Bolton women’s firsts draw to end Didsbury’s winning streak

Against a side who went into the clash with a 100-per-cent home record, it was a frenetic start to the game as Bolton looked for points to help them climb the table.

It went from from one end to the other before Didsbury struck first. An initial shot was blocked, and after a brief goalmouth scramble, a goalward effort was deflected into the net by one of Bolton’s own players.

The home side’s lead lasted just 10 minutes, however, as Bolton earned themselves a penalty corner. It was initially well defended, but on the second phase the ball was expertly slotted in by Jen Brookfield.

Both teams pushed hard to get more out of the game, but kept each other at stalemate.

Despite changes in personal, neither team could find another breakthrough as the game ended in a draw.

It continues to be a tough start for Bolton women’s seconds in North West Women’s Division Four East.

They are still without a win this season in the leagueafter a 3-1 reverse at a Bowdon thirds team in a similar position, albeit with one win themselves.

It is too early for a relegation six-pointer, but both sides knew these could be important points down the line.

It was not the best start for the seconds, who found themselves 1-0 down within 10 minutes, a penalty corner dispatched.

Bowdon kept the pressure up and at regular intervals through the first half, extended their lead, first from an open-play goal midway through the half, then a minute before the interval to make it 3-0 at the break.

Bolton came out strong the second half and pulled one back via Louisa Yoxall, but it was not to be for them as they went down to defeat.

On Sunday morning, the women’s thirds took on Sale thirds in North West Women’s Division Six East and recorded a 4-1 home win.

For a number of weeks Bolton have been building performances and it just needed that one moment to put it all together - and Sunday was that day.

A great performance saw Bolton score four times, first through Evelyn Calyden, then two from Viv Lake and a Louisa Yoxall goal - all before Sale scored a last-minute consolation.

Bolton dominated the game from start to finish, and their hard work finally paid off with a performance.

The men’s firsts have had an upturn in form recently, winning five of the previous six games to put themselves right back into promotion contention ahead of their trip to Rochdale firsts in North West Men’s Division Three South.

Against their fierce rivals, Bolton were struck an early blow when they lost their regular keeper from selection. It meant part-time keeper, and full-time umpire, Sam Williams, stepping into the breach.

The Bolton team decided the best way to keep a clean sheet was continual attack and there was unrelenting pressure on the Rochdale goal from the off.

Sam Robinson, the usual architect, went close early on and it was not long before Bolton had the lead, Lee Rammage finding himself free on the right-hand side of the D, picking up the ball and lofting a finish over the onrushing keeper.

Five minutes later, Bolton doubled their lead when a penalty corner was stopped but not fully cleared. When the ball found its way back into the goalmouth, Rammage again poked the ball home.

Bolton kept up the pressure, hitting the post before the half-time break.

Rochdale came out in the second half determined to at least venture into the Bolton half, and they did more than that, forcing a smart save from stand-in keeper Williams.

But it was as close as the hosts got. Bolton went into manage mode and saw the game out for a victory that puts them only three points off the automatic promotion spot.

The men’s seconds

Bolton 2’s are top of North West Men’s Division Six East and have a 100-per-cent record, even though they showed some weakness in their play away at Sale a week before their latest outing at home against Wigan seconds.

Hopes of a cricket like score were high against the bottom club and Louie Morgan’s push-shot found its way through the bodies and into the bottom corner to give Bolton a fifth-minute lead.

But Wigan remained resilient, and Bolton were not at their fluid best, a little too gung-ho at times.

Their second goal, however, was a contender for shot of the day, Kyle Hatch stealing the ball off the defender, before beating the man and unleashing a ferocious shot into the goal, the keeper unmoved.

They made it 3-0 before half time with Max Frost’s now mandatory goal, a sweep shot over the keeper.

Half time did not improve Bolton’s play, they were making chances but some poor decision-making or some fantastic goalkeeping kept the score down.

Kryan Chitre scored a lovely deflected goal to make it 4-0, and shortly after it should have been five when his drag-flicked penalty corner was blocked by the defender. Hatch was on hand to put the rebound in, however the whistle went for an infringement.

In the last 15 minutes, Bolton improved their passing, but the Wigan keeper was having a great day, and made several top-class saves to keep the score down.

The men’s thirds had a tough day out against Timperley sixths in North West Men’s Division Six East, losing 5-1.

Despite some solid defending in the first half, Bolton ended the period two goals down, one from open play the other via a penalty corner.

In the second half, Bolton conceded again - not once but twice from a penalty corner, and in exactly the same manner. A ball to the top, then slipped to the left and the striker all the time to pick his spot.

Bolton did get some offensive play going and Phil Morgan scored a well-worked goal, getting on the end of a good move through midfield into attack, the big captain sliding in for the finish.

But Timperley scored the last goal of the same, to wrap up victory, though on the balance of play, it was an unfair scoreline for Morgan’s young team.