County v Bolton: COWS Friendly Match Report (22/07/2015)
Jul 23, 2015 13:13:33 GMT
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Post by hatter_in_macc on Jul 23, 2015 13:13:33 GMT
Here's my take on last night's contest against Bolton's young 'Lions of Vienna'. Report to appear on a COWS near you shortly...!
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COUNTY v BOLTON WANDERERS (PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY): MATCH REPORT (22/07/2015)
By Hatter in Macc
Abs-olute Delight Of A Shot Bag(gie)s Another Fine Friendly Draw
The Hatters turned out on the Edgeley Park turf for the second time in four days, and carried on the good work from Saturday’s scoreless draw with Halifax, to finish all-square against a talented young Bolton side - albeit, on this occasion, with some goals thrown in for added entertainment!
Neil Young made two changes to the starting line-up, which saw the County faithful welcome two debutants. Sefton Gonzales, whose transfer from Clitheroe had not been completed in time for the visit of Halifax, took his place on the front line, while Club Captain and central defender, Sean O’Hanlon, finally took his bow - having shaken off an injury that kept him out of the earlier friendlies.
Karl Ledsham, who was unwell, and Mark Lees - having completed the previous three matches in their entirety - were the players to step down on this occasion. Lees did, however, feature on the County bench - which also included a central-midfield trialist, James Ball, who had recently been released by the evening’s visitors.
The Bolton team, for its part, was, as anticipated, largely made up from the more youthful ranks of the Trotters’ brigade. One member of the senior squad, in Medo Kamara, was, however, handed a start, as were two of the players - namely, Filip Twardzik, once of Celtic, and Kaiyne Woolery - who had made appearances as substitutes in the course of their First Team’s victory at Oldham the previous night.
The first ten minutes of the match witnessed little action of note - and nothing by way of goalmouth incident - although, once the contest did spark into life, the Hatters, playing in a 4-2-4 formation, were the side to create by far the greater share of opportunities enjoyed during the first half.
Abs Baggie and Micah Evans had swapped wing-positions at an early stage of the game, in an attempt to keep the Bolton defence on its toes, and were to continue doing so intermittently as proceedings developed. Baggie was back on his more familiar right flank when, following some now-customary trickery, he crossed to Kayode Odejayi. The big striker did well to bring the ball under control and turn, but then sliced his eventual shot wide.
Odejayi was soon in action again: first holding the ball up in the Bolton area, before heading back to Glenn Rule, who half-volleyed over from the edge of the box; and, subsequently, nodding across another Baggie cross beyond the far post to Evans, whose shot was fired high and wide of goal.
Bolton’s first chance of the evening fell to Jamie Thomas, as he latched onto a through-ball and cut in from the right before unleashing a low drive. Danny Hurst was, however, equal to the challenge, and County’s Number One dived to smother the effort cleanly.
The Hatters were winning the first half corner-count by some distance, and without reply. From a Baggie delivery, they went especially close to troubling the scoreboard, as Ryan Ellison connected with a header that struck the Bolton crossbar. The trialist had an immediate second bite of the cherry, as the rebounded ball chose to find his feet in a crowded area, but his follow-up shot went straight into the arms of grateful Bolton ‘keeper, Ross Fitzsimons.
Still, for County, the corners kept on coming. Another was earned after Fitzsimons dived to tip a low shot by Rule past the right-hand post. And, from their fifth and final such dead-ball delivery of the half, just a minute ahead of the break, the Hatters took the lead, as an excellent in-swinger from Joe Garvin was helped on its way home by the head of O’Hanlon.
HALF-TIME: County 1 (O’Hanlon, 44), Bolton 0.
The teams emerged after the interval, showing one change apiece. Harry Campbell took over goalkeeping duties from Fitzsimons, whilst O’Hanlon, having marked his inaugural County appearance with a solid showing and an icing-on-the-cake goal, was replaced by Lees. Gareth Roberts donned the Captain’s armband following that - but was later, on being substituted himself, was to hand it on to last season’s Skipper, Lees, for the remainder of the game.
Within two minutes of the resumption, Bolton were level. Kamara, a Sierra Leonean compatriot of Baggie’s, threaded a through-ball to Woolery, who went to ground under a challenge by Danny Morton. A penalty was awarded without hesitation or, seemingly, complaint, and Thomas duly converted the spot-kick to Hurst’s right.
