Chadderton 'A' - 2  Old Boltonians 'A' - 0

Well, well, well. The 3rd team have been here before. A long run without a win stretching back until October, players losing interest, and a relegation battle to look foward to. What would inspire the 3rds to turn their season back on track? A well organised back four? A call out of retirement for Lee Jennings into the central midfield battle? An extreme mix of experience and youth up front in the form of the returning veteran warhorse Dave Hughes and young, not old enough to buy a pint, Kyle? Or a good, no holds barred team talk in the Three Pigs before the trip to chilly Chadderton?

I suppose the answer is none of the above for todays fixture as the 3rds lost narrowly, but in the future I think it will. That's because the fire in the belly was back, the will to play for each other and a superb attitude from the lads meant that all of the above was not in vain and the feeling that we will stay up if we build on this performance.

With our glorious leader seconded to run the 2nd team, the team wanted to put in a good performance for him. The first half was a well contested affair with the Bolts defence limiting Chads to few chances. Damon Jordan played a blinder besides Baz Ish at emergency centre back, a position he has not played in since school. With another example of an extreme mix of youth and experience at full backs in the shape of Chopper and Dan, Chads never really threatened, with Oli Neash dealing everything that did get through admirably. The only down side was that we never really looked like scoring although the partnership of Hughesy and Kyle promises good things for the future. 0-0 Half time.

Perhaps the only criticism of the team was that they looked too pleased with themselves at HT as they had the better of the first half but forgot that it was still 0-0. Not surprising I suppose because of recent results. The 2nd half began with 2 quick Chads goals due to the defence switching off and it proved just too difficult to get back into the game. The midfield worked hard and the middle two of Jenno and Jack look a good combination. Beardall threatened constantly especially in the first half, and credit to the Maestro for giving his all out of position on the right.

Special mention in dispatches to Oli Neash in nets, but Man of the Match goes to Damon for his job at centre half, a position I'm sure he looks forward to playing again in the near future.

Things looking better for the 3rds.

Baz Ish