Dominant Derby Display From Bootle

By Brendan Doyle

Credit: Joe Matthews

Bootle started the early stages of the game off with a couple of near chances, the first one was by way of a ball played into Kenzie O’Neil who seemed through on goal but the linesman put his flag up which seemed very questionable at the time. Just minutes later Ben Hodkinson played a ball into Jordan Lussey who had a free shot but unfortunately for Bootle the latter scuffed his effort. Eventually Bootle would find an opening as Kenzie O’Neil took a shot outside the box which hit the post but bounced back onto the head of Conor Robson and ended up in the back of the City Of Liverpool net in the 19th minute.

Bootle continued to have their foot on the game after going 1-0 up, a ball came into Courtney Duffus from a corner which he took a headed chance with but the effort went slightly over the bar. Minutes later Bootle won a free kick from approximately 25 yards out which looked like shooting distance for midfielder Sean Williams, the latter then stepped up to strike the set piece which flew into the far corner leaving Purps keeper Conor Robson defeated, this would be enough to put The Bucks 2-0 ahead going into the dressing room for half time.

In the second half Bootle didn’t change much of their tactics and proceeded to control the game, they almost went 3-0 up early in the second half as Sam Hughes won the ball back for Bootle in midfield and played a lovely through ball into Ben Hodkinson but Hodkinson’s one on one shot was saved by Conor Robson. Hodkinson almost grabbed an assist to his name as he played in Courtney Duffus from the right hand side but Duffus had his effort blocked by a Purps centre half.

A defensive error from Lewis Earl seemed to set Xenon Bahula through on goal but the Bootle back line covered the error just marginally in time to see out the danger. City Of Liverpool seemed to gain a grow in confidence for about 10 minutes as Deacon Smalley fancied his luck outside the box with a shot but the ball only flew over the stand. The Bucks possibly seemed like they needed a goal to wrap up the game and eventually it came their way as they were awarded a penalty by the referee for a foul in the box from a corner, Bootle’s number 9 Courtney Duffus stepped up and converted the penalty in the last minutes of the game which sealed three points for Bootle in a derby day win.

Bootle 3-0 City of Liverpool