Bucks on a roll with fifth straight win
BY CONNOR O’NEILL
TWO first half goals from Lee Hughes and Connor Millington helped Bootle extend their winning run to five games after they overcame Runcorn Town in their latest outing.
Joe Doran’s side came into the game on the back of a 3-0 win over Hanley Town and showed no signs of letting their impressive form slip here, with the Bucks controlling the game from the offset to cement themselves into third place in the Hallmark Security League Premier Division table.
Starting on the front foot, fullback Michael Carberry had already blazed over for the Bucks before Warren Jevons wasted the game’s best opening on 16 minutes. Latching onto a Ste Jones through-ball, the former REMYCA man raced clear before cutting inside and letting fly with a low drive that was blocked by the onrushing Town goalkeeper Adam Reid.
Four minutes later, though, and the Bucks broke the deadlock with Hughes scoring his first goal for the club since signing from South Liverpool in November.
Jones floated in a wonderful free-kick from the left, and after Michael Simpson blocked Ben Cartwright’s header the ball fell perfectly for Hughes, who swept a right-footed effort into the bottom corner of the net.
One became two just seven minutes later. Jones and Kieran Halligan combined down the right, before the latter’s cross found Millington who fired low and hard into the bottom corner of the net from just inside the box.
Town’s best chance of the half fell the way of Harry Freedman, but the youngsters’ effort from distance went well wide.
Further chances followed for the Bucks in the second half, with Hughes firing over from closerange after good work from Carl Peers down the right before both Jones and Carberry fired over from distance.
At the other end, however, Bootle’s back five, including keeper Jack McGovern, continually thwarted Town’s attacks to ensure their side picked up their fourth straight clean sheet.
And a bad afternoon got even worse for Chris Herbert’s side when Carl Rodgers was sent off for his second bookable offence late into the second half.
Michael Ordish has left the Bucks to sign for Litherland REMYCA. The Remy, now managed by ex-Bucks boss Phil Stafford, confirmed the signing of the left-sided player on Sunday following a seven-days notice of approach.