OLD BOLTS B - 4 .V MOSTONIANS – 4
Following the previous weeks' mauling at the hands of a rampant Radcliffe side, the B Team had a point to prove; Could they perform against a decent Mostonians team without the cushion of excuses to fall back on..? The previous game had indeed been played on a dreadful pitch, with a weakened team, with 3 going off injured etc…But a strong team, on bright day, up on the hallowed crushed emeralds of the Turton pitches meant that excuses would simply not be tolerated!
And so it began, with Bolts beginning the match like a team with a score to settle. A neat break down the right involving Barrett & Brookes resulted in a close-range chance for B Team debutant Big Dave Hughes, which he duly snaffled up with ease. 1-0 up after 10 mins. Another couple of good passages of play boded well; And then the wheels fell off….
In a fashion which only the B Team can manage, 4 ludicrously cheap goals were then conceded in the space of 30 minutes….A couple of long punts down our left side, one lazy throw-in & some brilliant/lucky finishing from the opposition saw the Bolts 4-1 down and somewhat shell-shocked.
But there was never a feeling that the game was over, even though luck genuinely did not appear to be on our side. Their keeper seemed to become a magnet for the ball, making a cracking save from a great effort by last season"s returning goal-hero Mark Brookes. Even the crossbar got in on the defensive action as Bolts began to apply the pressure. Then, a breakthrough, & the groans could be heard for miles as none other than Roger Milne tucked in a rebound after yet another goalmouth melee. Joking aside though, it was a crucial time to strike as we now went into the break 4-2 down, but in the ascendancy.
The second half saw both sides’ energy levels understandably begin to drop in the heat, but Bolts demonstrated a steely desire to get back on level terms. With John Burrows’ energetic bombing down the right combining nicely with Rick Kilburn’s tricky feet, the tide began to turn. Brookes grabbed the third goal after a mazy run from Kilburn left him with a tap-in and the revival was complete when a previously-quiet Sam Pepper lashed in a cracker from 20 yards. 4-4!
It should be noted also that as Bolts continued to apply the pressure, a frustrated Mostonians side became more & more cynical, resulting in them going down to 10 men. They had obviously targeted Milne as the sprightly dangerman (!) and fouled him accordingly – Poor Roger had so much mud on his face from being flattened the spectators were asking who the new black fella in midfield was.
Our boys held their discipline really well in the face of some stupid mouthing off & fouling, so plaudits for that…
If only a winner could have been found! A couple of half-chances came & went, but it was the boy Barrett who was furious with himself after screwing wide the best chance of the lot, admittedly 80 minutes into a draining game. (i.e legs had gone)
Overall, a lot of plus points to be taken out of the game, which might have technically been a draw but certainly felt like a moral victory…Special praise to striker Jimmy Freeborn who volunteered his services in the unfamiliar role of centre-half & played bloody well too! (Even winning a couple of headers!)
If this team can cut out the cheap goals conceded, the future looks bright!!