Old Bolts B v Hesketh Casuals B:
Saturday 3rd October.
On the back of a good solid away win at Thornleigh the previous week Old Bolts B Team were looking forward to taking on the challenge of facing joint top of the league at home.
While the pitch at Turton is undoubtedly in beautiful condition it is also the most exposed venue in the whole of Britain - light wind in Lostock or Bromley Cross can develop into a full blown Hurricane in Chapeltown.
As is usual with the B team the Gaffer's designated arrival time of 1:45 is more of a general suggestion than a direction and this contributed to the pre match disaster that was the late realisation that we had no goalkeeper!! After 15 minutes of shooting at Wes Davies in the warm up it suddenly dawned on Milne that he had not seen his real keeper, who was then incommunicado – complete disaster was averted when Jamie Griffiths stepped into the breach. Not ideal preparation for playing joint top of the league!
The game began slowly with both teams trying to deal with the gusting wind – Bolts were trying to pass into feet and to use the channels but often the passes were too loose and more often than not blowing straight into the farmer"s field.
First blood was drawn by the away side when a speculative effort from Hesketh’s camp looking centre forward managed to find its way into the Old Bolts net. The goal and the weather conditions deflated Old Bolts and after twenty minutes there only really looked like one side who were going to win the game. The Bolts were further hindered by the fact that half of the midfield and the strike force were limping around on one leg. Ben Horan, despite carrying a sore groin, was the only midfielder putting his foot in and making challenges.
Despite the growing injury list the Bolts slowly eased themselves into the game and began creating chances – the strike force of Bob Southern and Dan Barrett had chances but failed to take them. Shortly after Rick Kilburn managed to wriggle free in the box before shooting directly at the keeper – this was one of only two notable contributions from Kilburn made in the match – the other will be discussed in much more detail later!!
Ultimately Dan had to leave the field after suffering a calf strain – his first injury as a 30 year old. Johnny Lynch entered the fray and this resulted in a tactical reshuffle with the Bolts adopting a 4 -5 -1 formation.
The best chance of the half fell to the Gaffer who somehow managed to spoon the ball over the bar from a matter of inches – with a wide open goal to aim at. As the half time whistle blew the score remained 1-0 in Hesketh’s favour.
The half time team talk was inspirational as usual – the gaffer ranted about misplaced passes and missed opportunities (glossing over his own howler) and demanded more effort from all involved. Horan was the second player to depart the match due to injury and was replaced by the 'energetic’ Si Turner – which required another reshuffle with Ross Taylor moving in to centre midfield to be the enforcer.
The second half started off slowly with both sides cancelling each other out – Taylor adapted well to his new position and was providing his defence with excellent cover, allowing Brookes to do less and less tracking back (defending/tackling/heading not being his forte!).
As the half developed the Hesketh midfield wilted and gaps appeared – Brookes found himself in space and for the second game running placed an inch perfect pass into the path of Southern who outpaced the defence and slid the ball past the keeper.
With the scores level Old Bolts pressed for a second goal and within a few minutes Southern scored his 2nd of the game and 11th of the season – the source of the goal was again from a Brookes pass but this time Southern had far more work to do and had to beat two defenders to the ball over the top before placing the ball passed the keeper.
Prior to the Bolts second goal Andy Beardsworth had arrived and was itching to get on to the pitch for a run. The Gaffer decided to make a substitution straight after the second goal brining on Beardsworth for Kilburn. This proposed change did not go down particularly well with the always irritable Kilburn!! In a show of defiance and disgust (and not to be out done by Brookes’ mini tantrum two weeks earlier) Kilburn took off his shirt and vest and threw them to the floor and marched off in the direction of the changing rooms – while his Dad looked on and applauded his sons actions. Kilburn saved himself from being completely savaged in the match report by staying in the pub until his team mates arrived after the game!!
At 2 – 1 up the Old Bolts were firmly on top and continued to place pressure on the Hesketh goal – a third goal was only a matter of time and when it came it was from a very unlikely source.While the Gaffer will try and claim the goal all the players know that the keeper was to blame and he allowed a relatively weak shot trickle through his legs. To avoid Milne having more goals than Brookes, the author of this Report is declaring it as an own goal.
At 3-1 up the Bolts were well on top and in reality the Hesketh strikers failed to create much against the Bolts defence, which was again marshalled well by Norse. In the last few minutes Hesketh scored a consolation goal but Bolts deservedly held out for all 3 points.
A special mention should be made to both Jamie Griffiths who played in goals despite being unable to kick the ball through injury and Andy B who drove all the way up to Turton to touch the ball twice in 20 minutes.
This was a game that historically the B Team would have failed to win and the fact that all 3 points were taken from this match and the game away at Thornleigh confirms the Old Bolts as League challengers.
Addendum
A reply from Roger Milne – The General
Mr Brookes - An own goal… huh the true definition of an own goal in case you don’t know is when a pass that is going wide is deflected back in the direction of the goal…My shot – (not a miss kick but a directed shot between the legs of the keeper and on target) was goal bound, whilst it could have been harder, it did the trick and was too hot for the keeper to handle.
The fact that once again Milne was covering every blade of grass to support not only the defence and midfield
but also Rob Southern in attack is a ringing endorsement to his leadership skills, commitment, fitness and modesty. The fact that you failed to mention these attributes yet focus on my "sitter” in the first half eludes to Brookes’s blatant embarrassment that Milne not only scores goals but works to make his own chances too.