Bucks Frustrated On Opening Day

Credit: Kate Tenzca

By Brendan Doyle

In the first few minutes of the game Bootle seemed to be well organised, up until Byron Harrison managed to find Callum Saunders with a brilliant low ball to the back post which then gave the visitors the lead as Saunders met the ball with a diving header which beat Tony Thompson. Soon after the goal Bootle attempted to find their feet in the game as Joe Woolley attempted to play a ball into the path of Connor Rankin but the ball fizzed out of play.

After a run of play from Bootle they managed to reach the ball into the Nantwich Town area which then seen Ben Hodkinson brought down in the area seemingly and despite shouts for a penalty from the Bootle fans, the referee waved play on. Bootle vice captain Jay Roberts took a free kick not far from the half way line which he floated towards the area but it was only headed out for a corner.

Nantwich Town looked very promising for a second goal as a ball came into the path of Byron Harrison but the pass was magnificently intercepted by Ben Dufton Kelly to keep Bootle in the game. Bootle’s best chance of the half fell to Ben Hodkinson as Joe Woolley played him through on goal but Hodkinson’s strike only fell straight into the keeper’s arms.

Jack Lenehan stepped up to take a free kick which then he struck but his effort only deflected off the Nantwich Town wall to hit the cross bar. Just before the half time whistle, Ben Hodkinson seemed through on goal after flicking a bounced ball over Kelvin Mellor’s head but Mellor managed to recover brilliantly to stop Hodkinson in his tracks.

The second half began with Bootle pretty much huffing and puffing towards the Nantwich Town defence but couldn’t quite break through as Lewis Earl made a promising run from the back line to give a pass to Sean Smith who’s cross found Connor Rankin but Rankin’s header only flew wide of the goal.

A header from goalscorer Callum Saunders looked threatening but Bootle skipper Tony Thompson only made catching practice of the effort. A great chance fell to Bootle as Ben Hodkinson made a headed pass to Connor Rankin who seemed through on goal but his dinked effort only flew over the crossbar.

Disaster struck for Bootle as their former player Aiden Roxburgh delivered in a ball from out wide to find Callum Saunders to double his own goal tally and Nantwich Town’s as they took their lead to 2-0.

Bootle managed to snatch a consolation goal as Ben Dufton Kelly smashed home a volley after a shot from Dior Angus was blocked off the goal line. A Michael Simpson cross into the area found the head of Courtney Duffus but the latter’s effort only managed to meet the stand behind the goal.

Nantwich Town managed to hang on to a 2-1 lead until the full time whistle and walked away with three points on Merseyside on the opening day of the season.