Match Report: AFC Liverpool vs Bootle

By Brendan Doyle

In the early stages of the game Bootle put their foot on the game as Courtney Duffus laid off the ball to Joe Woolley who then took a shot outside the box, but the shot only went over the bar. Conor Rankin also tried his luck outside the the box with an effort but his effort too went over, Michael Simpson and Sean Smith both attempted cross from each flank but neither found any success.

Just before the twenty minute mark Bootle took the lead via a rebound from A Trialist, only three minutes later AFC Liverpool found an equaliser after a throw in managed to bounce it’s way into the Bootle area and found the head of an AFC Liverpool player which beat Tony Thompson and levelled up the scoreline.

After just two minutes of AFC Liverpool equalising, Bootle were awarded a penalty after Courtney Duffus was brought down in the area by the defender. Duffus stepped up and hit his kick off the spot but it was saved by the keeper onto the post, the game was still level. A free kick was awarded to Bootle which was floated in by Joe Woolley that found the header over A Trialist but it went slightly over.

Just four minutes before half time, The Bucks put their noses in front as Sean Smith received a short pass from Tom Moore cut into the area on his right foot and managed to poke his effort into the AFC Liverpool net. The first half ended 2-1 to Bootle after a close and physical contest between the two sides.

Bootle attempted to widen the scoreline more or less straight after the kick off for the second half, Conor Rankin tried his luck from outside the box with a shot but the ball flew way over the bar in front of the Dodge Kop failing to even test the keeper. AFC Liverpool tried to pull off a counter attack via a long ball towards the left wing which then lead to an attempt from that particular area of the pitch but the effort flew wide.

Lewis Earl managed to get his head to the ball from a promising Jack Lenehan corner but Earl’s effort only went over the bar. AFC Liverpool came very close to equalising but thanks to a brilliant stretcher save from Tony Thompson and goal line clearance from Sean Smith, the game managed to stay 2-1 in Bootle’s favour.

An AFC Liverpool throw in was met by a Ben Dufton Kelly attempted clearance but the ball managed to fall to an AFC Liverpool shirt who looked in a good position to level the scoreline but the shot fell just wide of the goal. More or less straight away at the opposite end, AFC Liverpool’s keeper punched the ball away from the area with led to B Trialist trying a chipped effort from just outside the box but the shot only hit the post which then Conor Rankin attempted to follow in with a header but AFC Liverpool cleared the ball away.

Bootle almost executed a brilliant counter attack as Tony Thompson caught a corner ball and played a magnificent ball out wide further up the pitch to C Trialist but the AFC Liverpool full back managed to cut out the counter attack. Conor Rankin was played in one on one and looked very favourable to make the game 3-1 to Bootle but the latter put his effort wide, the forward seemed to know full well his chance should’ve been converted.

The match would finish 2-1 to Bootle as they manage to pick up their first win of their pre season campaign heading into the 2025/26 season.