Accrington Loyal Ams 4 - 3 Old Bolts Res

In a repeat result of last year's opening day fixture Old Bolts outplayed Accrington for most of the game but failed to come away with any of the points.

With most of the team still apparently in the land of nod for the first 20 minutes of the match, Accrington raced to a 2-0 lead with a minimum of effort.  Having already scored from close range in the opening 5 minutes they added a second via a freekick, which although hit with power was straight at the four-man wall – a wall which unfortunately did a better impression of an open window, letting the ball straight through & leaving Dave Hopkins with no chance.

This served as a good dose of wake-up juice for old bolts, and the team sprang into life creating a string of decent chances.  Wee man Paul Turnbull, re-born as left winger, went close as the keeper luckily saved a one-on-one effort after he had sprung their off-side trap.  Minutes later a stone-wall penalty was denied after Bull again burst through like a miniature juggernaut & was scythed down by the Accrington keeper -the referee (who later tested positive for crack) waved play on, adding to a growing catalogue of poor decisions.  Andy Myers finally got the goal Old Bolts deserved, juggling the ball 3 or 4 times with his back to goal, before spinning to volley home from 10 yards out.

As the 2nd half got underway Old Bolts were frustrated in attack, and found it difficult to produce a decent ball in the last third.  The game became ever more stretched & completely against the run of play Accrington added another goal, a long range effort which Dave Hopkins could do nothing about.  However, Old Bolts showed enough character to peg Accrington back again, as Chris Neasham rounded off a good performance with a well taken left-footed drive.  Now throwing everything including the kitchen sink at the opposition, Old Bolts were sucker punched again & conceded a fourth on the break.  But yet another life line was thrown as one of the Accrington defenders handballed a certain goal on the line, a penalty was awarded & the player sent off.  John Collings fired home the penalty kick to make it 4-3, but an equaliser evaded Old Bolts and the game finished disappointingly in defeat, not before Vinny Hulton saw red for dissent also reducing Bolts to 10 men.