Bootle on the end of shock defeat after two month unbeaten run
THEY’D almost lost the feeling of what it is like to lose a league game at Bootle.
It had in fact, been 59 days since they last did and when a depleted Squires Gate rolled into town it looked as though they would make it 60.
But a below par performance ensured they didn’t.
Goals in either half from Ben Seear and Seydou Bamba condemned the Bucks to their first league defeat since October 18, when Joe Doran’s side were beaten 1-0 at Irlam.
The game was only three minutes old when Doran’s side carved out their first opening. In form Ryan Cox, who had scored nine in his last five games, flicked Michael Ordish’s corner against the bar.
But with less than ten minutes gone the visitors, who had only won one of their last six, broke the deadlock.
Andy Richards’ ball down the left was collected by Brett Dawson, who advanced into the Bucks box before crossing for Ben Sear to finish inside the six-yard box.
Bootle had been in this position before when they came from behind to beat St Helens Town in the Macron Cup – but on that night the Bucks hit back straight away after falling behind.
But in truth, they never really looked like doing so here, as if anything, it was the visitors who looked the more likely to score.
Brett Dawson saw a long range effort tipped over by Ryan Jones in the Bootle goal – before Jacob Higham fired wide of Jones’ far post.
The visitors soon went even closer, when Dawson teed up Joe Noblett inside the Bootle box, but the midfielders effort was cleared off the line by Ste Hoy.
Despite their poor start, the Bucks finished the half the stronger and went close when Josh Hamilton’s in swinging cross clipped the top of the cross bar - before Joel Powell was also denied by the woodwork, after his overhead kick had rattled the top of the bar.
Joe Doran’s side started the second half in a much more energetic manner, but despite their improvement Doran’s side never really threatened Michael Hall in the Gate goal.
With the first real chance of the half going the way of the visitors, a quick counter attack down the right saw Seear tee up Dawson, who forced Jones into a fine save. The Bucks keeper superbly tipping the Gate forward’s effort over.
But from the resulting corner, Danny Penswick’s side would collect their second of the game. Seear’s corner wasn’t cleared with the ball falling to Seydou Bamba who took one touch before firing into the far corner of the net.
Jones was soon called into action again, this time denying Dawson after the visitors had hit the Bucks on the counter.
To their credit, Joe Doran’s side continued to press and went close to a way back into the game when Jamie Hay headed against the bar.
Michael Ordish then saw his free kick deflected wide, while Daniel O’Connor’s stab at goal was cleared off the line by David Rossall.
But if the truth be told, it was just one of those days for Joe Doran’s side who could still be playing now and still wouldn’t score.