Bucks kick off pre-season with defeat

Bootle kicked off their pre-season campaign with a disappointing 5-2 defeat away at Ashington on Saturday afternoon.

Three first-half goals from Dom Price, Callum Johnston and Jamie Hanson fired the hosts into a commanding lead at the break.

Johnston then collected his second of the afternoon to make it 4-0 on 48 minutes before Kyle Downey notched number five 20 minutes later.

To their credit, though, Doran's side rallied in the closing stages, but strikes from Johnny Foy and Carl Peers were no more than consolations.