So, just where is the A673? No, I don't know either, but more importantly neither did a car full of Hesketh players and so it turned out that only 10 opposition players lined up to kick off against the Bolts resplendent in their new kits in the Turton late summer sunshine. However, this fact should not detract from a quality performance from the lads that put Hesketh to the sword with a confident , no-nonsnse performance and sets us up well for the season.

Pretty much the same team lined up as last week save the inclusion of the excellent Myers in the middle of the park. Rosie had the team well preppped, not something that could be attributed to Hesketh who were busy giving directions on mobile phones as we kicked off. Baz Ish made the point that we should turn the screw from the start to make good the numerical advantage and the lads did so after 15 mins when Raz made up for his earlier X-rated miss, with an excellent finish to put Bolts up 1-0. We have been here before, letting a good start go to waste, but what was pleasing to Rosie and Baz was that the lads went in search of a second goal straight from the restart and it duly arrived in the shape of Kyle who got his first of the season to put Bolts up 2-0.

Hesketh probably reckoned by now they were in for a long, hot afternoon, but credit to them when they put Bolts under a period of sustained pressure with a succession of corners which were defended well and once we started to get back in their half, it was only a matter of time before the 3rd goal came. Super work down the left hand side with the ball moved quicker than the eye could keep up with between DanAn, Vinny and Raz, eventually led to a cross which found Myers unmarked on the far post and he took his time to calmly slot the ball home. 3-0 Bolts. The extra Hesketh player duly arrived just before H-T to restore parity, but I reckon his presence would have made no difference (as he was crap) after a very good first half from Bolts.

At half time the point was made that it would be nice to get further ahead rather than let Hesketh get a sniff and make things harder than they should be and good work eventually found Vinny with a large open net to put a small ball into. Cometh the hour, the man didn't cometh as Vinny fluffed his lines as blazed over the bar and put the ball into the churchyard behind the pitch. A miss worse than Raz's earlier, surely nobody could miss an easier chance than that? With Baz Ish, Campbell, Dan and Felgate easily dealing with Hesketh's blunt attack and allowing Oli with not much else to do but improve his tan, Bolts pushed forward in search of the 4th goal. Man of the match Campbell was allowed to go up for a corner which he toe poked home to complete a fantastic afternoons display. 4-0. The fifth goal was probably the best when Jack bought himself some room and curled a beauty into the top corner early in second half to make it 5-0. A late consolation for Hesketh and a shocker of a miss from the otherwise solid Marcus which was somehow worse than Vinny's, couldn't spoil a lovely day out for the 3rd team. F/T  5-1.

If this team can be kept together along with the same attitude, team spirit and desire, it can do some damage this year. Already the back 4 look like they have been playing together for years, the midfield are working hard for each other and Kyle and Raz look potent. Thanks to Rosie, Tim and Beardall for coming on late with the right attitudes .The only questions that remained were did Hesketh also get lost on the way home and will M of M Campbell improve on the choice of pre-match music nxt week?

Baz Ish