Bootle Suffer 3-2 Defeat by Witton Albion and Crash Out Of The Isuzu FA Trophy

Credit: Paul Moran (@paulmoran62)

By Brendan Doyle

Witton Albion held their foot on the game for the majority of the first half and came flying out the traps almost straight from the off, a shot from Joe Duckworth rattled the post just before the ten minute mark but the effort wouldn’t of counted anyway as the linesman’s flag was up for offside. Witton Albion almost took the lead as a free header fell to an unmarked Tom Hoyle took the chance but hit the post from six yards out, a huge let off for Bootle.

A foul from Sean Smith on James Lawrie in the Bootle area seen Witton Albion awarded a penalty despite protests from the Bootle fans and uncertainty from the referee who had to trust his linesman to make the decision. Witton Albion’s hitman Joe Duckworth stepped up to take the penalty and put his effort in the left hand bottom corner to give the visitors the lead.

Sam Hughes attempted a first time effort from 25 yards out to get Bootle level but the Witton Albion goalkeeper Cameron Terry made an easy save of the shot. Ben Hodkinson took a bouncing shot aiming for the top right corner but Cameron Terry made a fantastic far reached save to deny Bootle an equaliser.

After slowly picking up momentum, Bootle managed to snatch an equaliser just before half time as one of Lewis Earl’s wonder passes found Sean Smith out wide down the left flank which then Smith found Ben Hodkinson in the area who’s first time effort was enough to beat Cameron Terry and to see Bootle level. The first half would end level despite a good start to the game from Witton Albion.

With hopes of starting the second half the same way as they finished the first, Bootle unfortunately conceded within the first minute after kick off as a Joe Edwards strike found it’s way past Tony Thompson and into the Bootle net to put Witton Albion back in front. 9 minutes later, Joe Duckworth took a shot which fell into the bottom far corner and gave Bootle a mountain to climb for any hopes of a comeback.

Ben Hodkinson had the ball to feet and beat two Witton Albion players in the area which seen him go one on one with Cameron Terry but his shot with his weaker right foot flew just wide, a miss that Hodkinson himself would be disappointed with due to his fantastic build up to the effort. Joe Edwards capitalised on a slip from Tom Hannigan and had the ball from far out which he then attempted to chip Tony Thompson but the effort fell to nothing.

Substitute Courtney Duffus made an attempt which was cleared of the line and then a rebounded shot from Sean Smith rattled the crossbar, huge groans from the frustrated but vocal Dodge Kop. A ball flew into the box which seen also substitute Tom Owens get his head to and pull a goal back for Bootle which instilled hope amongst the home fans at The Berry Garage Stadium.

A ball was fed into Ben Hodkinson on the right hand side of the penalty area which Hodkinson once again took with his weaker foot but the ball was just wide. Despite a huge push from The Bucks, the full time result was 3-2 and Witton Albion advance to the next round of the Isuzu FA Trophy.