Bucks in the hat after piercing Stockton

Bootle applied heavy pressure from the word go, forcing a physical unit in Stockton to weather the early storm.

The hosts timed their blocks to perfection as they had many men behind the ball, but when Bootle were able to calve the backline open, it presented Ben Hodkinson with a golden chance as he had the whole goal at his mercy, but from a couple of yards out, the Bootle attacker blazed over.

The visitors eventually drew first blood five minutes before the interval as Callum Roberts in-between the sticks for Town done well to beat away an initial effort but Sam Burns was lurking in the area and he pounced on the rebound, firing Bootle into a narrow lead going into the break.

HT: Stockton Town 0-1 Bootle

Just over an hour into the contest and Stockton were dealt a further blow as the travelling Bucks netted a second.

A slick through ball sent Owen Robinson on his way, and he gathered the ball in his feet and calmly stuck his effort past Callum Roberts.

The tempo of the game settled down into a steady pace with neither side planting any serious attempts on target until the latter stages in the game, when Owen Mooney was forced into a remarkable stop.

A looping ball in the box was met by Kevin Hayes and his strike was destined for the bottom corner, until Mooney was able to shift himself over and claw the shot behind

FT: Stockton Town 0-2 Bootle