Thrilling start to
BOLTON WANDERERS... 2 COUNTY ............................ 2
DAVE Challinor’s County earned a fully deserved FA Cup first round replay with neighbours Bolton Wanderers, after an enthralling 2-2 draw at the University of Bolton Stadium on Sunday.
Challinor’s debut as the Hatters’ new manager was roared on by over five thousand travelling County fans at League One Bolton, with The Hatters stunning Ian Evatt’s side through Scott Quigley’s opener midway through the first half.
And, even after Eoin Doyle and Elias Kachunga had wiped out that Quigley strike with two Bolton goals in the space of two minutes, winger Ben Whitfield popped up on the stroke of half-time to finish off a flowing County move and earn a very creditable replay at Edgeley Park.
Exactly one year on from John Rooney’s spectacular sixty-yard strike which helped overcome League One Rochdale in the first round proper, County faced a similar challenge – although this time, that challenge came with the vocal support of over five thousand Stopfordians behind Challinor’s side.
The former Hartlepool boss, who contentiously left Victoria Park last week to join The Hatters, had promised supporters in the build-up to this cup tie that his County side would be “attacking, open and expansive” – and warned his players that anyone who didn’t get on board would find themselves “watching County play football”.
The Hatters have had two managers since that 1-2 win at Rochdale a year earlier, with legendary boss Jim Gannon controversially dismissed in favour of Brighton U23 boss Simon Rusk.
The subsequent ninemonth experiment with Rusk at the helm ultimately led to failure, with County never looking likely, under Rusk, to even dabble in the sort of engaging, attacking football which Challinor oversaw from minute one at a side two levels higher than The Hatters.
Straight from the off, Challinor made his first big call as boss with the returning Sam Minihan starting after a threemonth lay-off through a serious knee injury. Former Hartlepool full-back Kitching, who Challinor worked with to great success at Victoria Park, was also recalled, whilst Ash Palmer and Whitfield also returned to the starting eleven to round off the four changes.
On the nine-man bench allowed in cup competition, defenders Will Fish and Ben Barclay returned from out in the wilderness they had found themselves in under Rusk. Former Bolton skipper Antoni Sarcevic was ruled out, however, after what Challinor described as a “whack” in training.
Bolton’s leading scorer Dapo Afolayan proved a thorn in County’s side all afternoon, and inevitably had the first real chance of note on the day when he jigged his way into the penalty area and fired wide of Ethan Ross’ goal from a tight angle.
MJ Williams tried his luck next up with an effort fired high and wide from distance, with County not seeing much of the ball but looking solid enough in the face of the hosts’ pressure.
And, midway through the first half, Challinor’s men pounced with their first attempt on goal.
Bolton seemed comfortable in possession at the back, only for young midfielder George Thomason to roll the ball straight into the path of Scott Quigley, who took a superb two touches to skip past Bolton skipper Ricardo Santos and fire low underneath Joel Dixon.
The lively Lloyd Isgrove fired wide of the upright soon after as Bolton looked to shake off Quigley’s opener, and – with County looking increasingly comfortable in the
lead – the leveller soon came thanks to individual mistakes from the visitors.
Captain Liam Hogan skewed a loose ball straight into the middle of the park, where man of the match Afoloyan picked it up and produced a stunning through ball inside Ben Whitfield for Isgrove to cross on a plate for Doyle to tap home.
With County rattled, Bolton then instantly took the lead as Ethan Ross parried Afoloyan’s strike straight to Kachunga, with the rebound squirming underneath the unfortunate Hatters stopper.
But, whilst Rusk’s County may have wilted after falling behind, Challinor’s side showed the characteristics which the former Fylde boss had promised to instil in his players straight from the off, as Paddy Madden’s header from a Sam Minihan cross drew a good save out of Dixon straight from the restart.
And, during five firsthalf stoppage time minutes, County did fashion one more chance which was ultimately taken superbly – Quigley held the ball up down the left, teeing up Madden who rolled infield for Whitfield to tuck inside the near post.
Into the second half, County may have looked to take heart from the fact that the visitors were attacking the stand housing the vociferous travelling fans – and almost took an early second-half lead when Madden released Quigley in on goal, only for a slightly heavy touch to take it away from the former Barrow man.
Clear-cut chances were few and far between in the second half after that thrilling first forty-five minutes, although Doyle and Isgrove did go close with efforts both wellsaved by Ross.
Ian Evatt’s men naturally dominated much of possession, but Challinor’s side showed some defensive grit to go along with their attacking play in the first half to force a replay next week – with the victors of that televised tie going on to face League One high-fliers Rotherham Utd in the second round proper next month.