Back To Back Wins For Bootle!

By Brendan Doyle

Bootle had a very bright start to the game as chances were created early, Sean Williams hit a first time pass over the top to the path of Ben Hodkinson who hit his effort but Bayleigh Passant made a comfortable save to the shot. Ben Dufton Kelly made a headed attempt to towards goal from a corner but once again Bayleigh Passant was there to make an easy catch.

Sean Smith made a fast run down the left flank after receiving the ball from Sean Williams and then whipped in a cross which found the head of Jordan Lussey but Bayleigh Passant made easy work of the effort. Joseph Ferguson looked to put Linnets ahead by crossing a ball into the Bootle area but neither Ryan Brooke nor Naim Arsan could meet the cross.

Just as the game seemed to become more even, Bootle drew first blood as Sean Williams picked out Ben Hodkinson with an extravagant long range pass and Ben Hodkinson beat his marker to the ball and hit home his effort past Bayleigh Passant. However just four minutes after the opening goal, Naim Arsan struck an effort from a free kick in a wide position and managed to beat Tony Thompson at his near post, quickly levelling up the scoreline.

Sean Williams played yet another fantastic long ball to Ben Hodkinson who had an attempt on goal with a half volley which dipped over the head of Bayleigh Passant but the shot was just wide of the goal mouth, a very unlucky miss from Ben Hodkinson. Just minutes before the break Ryan Brooke made a header towards goal in the area but Tony Thompson caught the ball to safety to ensure the first half ended 1-1.

Only three minutes into the second half of the affair Runcorn Linnets had the ball in the net but referee Thomas Swift disallowed the goal for an alleged handball. The hosts seem to gain momentum after their goal was chalked off and pressed the Bootle backline.

Ryan Brooke met the ball with a header in the Bootle box which seemed to have weight behind it but Ben Dufton Kelly was in the right place to block the effort, full back Peter Wylie also had a headed effort from a corner but the ball only floated over the net.

Just as Runcorn Linnets seemed to be on top in the opening fifteen minutes of the second half, Bootle took the lead once again by way of a Michael Simpson first time effort which took a deflection on the way into the back of the net, a storm well weathered by The Bucks. Only two minutes after going 2-1 up, Bootle executed a counter attack as Courtney Duffus made a pass out wide to Ben Hodkinson just past the halfway line and Ben Hodkinson spotted Courtney Duffus who then hit Hodkinson’s ball with a first time effort which left Bayleigh Passant with no chance of stopping the effort as the game went to 3-1. Fantastic build up play from Alan Morgan’s lads.

Ben Hodkinson played in Jordan Lussey who looked very favourably to put Bootle 4-1 up and the game out of sight until Harvey Washington made a fantastic challenge dispossessing Jordan Lussey. As the game approached into its closing minutes, Linnets captain Jacques Welsh made a late, rash and reckless challenge on Sam Hughes which he was very lucky to receive just a yellow card in the outcome.

The game finished 3-1 to Bootle which now makes it back to back wins for The Bucks.