The Wanderers had truly returned to the fray - and, just to emphasize this, went ahead within another seven minutes, when the ball found Rob Holding just outside the County box. Rather than look for one of his strikers in the box, the visiting centre half unleashed a left-footed curling shot that could only be admired as it was perfectly flighted into the top corner of the net.
A fabulous strike, and goal of the pre-season so far, without a doubt. But for how long, dear readers?
Ooh... nine minutes, by this correspondent’s reckoning! For, following missed opportunities by both teams - with Ellison, once again, heading on a Baggie corner, albeit wide of the far post, and Thomas, chasing a long ball out of the Bolton defence, before firing high into the Cheadle End - County drew level with an effort of true wonder that gave Baggie his third goal in four games. Fed by Lamin Colley, the diminutive Hatter - from a position even further out than that of Holding a little earlier - maintained his record of converting increasingly spectacular strikes by hitting a first-time shot that weaved and looped over and past Campbell’s left.
Each team had further chances to win the contest by the odd goal in five. George Newell, in a one-on-one with Hurst, was denied by the latter’s point-blank stop, before Alex Finney sliced the resulting corner wide of the far post. And Colley, just as he had done in the final minutes against Halifax, let rip with a stinging shot that Campbell could only parry out - but on which neither Baggie nor Chris Churchman could get a telling final touch.
In between those attempts, the small number of visiting supporters bore witness to an appearance against their side of a player called Lofthouse, as County’s Bobby took to the field with ten minutes left on the clock. Bolton’s one-club legend of that name, Nat, might no longer be with us - but, had he been at EP for this well-fought match, the ‘Lion of Vienna’ would have taken pleasure in knowing that the sport’s qualities of spirit, skill and endeavour he so cherished and epitomized are still there to be found.
FULL-TIME: County 2 (O’Hanlon, 44; Baggie, 63), Bolton 2 (Thomas (penalty), 47; Holding, 54).
Team: Hurst, Morton, Roberts (Duxbury, 67), O’Hanlon (Lees, 46), Ellison, Garvin (Lofthouse, 80), Baggie, Rule (Russell, 61), Odejayi (Colley, 56), Gonzales (Ball, 50), Evans (Churchman, 75).
Unused Subs: Tyson, Holsgrove.
Attendance: 834.
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COUNTY v BOLTON WANDERERS (PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY): MATCH REPORT (22/07/2015)
By Hatter in Macc
Abs-olute Delight Of A Shot Bag(gie)s Another Fine Friendly Draw
The Hatters turned out on the Edgeley Park turf for the second time in four days, and carried on the good work from Saturday’s scoreless draw with Halifax, to finish all-square against a talented young Bolton side - albeit, on this occasion, with some goals thrown in for added entertainment!
Neil Young made two changes to the starting line-up, which saw the County faithful welcome two debutants. Sefton Gonzales, whose transfer from Clitheroe had not been completed in time for the visit of Halifax, took his place on the front line, while Club Captain and central defender, Sean O’Hanlon, finally took his bow - having shaken off an injury that kept him out of the earlier friendlies.
Karl Ledsham, who was unwell, and Mark Lees - having completed the previous three matches in their entirety - were the players to step down on this occasion. Lees did, however, feature on the County bench - which also included a central-midfield trialist, James Ball, who had recently been released by the evening’s visitors.
The Bolton team, for its part, was, as anticipated, largely made up from the more youthful ranks of the Trotters’ brigade. One member of the senior squad, in Medo Kamara, was, however, handed a start, as were two of the players - namely, Filip Twardzik, once of Celtic, and Kaiyne Woolery - who had made appearances as substitutes in the course of their First Team’s victory at Oldham the previous night.
The first ten minutes of the match witnessed little action of note - and nothing by way of goalmouth incident - although, once the contest did spark into life, the Hatters, playing in a 4-2-4 formation, were the side to create by far the greater share of opportunities enjoyed during the first half.
Abs Baggie and Micah Evans had swapped wing-positions at an early stage of the game, in an attempt to keep the Bolton defence on its toes, and were to continue doing so intermittently as proceedings developed. Baggie was back on his more familiar right flank when, following some now-customary trickery, he crossed to Kayode Odejayi. The big striker did well to bring the ball under control and turn, but then sliced his eventual shot wide.
