Match Report: Bootle FC 1-0 Kidsgrove Athletic

Credit: Joe Petit

Bucks make winning start back at The Berry Street Garage Stadium to continue 100% record in the Northern Premier League West.

By Brendan Doyle

A scrappy and hard fought win for Bootle makes it five out of five despite being down to ten men late in the game.

Bootle got off to a positive start early on as Charlie Forwood played a low ball into the box in search of Declan Daniels but the ball was just half a yard too much for the latter to meet it. Kidsgrove Athletic grew into the game as Nathan Morley took a shot on goal but the effort only fizzed wide.

Kyron Cooper had an attempt aswell with a shot just outside the area but the shot flew over the bar and didn’t trouble Bootle keeper Joe Mason. After a foul on Ryan Beigan in the area, Bootle won a penalty which Ben Hodkinson converted just before half time which seen him get his 110th goal for the club, the man simply just can’t stop scoring!

Early in the second half, Declan Daniels met a Matty Fenton throw in with a header but it only bounced on the roof of the net. Kidsgrove Athletic sub Reuben Erickson made an effort towards goal aiming towards the top far corner but it fizzed over the crossbar. Byron Harrison out muscled Matty Fenton off the ball and managed to get a shot on target from close range but Joe Mason was there to save it tremendously, a heart in the mouth moment for the Bootle contingency.

Late in the game Bootle were reduced to ten men after Tom Hannigan picked up his second yellow card of the game despite only just returning from suspension, a very disappointing set of circumstances for Hannigan. The match finished 1-0 to Bootle which seen them win 5 out of 5 games in the league as Bootle continue a fantastic start to life in the Northern Premier League Division One West.