Saturday 22nd December 2018, NWCFL Premier Division
Bootle 3 (Murphy 39, Millington 79, Foy 90+4)
West 0
Att: 132
West’s final game before Christmas ended in disappointment as a clinical Bootle inflicted a first defeat of David Powell’s reign.
The visitors held their own against the promotion-chasing Bucks for the majority of the afternoon. However, they fell behind to Daniel Murphy’s header just before the break, and Connor Millington and Johnny Foy struck late to add gloss for the home side.
Powell’s side struggled for the attacking fluency they had shown against Whitchurch Alport and Hanley Town, but the margin of defeat was frustrating as Marcus Burgess had little to do other than pick the ball out of the net three times.
Stephen Hall headed West’s best chance of the first half straight at Bucks keeper Jack McGivern, but although the visitors looked comfortable in possession McGivern was rarely called upon. As the opening period drew on, the Bucks began to dominate possession and took the lead six minutes before the interval when Murphy nodded home a corner.
Chances continued to be at a premium after the restart. Ciaran Kilheeney became increasingly isolated, but the introduction of Junior Dos Santos added vibrancy to West’s forward play. Dos Santos came off the bench to make his first West appearance since 9th October, and made an immediate impact when he forced a corner that was flicked over the bar by Kilheeney.
But just as it looked as though West could snatch a point, the Bucks struck decisively on the break – the ball was played down the Bootle right before Millington found space on the edge of the box to fire the ball high past Burgess.
Kilheeney had a shot charged down from an indirect free kick in the final minute of normal time, but West’s luck was out and Foy shot across Burgess seconds before full time to give the scoreline an unflattering look from West’s perspective.
West: Burgess, Tinker, Atherton, Andrews (Woodward 77), Eiselt (Botchey 90), Eckersley, Leather, Langford, Kilheeney, Shaw, Hall (Dos Santos 63). Not used: Affleck, Woods.
