TOTTINGTON 4 OLD BOLTS 7
The recent upturn in the B-Team's form & fortunes continues in an 11-goal feast at boggy Tottington, a veritable Rumble in the Dung if ever there was one….
In spite of the zany score line, this was largely a drab contest, with a poor Tottington side put to the sword by the potent weapon that is the B-Team"s attacking unit…… Plus Jeff Taylor.
Bolts began the game with 10 men due to an administrative mix-up, (i.e player running late) and sure enough this resulted in being caught cold to a deflected opening goal for the opposition. Undeterred, Ron Manager’s men sprang straight back into action with a steely resolve that promised reward. Within 5 minutes, the Bolts were level following a crazy goalmouth scramble involving Barrett, Brookes, Freeborn, & Beardsworth , but ending with Mopsey Morris tapping in for his longest-range finish of the season – two yards!
This proved key, as Bolts never looked back whilst the opposition seemed more intent on falling out with each other and swearing a lot. Beardsworth announced his (sober) return to the fold with a well-struck second from15 yards, followed by an O.G from a hapless Tottington defender. Some careless play allowed them to nick a second goal but in truth, even with a slender 3-2 lead at half-time, Bolts were looking comfortable without ever really igniting.
So the second half began with Ron Manager’s warnings not be complacent ringing in the players’ ears….
The back four of Garry Cowell, Jeff Taylor, Justin Tankard and the impressive Wes Davies started to get into their rhythm, whilst the midfield quartet of Brookes, Milne, Barrett & Morris were starting to dominate proceedings. Up front Jimmy Freeborn was heaving and thrusting tirelessly (?)
But it was to be the Bolts goal machine that put the result beyond doubt….He goes by many names, ’The Pocket Predator,’ 'The Diminutive Dynamo,’ ‘The Incredible Half-Man’ and ‘The Titchy Terrier’ being just a few. ….But this game was to become The Andy Beardsworth Show for a period as he claimed a delicious 2nd goal with an inside jinks coupled with a great curling finish. Sensing his hat-trick like Heather McCartney sniffing out a dropped tenner, Beardo repeated his trick almost immediately with a tireless run and neat finish.
With the game essentially over, Bolts sensed a goal rush and swept forward in a somewhat cavalier manner. How else could you explain centre-half Jeff Taylor in unchartered waters as from 5 yards out notched his first goal since October ’76?...(Genuinely great to see a strike from such a Bolts stalwart, who continues to defy the years…he should’ve had another too!)
All that remained was for top scorer Mark Brookes to seal the victory with a penalty that he ‘won’ himself to make it 7, a record haul for the Bolts this season. Manager Roger Milne was so content; he selflessly removed himself from proceedings for the last 30 minutes to allow Ian Mitchell (who had finally arrived at the ground) a run-out.
Tottington did nick a couple of late consolations (including a nonsense penalty) but the game was well and truly over by then.
Plaudits to the whole team, but standout performances go to Beardsworth & Wes Davies. May I also mention a second goal-saving intervention in as many games from the defensive lynchpin that is Dan Barrett…..Cruelly denied even the briefest of mentions in last week’s report for his wondrous last gasp, overhead-kick-off-the-line-under-pressure clearance, Barrett again managed to lunge in and deflect a goal bound strike from 5 yards out, with the match crucially balanced at, erm, 6-2.
This game was also notable for possibly the fussiest refereeing display ever witnessed in an amateur game. From chastising players whose socks were falling down (!) to nearly booking anyone who dared utter anything resembling a swear word, he never stopped intervening. The non-swearing issue proving particularly testing for Tottington’s Tourettes-suffering striker….I’m sure he was booked nine times.
In decent form and with a glut of home games to finish the season, this Bolts team can be confident of a barnstorming end to the campaign and should settle for no less than a Top 5 finish!