Baker had taken the opportunity to watch Trafford first-hand the previous Saturday on the 3G at Widnes whilst Blues match at Atherton had been frozen off and his scouting missing clearly worked.
He commented, “I thought we could cause them problems and we pushed three up in the first half and they struggled to cope with it. We controlled the game and defensively we were excellent and even in the last fifteen minutes or so they protected Danny Roberts well and he also dealt with anything he had to do by coming out well for crosses.
“I said at half-time the next goal will be crucial and we came out and got that and I thought it was a lovely well-worked goal on the breakaway. Jordan and Rob combined to set up Botty and he was very composed with his finish.”
“Dan Trickett-Smith has been training with Vale this week, but in the warm-up he didn’t feel right so I brought Jordan in and I thought he did well as it’s difficult when you are not prepared mentally to start the match, but once he settled down, he had a good game.”
Bott’s goals took his tally to an astonishing 18 for Leek in just 17 starts plus 7 substitute appearances and leave him joint third in the list of highest scorers for the division on 14, with 12 league goals for Blues plus a further two for Newcastle Town.
# | Team | Pl | Pts |
1. | Leek Town | 32 | 71 |
2. | Prescot Cables | 32 | 58 |
3. | Runcorn Linnets | 32 | 56 |
4. | Bootle | 32 | 55 |
5. | City of Liverpool FC | 32 | 50 |
6. | Witton Albion | 32 | 50 |
7. | Clitheroe | 32 | 48 |
8. | Nantwich Town | 32 | 47 |