After last weeks great win away at Buxton, the Bolton 2’s wanted to finish the home season strong with their game against City of Manchester 3’s. A stronger, albeit different team lined up in their familiar 3-2-3-2 at the Pavilion.

City did start the better team, pushing Bolton back into their own half and creating some half chances. Bolton struggled to get out of their half and up the pitch and were not able to string passes through the midfield pivot.

City played a physical style that put pressure on Bolton and upset the flow. Slowly but surely Bolton did start to create some chances, and earned some Penalty Corners but indicative of their play the first one wasn’t even stopped, confusion between stopper and hitter with the ball ending up at the back stop, the chance wasted.

City soon took the lead, some sharp passing through the midfield, a ball from the Bolton right cut across the D, and a City player found himself unmarked at the back to slot home.

Bolton did earn a few more Penalty corners, but nothing came of them, change was needed. Change game, Captain Zippy, putting on elder statesman Hatch and told him to play high and make a nuisance of himself. Barely a minute later Bolton were level, Yus picked out the substitute who beat his defender and square to Keith in the D, his shot was saved but the rebound was slotted home by the arriving Peter Cole.

Bolton changed the game, pressing much higher up the pitch, and pushing City back into their half. Chances came their way, more penalty corners but more frustrations as chances went begging. Half time came with Bolton on top.

The second half didn’t start well, City took another early lead. The momentum from the end of the first half was gone and City were able to push back up the pitch. The goal came from some lax defending, as City players were able to move the ball and get free before slotting home.

Despite the set back Bolton wanted to push on. The game was becoming bitty, decisions weren’t going Bolton’s way, City’s physicality wasn’t being punished, and players were becoming frustrated.

City soon had a third, a penalty corner wasn’t cleared, Keeper Amu lost sight of the ball and City put it back in on the reverse.

It went from bad to worse moments later when Bolton found themselves down to ten. A wild swipe from a city player at Ryan Aldred went unpunished, the Bolton’s defender’s unsubtle recreation was perhaps a bit too aggressive, and he got a 5-minute yellow.

When the sin bin was over, Bolton abandoned the double pivot and went for it. Back on the front foot and putting forward pressure on City. Bolton started to get outcomes in and around the City D. Too many Penalty Corners came and went. Louie Morgan missed a golden chance, his frustration getting the best of him and the away post.

Bolton did pull one back, a penalty corner routine played short, Yus firing to back post, no touch required as it settled nicely in the far corner. Still 5 minutes to get back in it.

Valiantly did Bolton try, more Penalty corners earned, more missed. Not their day.

Full Time: Bolton 2’s 2 – 3 City of Manchester 3.

Not a performance to remember, but the team showed incredible effort.

Man of the Match: Keith Stanley