The penultimate league game of the season for the Old Boltonians still had
some pertinence for the former title contenders. Mid-week fixtures having
produced notable wins for Rossendale Amateurs and Little Lever meaning that
if three points were not achieved, there was potential for slippage from
second to as low as fourth. The opponents for this game were Radcliffe
Town.

The Old Boltonians started the game slowly. The players looked tired, some
looked disinterested and some looked barely alive. Neither team can come
out of the first half with much credit. The Old Boltonians resorted to a
long ball tactic that was neither effective nor pretty and Radcliffe
assumed a tactic that was not dissimilar, if emanating from a different
source (i.e. their keeper). Despite the lack of quality football being
displayed by the Old Boltonians, they should have gone into the half-time
interval with a lead. Nick Luke had two golden opportunities to open the
scoring the game. One of which was an effort into a gaping goal from fully
four yards out, after a nice cross from Darren Dalton. Somehow the ball
’bobbled’ over his outstretched leg and went out of play for a throw-in.

Just when the game looked to be drifting to a goalless first half,
Radcliffe took the lead with their first 'threatening' attack. A long ball
into the channel was willingly chased by the Radcliffe forward, but there
looked to be no danger as the ball was drifting out for a goal kick.
Anthony Duffy looked to shield the ball from the forward. However, the
referee adjudged that he committed a foul in doing so and awarded a penalty
to the visitors. The ball was emphatically buried into the net. 1-0.

The second half was the antithesis of the first from an Old Boltonians
perspective. They played with purpose and ripped Radcliffe apart for 45
minutes. It would be no exaggeration to say that the Old Boltonians had
15-20 decent chances to level the game. None were taken. Radcliffe had
almost failed to get into the Old Boltonians half, but looked as though
they could snatch an unlikely victory.

In a final attempt to force a goal, the formation was switched to 3-4-3 by
manger Simon Shields. All out attack. Within minutes they got a deserved
equaliser, as Rick McCllelan produced some good work down the right flank
and whipped a nice cross into the path of his younger sibling, Matt, who
met the cross with his head. 1-1.

As the Old Boltonians pushed on to get the winner, and produced chances
that could have settled the game, they left themselves vulnerable on the
break. This allowed Radcliffe the best chance of the game to win it, in the
final seconds. A long punt forward foiled the Old Boltonians offiside trap
and allowed their forward to bear down on Duffy. However, Captain Craig
Jolley proved his worth by making up ten yards on the striker before
putting in a last ditch saving tackle. Duffy then produced a fine save from
the rebound. The final whistle blew moments later and the Old Boltonians
left the pitch in disappointment. However, this was soon changed to joy, as
the LAL website confirmed that their rivals had failed to capitalise on
their draw and they had secured runners-up spot. After the early promise of
the season, there is still a sense of throwing the title away, but as this
is the best finish by an Old Boltonians side since the reformatting of the
league, the players can be proud of their achievement. With a cup
semi-final to come this week, things have the potential to get even better