Bucks Held In Six Goal Thriller

Ordish's hits a double, but Bucks held in entertaining game. Image:Paul Moran

It may only have been the second game of the new Hallmark Security League season but Bootle and West Didsbury and Chorlton served up an early contender for game of the season.

These two sides are no strangers to thrillers with the two producing a string of classic matches in their previous encounters over the years; and this was no different, with both sides going toe-to-toe for ninety minutes in a six goal thriller at the TDP Solicitors Stadium.

In truth both sides will feel they could have taken all three points, with the Bucks perhaps feeling it the most, especially after they had after they had raced into a 3-1 lead in the opening stages of the second-half.

Both sides came into the game on the back of opening day victories, but it was Joe Doran and Phil Stafford’s side who started the brighter with the woodwork twice saving West. First Michael Ordish saw his free-kick ping of the underside of the bar, before seconds later, Daniel Murphy thumped a header against the woodwork after connecting with Ordish’s corner.

West however, could have went ahead themselves, when a quick counter-attack caught the Bootle defence napping. Tom Bailey’s low pin-point cross found Nic Evangelinos who forced Paul Willis into superb point-blank block.

But on the half hour mark, the first goal of the game would arrive. Some neat play down the Bootle left eventually saw Johnathan Swatton cross for Kieran Haligan who coolly side-footed the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

Bootle’s lead however lasted only three minutes, as West draw level in stunning fashion. Josh Tinker burst down the Bootle left before cutting inside onto his left foot and letting fly with a wonderful curling effort that found the top corner of the net.

Five minutes later though, and the Bucks went back ahead. An off the ball incident involving West’s Kevin McGrath and Haligan saw the Bucks awarded a free-kick 35-yards out and McGrath cautioned for his part. However, further punishment was to come for the visitors, when Ordish’s effort hit the wall wrong footing Aaron Ashley in the West goal with the ball rolling into the opposite corner of the net.

Six minutes into the second-half and the Bucks increased their advantage from the penalty spot. Joe Shaw tripped Kieran Haligan inside the box with the referee having no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Michael Ordish stepped up and confidently fired the ball into the roof of the net for his second of the game.

Eight minutes later though, and West reduced the arrears when Ordish turned the ball into his own net after Gary Lilley had failed to connect with Evangelinos’ deep cross.

And with fifth teen minutes remaining, the visitors leveled. After failing to clear a West corner and defensive mix-up at the back, the ball eventually fell to Matty Kay on the edge of the Bootle box whose first time chip sailed over Willis and into the net via the post and bar.

The final ten minutes where as frantic and end-to-end as it gets, with both sides pushing hard for the all-important winner, with West carving out the first opportunity. Substitute Saul Henderson raced clear of the Bootle back-line before seeing his low drive bounce of the post.

While at the other end, Ashley denied Sam Wilkie, before producing a save of the season contender to deny Ordish his hat-trick. Substitute Ben Hodkinson crossed for the Bucks winger who cut back inside before letting fly with a curling effort that was superbly pushed round the post by the West Keeper to ensure his side headed back to Manchester with a point.