Bucks return to winning ways at the expense of Colne

The first quarter of an hour was slow, both teams having nice passages of play but neither threatening on goal.

Bootle had the first chance of the game. The returning Michael Carberry runs down the left and a good cross into the path of Ben Hodkinson, but it was cleared for a corner.

But the Bucks eventually took the lead. Henry Ogunby took the ball down on his chest and fed through Jack McGowan, who slotted past an outrushing Hakan Burton.

Bootle had a chance to double their ascendancy. Connor Millington ran at the Colne backline and pushed them back further, only to hit a fierce shot flying over the crossbar.

Towards the end, a couple of lapses of concentration allowed Colne to have two big chances to draw themselves level. Firstly, a misjudgement sent Harry Winstanley through on goal and forced Theo Roberts into a good save. Then Jack Worrall took a long ball down well and hit a shot which slowly went agonisingly wide of Roberts post.

In the opening moments of the second half, Bootle had a real scare. As Theo Roberts attempted to send a long ball, he slipped and Jack Worrall picked it up, who sent it just wide, similar to his shot at the end of the first half.

A great corner by Jay Roberts was just headed over the crossbar by Will Bell.

Bootle had another great chance. Henry Ogunby played a great through ball to Matty McDonald, who fired a shot but was tipped over by Hakan Burton in the Colne net.

The Bucks abundance of chances finally turned to a goal. The initial chance was Henry Ogunby mistiming a divine header, but Liam Loughlin picked it up at the edge of the box and sent through Matty McDonald, who fired home a Bucks second.

2 minutes later, the Bucks added a third. A delightful chipped pass by Jay Roberts was met by Declan McLoughlin, who scored another diving header to secure the three points for Bootle.

Jack McGowan had two efforts saved by Hakan Burton and the third was blazed over the Dodge Kop as Bootle could have added a fourth to what was a great performance all round from the Bucks.