Bootle Cruise To 4-0 Win in FA Cup Extra-Preliminary Round

Credit: Paul Moran (@paulmoran62 via X)

By Ben Shaw

The Bucks kicked off the 25/26 season in brilliant fashion as they put 4 past 1874 Northwich under the lights at The Berry Street Garage Stadium.

It didn't take long for the first pieces of action in the game, after a strong start from the visitors with plenty of the ball. However, it was Courtney Duffus who had the first chance of the game following a lovely whipped cross from Ben Dufton-Kelly which couldn't be steered goalward with a glancing header.

Tony Thompson was the first of the two between the sticks to be called to action as a long ball through the middle allowed Mike Hayes to run through and test the Bootle keeper. His strong hand preventing the visitors from taking an early lead in what would be their biggest chance of the first half.

On the 17th minute, Bootle broke the deadlock. A long ball over the backline fell to the feet of Ben Hodkinson, and with plenty of time to compose himself he slotted home his first goal of the season to put The Bucks 1-0 up within 17 minutes.

The chances continued to flow after the first, Joe Woolley broke through the lines and with the option to go alone or hand it to across to Duffus he chose the latter. With another 1v1 situation this time 74's keeper Jack Atkinson made a brilliant save to keep the score at 1-0.

1874 Northwich kept themselves in the game though, Winger John McGrath had an effort curl just outside of the post before Bootle almost doubled their advantage as Hodkinson teed up Jack McGowan on the back post but his shot was once again kept out by Atkinson.

Bootle continued to knock at the door for more as the clock neared half-time. Dufton-Kelly, Anthony Miley and Jack McGowan all coming close to making it 2-0 before the break.

The second half began much like the first, with 1874 retaining a lot of the ball yet Bootle took the first chance of the half as Courtney Duffus' low driven effort was palmed out into the path of Jack McGowan who buried it home and finally gave The Bucks the breathing room that they had been looking for.

Once the second goal had gone in, the match seemed to settle in tempo, Alan Morgan's men keen to dampen any signs of a 1874 comeback. Yet, on the 67th minute, a moment of controversy as the visitors were adamant that the ball had crossed the line but the officials disagreed.

The game returned to the slow pace that it had witnessed for the majority of the second half not long after, and no significant chances came until the 95th minute when substitute Dior Angus brought the ball down excellently before rifling his shot into the bottom corner to put the game beyond any doubt.

There was one last piece of action and The Bucks weren't finished, as with seconds left on the clock Connor Rankin found himself acres of space to collect a ball from out wide and slot it past Atkinson to make it 4-0 in what would be the last action of the match.

An excellent performance from Bootle as they advance to the Preliminary Round of the Emirates FA Cup and start the 25/26 in a professional manner.

Final score: Bootle FC 4-0 1874 Northwich