Bucks Put Five Past Widnes

Five different goalscorers as Bootle collect third league win of season. Image: Paul Moran

Bootle returned to winning ways with a fine 5-2 victory over Widnes at the TDP Solicitors Stadium.

It had been a frustrating and somewhat underwhelming start to the season for Joe Doran and Phil Stafford’s side. But here, the Bucks produced their best display of the season putting Widnes to the sword with some clinical finishing and fine team play.

Despite the comprehensive score line things initially started badly for Bootle as they fell behind after just nine minutes. Widnes skipper Kev Pollard connected perfectly with Colin Quirk’s corner to send a bullet header into the top corner of the net.

Bootle, however, responded less than ten minutes later, some neat build play eventually saw Ryan Cox tee up Ste Jones who curled a low effort into the bottom corner of the net from the edge of the box.

But just like they’ve done so often this season the Bucks shot themselves in the foot at the back as Widnes retook the lead straight from the kick-off. Sean Myler’s long ball cut the Bucks back-line open and was latched onto by Kevin Towey who looped the ball over the onrushing Charlie Taylor and into the roof of the net.

From there though, Bootle simply picked themselves up and dusted themselves down - and levelled for the second time in the game when Jones and Michael Ordish combined down the left, the latter then swung in a cross which was headed home by Kieran Haligan.

The Bucks went close to taking the lead when the returning Paul Woolcott latched onto Haligan’s pass inside the Widnes box but a combination of a Louie Mackin save and a Pollard block denied the midfielder.

But from the resulting corner, and on the stroke of half-time, the Bucks would take the lead. Ordish and Haligan combined before the latter crossed for the unmarked Anthony Rendell who finished from close-range.

The second-half was a much-controlled display from Joe Doran and Phil Stafford’s side who played some fine football and extended their lead on fifty-one minutes. Ryan Cox out-muscled Pollard on the edge of the Widnes box before producing a fine curling effort that flew into the far corner of the net.

Widnes went close to getting themselves back in the game when Towey back-heeled the ball to Chris Lomax, who in return teed up Pollard but Bootle defender Jonathan Swatton produced a superb goal line clearance to deny the Widnes skipper.

Both side then exchanged chances with Mackin tipping over Jones' effort after the Bucks had produced a fine spell of passing. While at the other end, Charlie Taylor denied Towey after the forward had collected Lomax’s pass.

Deep into stoppage time though, Bootle completed the scoring through Ben Hodkinson. Cox flicked Ordish’s ball into the path of the substitute who fired into the bottom corner of the net.