OLDHAM HULMEIANS – 4 .V. OLD BOLTS – 3
Report by Dan Barrett
In a week when England’s pampered and overrated millionaires folded under the weight of expectation, the Old Bolts B Team travelled to lowly Oldham determined to lift the nation’s spirits with a gutsy display of quality grass-roots football. (Well, you’ve got to take it seriously!)
The natural advantage of facing a team rooted at the bottom of the league was tempered somewhat by the poor pitch, crappy weather and some key absences, thanks largely to the Wanderers/United game, as usual. However, Bolts started the game very brightly, playing some neat football that brought a rather fortuitous penalty after 15 mins. Top scorer Mark Brookes slotted home with ease, and the lead was soon doubled after good work on the left saw Brookes grab his second (and 10th of the season!) when he poked the ball in following a goalmouth scramble.
2-0 up and cruising, it seemed impossible that anything could go wrong. Hulmeians were a very ordinary (but admittedly huge) team, who appeared utterly drained of confidence within each other. So quite how the Bolts imploded from this position is still difficult to fathom. There had been a few warning signs when they had had grabbed a cheap goal, but as Jimmy Freeborn bungled the ball home to leave Bolts with a 3-1 half-time lead, there appeared to be only one winner.
But as the pitch worsened and the play became more and more typical of the England team, (i.e big punt up front – only we don’t have a 6ft 7 target man) the Bolts began to lose their grip. It has to be said that the team just stopped doing the basics; gave possession away too cheaply, didn’t work hard enough for each other…the list goes on. While none of the back four would claim to have had the game of their lives, it has to be said that the team did buckle in all areas and left the tiring defenders hopelessly exposed on about 15 occasions.
Anyway, they scored a further 3 soft goals, the winner coming with 2 mins left to play as the Bolts made indecision into an art form. It was extremely disappointing to throw such a strong lead away to such a poor team, who for the record couldn’t believe their luck.
This team’s last 2 defeats have come against sides that were occupying the bottom of the league slot. Who’s up next? Newly bottom of the league Tottington Reserves.
Ron’s boys have to cut out the basic errors or be officially confirmed as cannon fodder for relegation-threatened sides.
Goals
Brookes 2
Freeborn