Ben Hodkinson Late Winner Seals First League Win For Bootle

Credit: Kate Tencza

By Brendan Doyle

Bootle’s first chance of the game come early through a counter attack, as Joe Woolley played a ball from the right flank towards the path of Dior Angus but the ball was too far for Angus to reach. Harry Salt threaded a dangerous looking ball into Kyle Hawley but Lewis Earl rapidly blocked off Hawley’s run to allow Tony Thompson to collect.

Lewis Earl carried the ball elegantly through to the midfield and played it out wide to Jack McGowan who then played in Harry Rimmer which looked like a very threatening chance for Bootle but unfortunately Rimmer’s pass in the box was blocked from close range. Avro’s Owen Warburton made a shot just inside the area but the midfielder’s effort only scuffed wide.

After the referee seen a foul in the Avro penalty area, a penalty was awarded to Bootle which Courtney Duffus stepped up to convert his second penalty in two consecutive games for Bootle. In an attempt to snatch an equaliser, Owen Warburton took a shot from nearly 25 yards out on a tight angle but the ball only flew way over the Dodge Kop.

Joe Woolley found Jack McGowan with a ball on the inside which McGowan then seemed through on goal but Fortune Maphosa managed to get in front of the danger in the nick of time. Minutes after almost doubling their lead, Bootle eventually did just that on the stroke of half time as Joe Woolley hit an effort on the edge of the box which flew past Cian Shea.

In all fairness to the visitors, they made a very good recovery straight into the second the half as Ollie Putnam seemed through on goal but Sam Hughes managed to shield Avro’s number 10 off the ball. The Ro continued their threats as Adam Owen played a threatening ball into the Bootle area but Lewis Earl nodded the ball away from danger.

Avro’s brilliant start to the second half soon started to pay off as Kyle Hawley hit home an effort from a ball that found him from out wide in the Bootle area. Just a minute later Hawley was at the double for Avro as they fought back to get the game to 2-2 and had the momentum of the game shifting in their favour.

After a diving header from the back post going just wide and a shot from close range saved down low at the near post by Tony Thompson, Avro seemed the more favourable side to snatch a winner in the contest. That was until Lewis Earl played a wonderful ball from his own half into the path of Ben Hodkinson who was one on one with Cian Shea at the Dodge Kop end and Hodkinson held his nerve and brilliant finished his chance in the 92nd minute of the game to seal Bootle their first league win of the season. A very dramatic end to a fantastic game of football.

Final Score: Bootle 3-2 Avro