Radcliffe Amateurs...2

Bolton County...2

FOR two weeks running, Radcliffe Amateurs have had to take on Bolton County in league matches and in 180 minutes of football, neither team could break the deadlock.

Last week at County's ground, the score was 1-1 and this week at Outwood Road, 2-2 was the outcome.

With Radcliffe only holding a slender one-point lead at the top of the Premier Division, it was imperative that they fight for all three points. Bolton made sure that didn't happen.

From the outset, the visitors made a push on the Radcliffe defence, giving Gugniewicz and Stevens plenty to do in defending the Radcliffe goal.

Amateurs then got into their stride and began to force themselves on County's back line, as Isherwood centred a cross which was met by a header from Stevens, bringing a good save from the 'keeper.

Both teams were playing end-to-end football, but the finishing by each side didn't match the quality of the build-up.

Radcliffe broke the deadlock after 15 minutes when the Bolton 'keeper took the ball out of his area and only managed to kick it straight at the advancing Wayne Dalton. The ball bounced into the path of Mark Isherwood who, from 25-yards out, had an open goal to aim at and duly obliged with Radcliffe's first goal.

Amateurs now took control of the game and exciting runs from Gary Andrew, Dalton and Isherwood brought them close to extending their lead and if not for some fine goalkeeping from the County 'keeper they would have done so.

Ian McDonough, playing centre-forward for Radcliffe, connected with a great volley which went just over the bar. Scott Hannah made a magical run with the ball out of his own defence, only to see his final shot go just wide of the post.

Wilkinson, in the Radcliffe defence, covered a lot of ground and caused the Bolton backs all kinds of trouble with his long throws into the box. As one throw fell to the feet of Danny English, he turned on the ball with good control, but the resulting shot was saved by the 'keeper.

With half-time approaching, Wilkinson had to leave the field with hamstring trouble and was replaced by Brett Hannah. Jonathan Tuke was also giving the visitors problems with his runs up the wing, but the final balls were not reaching McDonough and Dalton in the middle.

In the last action of the first half, Isherwood floated a free-kick into the County penalty area where it was met by a powerful header from Andrew, but the ball went over the crossbar.

With Radcliffe dominating the first half, it seemed only a matter of time before they extended their lead, which they did within three minutes of the re-start. Isherwood sent a corner kick close into the goal area and Tuke was on hand to head the ball home and give his team a 2-0 lead.

Minutes later, