Stalybridge Celtic made it two wins in a week as Bootle continue to search for three points on their travels in September.
By Patrick Bratin
It was a dominant first-half display from Celtic, who came out of the traps quickly and peppered the Bootle goal. Ashley Leather looked the most likely in the first 45 - the winger had two chances in quick succession, the second prevented from being a certain goal by a last-ditch block from the Bucks’ Sam Hughes.
The Bucks’ resistance could, however, only last for so long, as Stalybridge finally made the breakthrough mid-way through the first half. Leather, enjoying a lot of freedom on the right-hand side, sent a ball across the face of goal that was missed by striker Joe Duckworth but pounced upon by Matty Bryan. Celtic’s pressure and possession paying dividends.
But for a lethal effort from Michael Burkey and an equally spectacular save from Charlie Monks, Stalybridge continued to camp inside the Bootle half, and the visitors struggled to advance up the pitch. Things got worse for the Bucks when defender Anthony Miley was forced off through injury.
A double substitution from Mick McGraa at half-time - Sean Williams and Ben Hodkinson replacing Jack Lenehan and Kenzie O’Neill - seemed to spark Bootle into life as they started the second-half much brighter than Stalybridge. Burkey received the ball after industrious work from Andy Scarisbrick and unleashed a curling effort into the far corner to level proceedings at 1-1.
Bootle failed to capitalise on the equaliser and Stalybridge dragged themselves back into the game, going close numerous times through captain Liam Tongue and substitute Jordan Buckley. Celtic’s pressure and persistence paid off when Bryan stood a cross up to the back post for Sean Tse, who towered above everyone and powered the match-winning header past Tony Thompson in the Bootle goal.
Things went from bad to worse for the visitors late on as the Bucks’ goalscorer, Michael Burkey, was shown a straight red card, seemingly for something said to the referee. Despite a late Bootle rally, Stalybridge held on for the win, which sees them leapfrog their opponents into third place in the table.