Bucks earn four consecutive maximum in hard-fought victory

It was going to be far from a Christmas cracker at the velodrome of Newcastle Town’s Lyme Valley Stadium with the conditions in store, but Bootle didn’t let that effect their overall play as the visitors started off on the front foot.

Half chances were falling the way of the visitors but Joseph Slinn in between the sticks for the hosts was largely untested.

The best opportunity for the visitors fell to Tom Peterson, who was the beneficiary of a bounce in the penalty area and he was able to get in front of his defender and get a shot off, although it was at an awkward angle, but the Bucks man couldn’t adjust his body to fire it on target.

The lead fell the way of the hosts eventually as the clinical Ben Hodkinson netted for McGraa’s side again.

A terrific through ball sent the Bootle 11 on his way, and he finish perfectly past the onrushing Slinn to give Bootle the lead on the road.

Newcastle gave the Bucks a huge scare towards the end of the first half as Sam Lynch’s free-kick into the area was met by Tommy Van De Lan, who cracked the outside of the post.

HT: Newcastle Town 0-1 Bootle

The second half saw the hosts pile the pressure on Bootle without troubling Tony Thompson a great deal.

They couldn’t make the pressure pay off and in the worst possible fashion, the Bucks punished them with the second goal and the games killer.

Moses Yoak fizzed a delicious pass cross-field to Sonny Hilton, who controlled the ball perfectly against the wind and found the man who started the move, Yoak, in the area, who with a devestating header rounded off the scoring.

It was a Merry Christmas for the travelling Bucks who have seen their side win the last four games and sit pretty in the league standing, with only goal difference keeping them from a play-off position.

FT: Newcastle Town 0-2 Bootle