Bootle come away from Oldham with a 1-0 defeat to Avro in a scrappy affair on a very cold Friday night.
By Brendan Doyle
The match started with Avro having the majority of possession and eventually their good start paid off as James Dwyer found the net after being on the right end of a corner floated in by David Fitzpatrick.
The Bucks gained momentum slightly after going a goal behind but just couldn’t take their chances with success. Danny Mitchley was one on one with Grant Shenton and seemed to be on course to put Bootle level but Shenton made a fantastic stop to deny Mitchley his first goal for Bootle.
Joe Woolley took the ball onto his left foot and went for goal but the shot was only deflected off Deane Smalley. Kenzie O’Neil also went for glory after cutting in on his right foot with a shot that was seemingly powerful but it was an easy catch for Grant Shenton. The first half ended 1-0 to Avro with Bootle having a fair few chances to equalise but failed to convert any.
The second half began with Max Harrop trying his luck with an effort outside the area but Tony Thompson was untroubled by the attempt. Conor Harwood received the ball just slightly outside the Avro area and went for goal on his weaker left foot but the attempt ended with the ball flying over the crossbar.
Max Harrop looked threatening in the Bootle area but after a collision with Kyle Campbell, Harrop and the rest of the Avro players were screaming for a penalty but referee William Cavanagh dismissed their claims. Just minutes later Kyle Hawley looked very promising to put Avro 2-0 ahead with a one on one duel with Tony Thompson but the Bootle skipper quite literally saved Bootle from going even further behind in the game.
In the closing stages of the game Kyle Hawley once again missed a huge chance as he hit the ball towards goal but took a deflection on the way and hit the bar, a huge stroke of luck for The Bucks.
Max Harrop once again tested Tony Thompson but this time from close range after a defensive error from the Bootle back line which Harrop pounced on but once again Tony Thompson was there with safe hands. The scoreline finished 1-0 to Avro and The Bucks drop down to 11th in the league table.