After being in control of the game for the majority of the first half, especially with a close chance from John McGrath ended up over the bar, the Purps man caused chaos for Bootle as well as that close effort. City Of Liverpool opened up the scoring just minutes before the end of the first half as a rebounded clearance from Matty Rain deflected off the Bootle man and ended up in the back of his own net. City Of Liverpool would probably feel as though they deserved to be in front given their dominance of the first half.

At the start of the second half the momentum shifted between the two sides as Bootle seemed to have the upper hand. After a Bootle corner fizzled out to the edge of the box, Ben Hodkinson smashed the ball first time which flew into the Purps net to level the game to 1-1. Bootle continued to pile their pressure on City Of Liverpool with efforts from Jay McCarten and Jack McGowan, but it would be Conor Milington to put The Bucks in front with an assist from scorer turned provider Ben Hodkinson. In the last stages of the game The Purps were on the charge for an equaliser as John McGrath came back to life with constant attacks to the Bootle net, as did Will Jones but Sam Ashton helped The Bucks secure all 3 points in yet another win in a derby coming from behind.

2 January 2023
Bootle 1 City of Liverpool FC 1

In the first 7 minutes of the game, Danny Mitchley scored a highlight reel special of an overhead kick to give The Purps first blood in the derby. Although in front, City Of Liverpool keeper Ben Barnes was tested on a few occasions with shots from Ben Hodkinson, Tom Peterson and Simon Wills. The Purps came back into control with a number of efforts themselves, but 1-0 would be the remaining score of the first half.

In the second half Andy Owens came off the bench to lift Bootle’s spirits, creating chances and taking his own himself. An shot from a Jack McGowan free kick went just slightly over the bar, but Bootle continued to push for their equaliser with numerous chances but none prevailed. The biggest chance was a Jack McGowan smashing the post from a volley, but Bootle’s pressure and efforts would finally pay off as Tom Peterson received a brilliant through ball before putting the ball past Barnes, eventually gaining the equaliser they needed. In the closing stages of the game goalscorer Danny Mitchley hit the inside of the Bootle post after an error from Josh Ollerenshaw, but the Bootle keeper was quick enough to react to the rebound, resulting in the game finishing 1-1.

26 December 2023
Bootle 0 City of Liverpool FC 2

After a bright start for The Purps in the opening stages of the game, Danny Mitchley put his side ahead after receiving a ball in from Elliott Morris and it was the dream start that City Of Liverpool wanted. Bootle failed to find their way back into the game and as a result The Purps doubled their lead before half time with a goal from Callum Schorah and yet another assist for Elliott Morris.

Bootle were desperate to get back in the game from the moment the second half kicked off, but due to City Of Liverpool’s defensive work and heroic goalkeeping from Colin Hare denying Ben Hodkinson a goal, The Purps walked away from the derby victorious with a clean sheet.