It seemed like only yesterday that the Old Boltonians were making the long journey into Blackburn with aspirations of title glory, as they faced Old Blackburnians in a potential LAL title decider. That night, the Old Blackburnians had left victorious, forced the Old Boltonians to settle for the league runners-up spot and clinched the title, which they had deserved for their consistency throughout the season. Tonight the stakes were equally as high, as the two juggernauts of the LAL met again for a place in the final of the LAL cup. It would only be correct to say that the Old Boltonians had some degree of nerves going into the game. We were reaching the culmination of a long, hard season and to finish empty handed would be hard to take given the early and mid-season promise.
The weather had been kind to the pitch, which was in top condition and promised to provide a surface worthy of the occasion. The Old Boltonians had an almost full strength side to choose from with only long term absentees, vice captain Dave Owen and Ryan Ferris not available for selection. They had every confidence of providing enough competition to win the game.
There isn't a superlative of sufficient magnitude to describe the vigour with which the Old Boltonians started the game. The Old Blackburnians kicked off, but it was the Old Boltonians that went immediately on the offensive. The Old Blackburnians were not given a second to settle and were harassed by an Old Boltonians that had an obviously strong desire to win this game. The Old Boltonians were emphatically rewarded for their high tempo start, as within five minutes they had opened the scoring. A long throw-in from Robin Myers was flicked on by the Goliath-like Matt McCllelan, but the flick landed on the head of the Old Blackburnians centre-half. His contact with the ball was minimal and the clearance landed at the feet of Rob Taylor, just outside the penalty area, with no-one around him. Without thinking, Taylor controlled the ball expertly on his chest before ramming the ball into the bottom corner of the net. 1-0.
The Old Boltonians expected an immediate backlash from the Old Blackburnians, but the expected did not come. The Old Boltonians grabbed hold of the game again and forced Old Blackburnians back in their own territory. Once again, the attacking impetus was rewarded as the Old Boltonians doubled their lead. A cross whipped into the penalty area was not adequately dealt with by the Old Blackburnians keeper, who spilt the ball into the path of Darren Dalton, who prodded home from close range. 2-0. What a start!
Playing with a renewed confidence, the Old Boltonians looked comfortable and dangerous. The lead could have been further extended as a long ball over the rather square Old Blackburnians back four was pounced upon by Rob Taylor. He beat the onrushing keeper to the ball and nudged it around him. Unfortunately at the most inopportune time, he lost his footing and was unable to put the game behind the Old Blackburnians.
The Old Blackburnians then showed why they are the league champions by turning the game in an instant. It would be fair to say that they had not been in the game up to this point but somehow fashioned a goal from nothing. An accurate and direct ball from flank to flank cut the Old Boltonians open, allowing the Old Blackburnians Captain to run from midfield and side foot a volley home past Anthony Duffy. 2-1. Game on.
The scores remained unchanged at half-time.
If the first half was about the Old Boltonians attack, the next thirty minutes was wholly about defence. To say that the Old Boltonians had their backs against the wall is an understatement in anyone’s book. The Old Blackburnians dominated this phase of the game. The Old Boltonians defence of Craig Jolley, James Kinsler, Rob Gamble and Robin Myers battled admirably and with no lack of skill. And when they were beaten, Anthony Duffy was outstanding again in saving what the Old Blackburnians could offer. This said, the game hinged upon a miss by an Old Blackburnians player that he will undoubtedly be disappointed with. Had he scored, the Old Blackburnians would have gone on to win the game. He missed.
The individual moment of the game occurred with ten minutes remaining. Rob Taylor flicked a Kieran Walsh clearance into the path of Darren Dalton. Dalton didn’t hesitate for a second, striking the ball, first time with the outside of his boot, 35 yards from goal. Optimistic? Not a chance. The baby faced assassin knew exactly what he was doing and had wheeled away in celebration even before the net was bulging and the helpless keeper was lay on the floor having seen the ball sail over his head. 3-1. Surely this was enough.
Credit to the Old Blackburnians, they continued to press on against the Old Boltonians, but even though, their legs were weary from relentless defending, they stood strong. The icing was put on the cake when Matt McCllelan emphatically struck past the keeper from the edge of the box. 4-1.
The end scoreline wasn’t a true reflection of the closeness of the game and in truth there were spells where the result was in the balance. However, there can be no arguments about the result. The Old Boltonians march on to the final and their hope of silverware remains intact.