Old Boltonians Res 3 Ladybridge 3
"The Hand of God earns a point for the Reserves!!"
In perfect conditions for football up at Turton, the Reserves set about their Ladybridge opponents in an attempt to get the season back on track after a few disappointing results.
Bolts started brightly and for 10 minutes passed the ball about well, but failed to test the Ladybridge keeper with any real chances. Ladybridge belied their lowly league position and started to control the game, with the lively "Obefemi Martins" lookalike causing many problems to the Bolts defence. With 20 minutes gone Bolts gifted Ladybridge the lead as a poor pass from Vinny Hulton went straight to the Ladybridge winger who crossed well and the attacker made no mistake with the finish 0-1.
You could see the confidence grow in the Ladybridge side and they were winning every 50/50 tackle and pushing for a second goal. This followed soon after as again another bad pass was taken advantage of by Ladybridge and "Obefemi Martins" finished nicely giving Olie Neasham no chance in goal.0-2.
Bolts by this time had gone to pieces and were arguing amongst themselves, they did however try and get back in the game but with no real conviction and Halftime couldn't come quick enough!!
Tensions were running high at half time and words were had between players but the main points were put across well and after a couple of tactical changes and one player change Bolts came out firing in the 2nd half.
It was now Bolts dominating the possession and winning every 50/50 tackle, Damon Jordan on as a Sub, Ben Moores and Andy Hibbert were pulling the strings and chances were starting to come.
There wasn't long to wait for Bolts to get back in the game and with 15 mins played in the 2nd half a nice move ended with John Collings finishing well. 1-2.
The reserves were throwing everything at Ladybridge to get the equaliser that their play deserved, and from a corner, Vinny Hulton knocked in a fine ball to the back post, where an unmarked Chris Neasham headed home to make it 2-2.
Bolts peppered the Ladybridge goal but couldn't find the finish they needed and as the minutes rolled on it was Ladybridge who started to look the more likely again on the break, however some good defending by the back four and decent handling from Olie Neasham kept them out.
With 15 minutes remaining John Collings turned in the box and was clearly shoved to the ground but the ref didn't give it and from the clearance Ladybridge broke quickly and incisively and the lively winger crossed well for the striker to finish. 2-3
A real body blow for Bolts to take, but to their credit they managed to push forward again but just couldn't get an equaliser. With just seconds remaining Bolts won a corner, In it came and somehow the ball ended up in the back of the net!!! 3-3
On closer analysis there was a definite handball in the box and it was Chris Neasham who sheepishly celebrated the equaliser. After the match Neash admitted to "Slam Dunking" the Ball into the back of the net but "I was shoved in the back first!!" and "if it's good enough for Maradonna it's good enough for me" soon followed!!
In the end, the result was well deserved and maybe Bolts got the rub of the green with the equaliser on this occasion but if they can keep playing like they did 2nd half then the results will only improve.
MOM Andy Hibbert - Never stopped working.