Runcorn 0 vs 1 Bootle FC U16

Coming into this game after a cancelled set of games last Saturday due to the frost was going to be a test in itself due to the stop start of this current season and not being able to get any rhythm going.
To be then facing Runcorn, who are a hardworking and well disciplined team, would make the task doubly hard, to then turn up and see the state of the pitch, it made it a threefold ask.

We were without Bryn, due to the injury he picked up last week and Matty on a rest week but have enough in the squad to cope.

We spoke about staying compact and pressing high in the team talk also making sure we win our individual battles.

It was Bootle that started on the front foot in the early stages with having shots and making inroads in the Runcorn final third by winning our battles all over the pitch and putting their defenders under pressure every time they got the ball. On ten minutes it was via this type of pressing that the only goal of the game came about, Jack and Tom combined well to press the Runcorn defenders, they gave a wayward pass which Tom seized upon and he then calmly slotted home past the keeper. This gave us a real boost and one that the lads then capitalised upon by gaining a foothold through the whole half, we created numerous chances but couldn’t keep our composure to score more goals.
Whenever Runcorn did get through into our half Sean and Joel were solid and organised at the back, marshalled by Matty I’m goal.
The half drew to close with Bootle on top but still with only a slim lead and so the game was very much still in the balance.
HT 0-1
The second half started on how the first half ended with us being on top, within five minutes we should’ve made it two nil after Jacob made a pass to Sean after snuffing out a counter attack who played a ball to Jack who made a great first touch then fed the on running Glen who beat his man but the keeper saved with his out stretched leg. It looked now that we would score a second, Callum made a good run on the right beating two men then fired a powerful shot which the keeper did well to tip over.
These two goal chance denials gave Runcorn confidence and with 25 minutes to go put us under a lot of pressure but we stood firm, Sean a colossal in this period winning everything and giving us a platform, they did break through once but Matty made an outstanding save to his right after the ball swerved in the air. We started giving needless free kicks away in our half, through tiredness we also were not keeping the ball up top enough or working hard enough to stop it coming back. Jacob, Ell R, Ell H, Sean, Tim and Joel all worked hard to stop Runcorn scoring by staying compact at all times. It was the Alamo at times, we did have the odd counter one which gave Melody a free header on goal which he just couldn’t capitalise on.
Runcorn came at us again with their keeper up for corners but we still held form, Jacob cleared a cross deep in the air, the ref blew and we claimed the points.
FT 0-1

It was not a great game on an awful pitch so made it difficult for both teams to pass the ball on a bobbly cut up pitch.
We still created enough chances to put the game to bed early in the first half which we were unable to do, we do need to stay composed and give ourselves more of lead but it was still a great win which we can build on and carry through the season.

Goal Tom x 1,
MOM It goes to Sean who was colossal all day, winning all his battles which was the platform for our win.