quickly erased and the Old Boltonians re-established their dominance. Another impressive passing move, given the conditions, resulted in Dalton providing a perfect low cross for Josh Melling to side foot the ball into the corner of the net with his left boot. 6-2. The lead was further extended by Rob Taylor minutes later. He harassed the Mostonians defence into making another error, created a chance one on one with the keeper and slotted in calmly. 7-2.
The game finished without further addition to the score. In truth, it was an effective display from the Old Boltonians who did what they had to do, whilst having plenty in reserve. All future rounds of the cup will produce much sterner opposition.