It’s Town and out for Bucks

Bootle 3 Hanley T 4 IT was an afternoon to forget for Bootle as their unbeaten league start ended abruptly after Hanley Town claimed all three points in a sevengoal thriller at the TDP Solicitors Stadium last Saturday afternoon.

Despite being 2-0 up at half-time and ahead 3-2 just after the hour, the Bucks then produced a defensive horror show to eventually miss out 4-3.

Things had initially started well for Joe Doran and Phil Stafford’s side when they took a 15th-minute lead. Michael Ordish swung in a cross from the left that was headed goalwards by Ryan Cox with Ste Jones helping the ball over the line.

Five minutes before the break, the Bucks doubled their advantage from the penalty spot. Kieran Halligan released Cox with the forward being pushed to the ground by Ben Blowers for a spot-kick.

Ordish duly sent Joe Hemmings the wrong way from 12 yards.

The Bucks, however, have made a nasty habit of starting the second half slowly and sadly for Doran and Stafford, this was no different.

First, Jonathan Sheldon’s long-range effort was parried by Charlie Taylor with Josh Bristow reacting quickest to fire the rebound home on 54 minutes. Five minutes later, Martin Edwards’ side were level. Jamie Skellern’s through-ball was latched onto by substitute Neville Thompson who finished confidently past Taylor.

But Bootle rallied well to being pegged back and went back ahead two minutes later. The impressive Connor Ellis-Pratt teed up Jones who let fly with a fine strike from 25 yards that flew into the net.

But Hanley refused to lie down and levelled with 20 minutes left. A long ball forward wasn’t dealt with by the Bootle defence allowing Theo Stair to pounce and finish from 10 yards out.

And with 12 minutes remaining, the visitors grabbed the winner when Sheldon found the net after being played in by teammate Thompson.