By Ben Shaw
Bootle looked to bounce back from heart-break last time out at Congleton, and they responded in the best way possible.
From minute one, The Bucks had the large majority of the ball despite a cagey first 15 minutes with not much happening at either end of the pitch.
It wouldn't take long after for multiple efforts from outside of the box by Williams, Lenehan and Smith to test Haslam in keeping the score at 0-0. Though, he struggled to keep his hands on these efforts, and the deadlock being broken was only a matter of time.
The breakthrough happened soon after, through Sean Williams who dribbled across the edge of the box before drilling a shot low and hard. The shot took a wicked deflection, and left Haslam flat footed as it rolled slowly into the far corner.
Minutes later, the advantage was doubled, a long ball through to Ben Hodkinson was calmly held up as he waited for support before knocking the ball across the face of goal to Jack Lenehan who tapped it home from close range.
Courtney Duffus was unlucky not to further extend the advantage when his header from Williams’ corner hit the post at the end of the first half.
In the second half, it was more of the same one way traffic. Jay Roberts drilled a shot into a crowded penalty area which founds its way through to Haslam who had to quickly react with his feet to keep it out.
Luke Worth had a chance for the visitors when a dangerous free kick fell to the defender at the edge of the box, but his effort was wild and high.
Sean Williams’ deep ball from halfway found Thomas Hannigan but his header narrowly glanced past the post before Sam Hughes almost put the game beyond doubt himself after shifting the ball through pressure and side footing a looping ball past Haslam but it was denied by the cross bar.
Hodkinson was denied a worthwhile goal late on after Jay Roberts’ drilled effort was parried into his path to be tapped home, but was deemed to be offside.
Full Time: Bootle 2-0 Wythenshawe FC