Odejayi was soon in action again: first holding the ball up in the Bolton area, before heading back to Glenn Rule, who half-volleyed over from the edge of the box; and, subsequently, nodding across another Baggie cross beyond the far post to Evans, whose shot was fired high and wide of goal.
Bolton’s first chance of the evening fell to Jamie Thomas, as he latched onto a through-ball and cut in from the right before unleashing a low drive. Danny Hurst was, however, equal to the challenge, and County’s Number One dived to smother the effort cleanly.
The Hatters were winning the first half corner-count by some distance, and without reply. From a Baggie delivery, they went especially close to troubling the scoreboard, as Ryan Ellison connected with a header that struck the Bolton crossbar. The trialist had an immediate second bite of the cherry, as the rebounded ball chose to find his feet in a crowded area, but his follow-up shot went straight into the arms of grateful Bolton ‘keeper, Ross Fitzsimons.
Still, for County, the corners kept on coming. Another was earned after Fitzsimons dived to tip a low shot by Rule past the right-hand post. And, from their fifth and final such dead-ball delivery of the half, just a minute ahead of the break, the Hatters took the lead, as an excellent in-swinger from Joe Garvin was helped on its way home by the head of O’Hanlon.
HALF-TIME: County 1 (O’Hanlon, 44), Bolton 0.
The teams emerged after the interval, showing one change apiece. Harry Campbell took over goalkeeping duties from Fitzsimons, whilst O’Hanlon, having marked his inaugural County appearance with a solid showing and an icing-on-the-cake goal, was replaced by Lees. Gareth Roberts donned the Captain’s armband following that - but was later, on being substituted himself, was to hand it on to last season’s Skipper, Lees, for the remainder of the game.
Within two minutes of the resumption, Bolton were level. Kamara, a Sierra Leonean compatriot of Baggie’s, threaded a through-ball to Woolery, who went to ground under a challenge by Danny Morton. A penalty was awarded without hesitation or, seemingly, complaint, and Thomas duly converted the spot-kick to Hurst’s right.
The Wanderers had truly returned to the fray - and, just to emphasize this, went ahead within another seven minutes, when the ball found Rob Holding just outside the County box. Rather than look for one of his strikers in the box, the visiting centre half unleashed a left-footed curling shot that could only be admired as it was perfectly flighted into the top corner of the net.
A fabulous strike, and goal of the pre-season so far, without a doubt. But for how long, dear readers?
Ooh... nine minutes, by this correspondent’s reckoning! For, following missed opportunities by both teams - with Ellison, once again, heading on a Baggie corner, albeit wide of the far post, and Thomas, chasing a long ball out of the Bolton defence, before firing high into the Cheadle End - County drew level with an effort of true wonder that gave Baggie his third goal in four games. Fed by Lamin Colley, the diminutive Hatter - from a position even further out than that of Holding a little earlier - maintained his record of converting increasingly spectacular strikes by hitting a first-time shot that weaved and looped over and past Campbell’s left.
Each team had further chances to win the contest by the odd goal in five. George Newell, in a one-on-one with Hurst, was denied by the latter’s point-blank stop, before Alex Finney sliced the resulting corner wide of the far post. And Colley, just as he had done in the final minutes against Halifax, let rip with a stinging shot that Campbell could only parry out - but on which neither Baggie nor Chris Churchman could get a telling final touch.
In between those attempts, the small number of visiting supporters bore witness to an appearance against their side of a player called Lofthouse, as County’s Bobby took to the field with ten minutes left on the clock. Bolton’s one-club legend of that name, Nat, might no longer be with us - but, had he been at EP for this well-fought match, the ‘Lion of Vienna’ would have taken pleasure in knowing that the sport’s qualities of spirit, skill and endeavour he so cherished and epitomized are still there to be found.
FULL-TIME: County 2 (O’Hanlon, 44; Baggie, 63), Bolton 2 (Thomas (penalty), 47; Holding, 54).
Team: Hurst, Morton, Roberts (Duxbury, 67), O’Hanlon (Lees, 46), Ellison, Garvin (Lofthouse, 80), Baggie, Rule (Russell, 61), Odejayi (Colley, 56), Gonzales (Ball, 50), Evans (Churchman, 75).
Unused Subs: Tyson, Holsgrove.
Attendance: 834.
