Bootle clinch three points away to Stafford Rangers in a 2-1 victory as Tom Hannigan snatched a winner in the 79th minute of the game.
By Brendan Doyle
After just over twenty minutes into the game with neither side having a real clear cut chance, Kyle Campbell leapt onto a ball from over the top from the backline and dinked the ball on the bounce leaving Cameron Belford helpless.
After taking the lead The Bucks seemed to have more of a grip on the game up until the final stages of the first half when the hosts attempted to force Bootle back into their own final third.
Stafford Rangers were very close to grabbing an equaliser when James McQuilkin whipped in a corner which met the head of Michael McGrath but Bootle skipper Tony Thompson got his finger tips to the ball keeping the game at 1-0.
Stafford Rangers more or less put Bootle under pressure straight after the referee blew his whistle for the beginning of the second half.
Bootle defender Ben Dufton Kelly gave away a foul on the far side of just out of Bootle’s area which resulted in a successful set piece link up between James McQuilkin and Michael McGrath, the latter headed the ball past Tony Thompson and seen Stafford Rangers go level at 1-1.
The hosts were knocking on the door for a second and seemed to grab it as an effort went into the Bootle net, but the linesman ruled it out for offside.
Nonetheless, Bootle weathered the Stafford Rangers storm and their resilience paid off as Tom Hannigan headed home a winner in the 79th minute winner after a scramble from a corner which sent the travelling Bootle fans into a burst of passionate roars and cheers, the constant loud singing and chanting from the fans throughout the game was also paid off.
Stafford Rangers were pushing for an equaliser and a shot from Liam Brazier attempted for the far corner was kept out with another finger tip save from Tony Thompson, another tremendous goalkeeping display from the Bootle captain.
The victory in Staffordshire seen The Bucks climb to 11th in the table.