REPORT: Bootle 1-0 Squires Gate

By Mark Ashmore

Late goal kills resolute Gate performance at title chasing Bootle

This was Gate's third straight defeat but manager Andy Clarkson was proud of his sides efforts at high-flying Bootle.

Fewer than 48 hours after facing Burscough in the Macron Cup, Gate more than held there own in the first half of this Hallmark Security Premier Division Contest. Manager Andy Clarkson welcomes Gary Pett back to the starting 11 after he missed the last two league games due to a holiday and gave a first start to Jordan O'Mahoney under his tenure who replaced the unavailable Lewis Masters.

Although the hosts had most the possession and territory in the second half, it took one strike in the 70th minute to seperate the teams. Manager Clarkson felt the goal was rather unfortunate on his side - a 25 yard strike through a crowd of players which took a horrible bounce over keeper Ben Fletcher.

Clarkson introduced a third striker for the final 20 minutes but his side struggled to create any clear-cut chances and now stand 15th in the table. Clarkson told Blackpool Gazette after the game: "My lads dug in and gave it their all, and I think the goal was against the run of play. We had the play on the counter-attack but Bootle are definitely a top-six side and as long as we finish with four teams below us, this season we will have done our job."

Gate are back in action on Saturday when we host Barnton, kick off 3pm.

Gate: Fletcher, Colquhoun, Higham, O'Mahoney, Carroll, Pett, Ing, Hall, Moxon, Williams, Buchan. Subs: Moorhead, Thornber, Charnley.

Report by Andy Moore