Castle Hill Reserves 4 Old Bolts 'A' 5
A strengthened ‘A" team arrived at Castle Hill full of confidence, despite the absence of enough kit, no footballs and a distinct lack of drinking water. Mere complications such as these were not going to get in the way of Old Bolts quest to move up the table and so it proved with a lively start and a couple of early chances being squandered by the ‘A’ team.
A common theme amongst the last couple of games has been the wealth of chances created and this would continue throughout the ensuing 90 minutes of football. Still within the opening quarter of the game a long through ball from the back created uncertainty within the Castle Hill defence and allowed Ellis to slot the ball past the keeper.
1-0 and it appeared that Old Bolts would not have any problems claiming the 3 points on offer. Sadly, Castle Hill stirred in to life and went up the other end almost straight from the kick off and equalised off a set piece. Given the chances created, Old Bolts refused to lose confidence with this set back but nevertheless chances came and went. Then up stepped Lynch, pushing forward on the left and curled in an unstoppable cross (or possibly shot) in to the corner and the lead was re-established and deserved.
Moving in to the 2nd half and Old Bolts switched off, possibly due to a combination of a blinding sun set and the rank after taste of the orange cordial. Eitherway, Castle Hill quickly took advantage and equalised.
It was now time for Old Bolts to establish their authority and the game was taken by the scruff of the neck by the evergreen Hughes. Firstly, a penalty was awarded for handball and Hughes stepped up to smash the ball past the keeper (so that’s how you take a penalty!). Shortly after the impressive Ishaque won a towering header and the subsequent clearance from the equally impressive Arnold found Ellis in acres of space on the left. After weighing up his recent shots to goals ratio, he justifiably elected to square the ball to Hughes who made no mistake. Hughes and indeed Old Bolts were not finished there as the big man galloped down the left to put a cross in. The Castle Hill centre-back bizarrely then decided to head it in to his own net. Just to be clear, the dubious goals panel had no choice but to give this as an own goal, cruelly though entirely realistically denying Hughes his hat-trick.
At 5-2 that should have been game over but Castle Hill pushed hard to get themselves back in the game and did so with a couple of late goals. Despite this though, Old Bolts continued to create chances on the break and on another day efforts from the energetic and skilful Gavin, the stamina king Witter, twinkle toes Beardall and the returning powerful Hark would have found the back of the net.
In summary, it’s a good start to 2008 and looking at the table Old Bolts should feel confident that they can climb it.
Man of the Match - shaded by Andy Arnold for his battling and energetic display providing some crucial backbone to the Old Bolts team.