Bootle vs Silcox C

On a perfect day for football, in front of a packed side line, Bootle FC took on a young and inexperienced Silcocks Villa 6 aiming to lift themselves off the bottom of the league. Bootle, in contrast, were looking to put pressure on those at the top with a big win. Kick off! A strong start from Bootle. Michael slipping through balls, Charlie and Fredrickson sweeping down the wings and Lucas S troubling the goalkeeper. Finally the breakthrough came, falling to Cody who hit the top right corner again. One nil. Much deserved. The pattern of the game continued. Slick attack, stoic defence. Not long after the first came the second. Lucas S fed by Charlie (yet another assist), turned their big man at the back finishing with aplomb.

Second quarter. On came the hustle; Lucas B, Hudson and Euan. Immediately the opposition couldn’t cope with the Pace. Lucas B continued his fine form on the right wing turning the opposition inside out. It was this that led to a dangerous free kick. Just outside the box, Mike Dijk smashed it top left, again looking like a young Phil Neville in his pomp. Not to be outshone Lucas B swooped on a clever touch from Euan, leaving the keeper on his backside placing the ball perfectly. 4 nil and not undeserved. Will wanted to get in on the act and after some aggressive in your face jockeying, he slipped a neat daisy cutter in to the bottom right.
All this pressure began to pay dividends as the young opposition began to tire. Charlie, Cody and Lucas S returned to the fray. Immediately Bootle were on the attack. Lucas S megsed the keeper after Charlie hit him with a through ball. At the back Max hit a precise long ball which Wade latched on to placing it past a desperate keeper. At the back there was no shifting Cody as he kicked, tackled and jostled anything that moved.

Final quarter and despite the opposition having 7 men Bootle remained dominant. Euan, again was unlucky not to have a bag full of goals and Hudson put in a Graveson like performance dominating his opposite number. It took a simple pass from Michael, to Lucas B and on to Lucas S to make it 8. Not done, Lucas B capped a fine man of the match performance with a pull back from a long throw and a tidy finish past a desolate goalie. To quote the great Yazz, ‘the only way is up, baby!’