OLD BLACKS 2 OLD BOLTS RESERVES 2
SCORERS: J Collings, R Hardwidge
As Chris Neasham was off eating clotted cream in Devon (earning some brownie points with the ball & chain), managerial duties for the tough away fixture against Old Blacks were left in the hands of John Collings and Iain Rose. Injury and mass unavailability saw numerous enforced changes to the side that defeated Rochdale on Saturday, and favours from players not usually seen in the reserves were called in.
As kick off approached, poor road navigation skills from Dalton, Hardwidge & Rose nearly resulted in an unscheduled visit to Clitheroe, and Bolts beginning the game with 9 men (map reading clearly not their area of expertise). Fortunately for the team, however, they do know their way around a football pitch a little better. After a superman style pitch-side kit change, a bright start from Bolts saw some early sharp attacking play. Neat passing in midfield, and dangerous running on the flanks culminated in a devastating cross from overlapping left-back Walsh. Raz Harwidge cleverly 'ducked' the header (even closing his eyes to fool the defenders) leaving Collings unmarked to coolly slot past the keeper one-on-one. 1-0 to Bolts after 5 minutes.
Bolts pushed the cruise control button, and for 30 minutes Craig Jolley, Jimbo Gray & co stroked the ball around like Arsenal, with some unheard of one touch passing and samba skills. Unfortunately this initial dominance was not capitalised on, and chances in the box were well defended by Blacks. On 35 minutes Old Bolts felt harshly treated, as the referee awarded a soft free-kick 20 yards from goal, which was subsequently lashed home across Dave Hopkins. 1-1 against the run of play. However, almost immediately Bolts restored the lead through Hardwidge, after some incisive passing down the left wing involving Gavin and Dalton, he cut inside to finish with a well struck 25 yard effort into the far top corner. 2-1 Old Bolts, and confidently leading at half-time.
In the second half the soft pitch started to influence the game to a greater extent, with the surface cutting up badly, especially stunting Ben Moores" good early progress on the wing. The play became scrappy and disjointed, although Bolts still looked good for their lead, neither side could claim second half superiority. Bolts’ deep positioning, Blacks’ high line, and their linesman’s pneumatic powered jack-in-the-box arm, all conspired to prove an effective offside trap against Old Bolts attacks, and even when it was sprung poor execution in the final third prevented any further score from Bolts. On 80 minutes a hopeful punt into the Bolts area was dealt with poorly, the ball fell kindly to a Blacks attacker and was hooked into the bottom corner from 18 yards, 2-2.
From thereon in both teams fumbled through an uneventful last 10, as the recent lack of match practice and energy sapping pitch took its toll. A decent enough result, however, which Bolts probably would have taken before kickoff, but were disappointed after the final whistle not to have come away with more.