Boxing Day sucker punches Bootle with a 1-0 home defeat to Runcorn Linnets.
By Brendan Doyle.
The first ten minutes contained a big chance for both sides, the first one fell to Conor Harwood after he flicked on a header from a Sean Williams cross. Just minutes later the ball fell to Will Saxon who took a volley from close range but Tony Thompson made a magnificent save.
Bootle made a break on the counter attack which seen Conor Harwood play a ball into the box but the Linnets defence. Unfortunately Bootle the visitors took the lead moments after that chance when a Sam Barratt cross found the head of Ryan Brooke and the effort made the score 1-0 to Runcorn Linnets.
Bootle tried to come back into the game as Ben Hodkinson made a shot at the near post but Thomas Myles made the save. Runcorn almost doubled their lead as Luke Wall skied a one on one effort, Bootle very lucky not to be 2-0 down at that point.
After a deflected shot saved by Myles, the ball fell to Ben Hodkinson who was only yards in front of goal but his effort went way over the bar. Sam Barratt had two big moments in closing stages of the first half, the first was hitting the crossbar from the halfway line and the other was keeping the score line 1-0 to his side after clearing the ball pretty much off the line after a Bootle scramble in the Linnets area.
The second half was a somewhat quiet affair although there was chances from Bootle but Linnets defended really well. The first one came from Harwood who had a shot outside his weaker left foot but it skied over the bar.
The ball fell to Jack Lenehan after a couple of deflections which lead to Lenehan to take a shot but Myles saved the chance, a very good save to add.
A low hit Joe Woolley cross found Courtney Duffus who took a volleyed attempt but it fell wide. Minutes later Linnets full back Niam Arsan attempted to chip Tony Thompson from far out but the ball only floated way over the goal.
Bootle still attempted to hunt for the equaliser as Sean Smith hit a ball into the box but it ended nowhere other than the hands of Myles. The match ended 1-0 to Runcorn Linnets on a foggy Bootle pitch.