Comeback kings end year with strong win
BOOTLE brought the curtain down on their 2016 with another comprehensive win in East Lanca- shire.
While there was no dramatic comeback like their last outing, it was still another three precious points for Joe Doran’s side as they head into the New Year hot on the heels of league leaders Runcorn Town.
Despite a bright start which saw Ryan Cox, Michael Carberry and Ste Jones all go close to giving the Bucks lead, they would once again have to come from behind.
As with their first meaningful attack of the game the hosts were handed a golden opportunity to take the lead.
Returning Bucks keeper Ryan Jones lunged at Charlie Lloyd inside the box, with the referee showing little hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot.
Jason Hart stepped up for the Admirals and coolly sent Jones the wrong way to put his side ahead.
However, the Bucks were soon handed a golden opportunity of their own, when Charles Collinge pushed Ryan Cox over inside the Admirals box in an off the ball incident, with the referee once again showing little hesitation in pointing to the spot.
Josh Hamilton stepped up for the Bucks and sent an unstoppable spot kick into the top corner of the net.
Both sides then traded chances, with Hart seeing his volley blocked on the line by Michael Ordish.
While at the other end, Joel Powell saw his header cleared off the line by Ben Hoskin - before Ste Jones rattled the post with a thunderous left-footed effort from 35-yards.
However, it wasn’t long before the Bucks were ahead with Cox once again winning a penalty for his side. The forward brilliantly turned Collinge, who in return hacked down the Bucks front man with the referee, for the third time in the afternoon, having little hesitation in pointing to the spot. Hamilton once again stepped up, and fired another unstoppable spot kick into the net.
The Bucks finished the first half the brighter of the two sides, but it was the hosts who went closest in the opening stages of the second half.
Billy McKenna sent Jason Hart clear, but the forward could only fire well over.
And moments later, the Admirals were punished, as the Bucks put breathing space between the two sides.
Ryan Cox flicked Ordish’s cross into the path of Michael Carberry, who took one touch before firing into the far corner of the net.
Four minutes later, and the Bucks all but sealed the three points, when Ste Jones turned inside the Nelson box, the forward then let fly with an effort that took a huge deflection of Mark Sharples before rolling into the bottom corner of the net.
The Bucks had further chances to increase their lead with Cox seeing his header cleared off the line, before Daniel Lever in the Nelson goal, denied both Jones and Joel Powell.
Josh Hamilton also went within inches of completing his hat-trick.
The Bucks midfielder was released by Carl Peers, before coolly rounding Lever, but his effort hit the inside of the post.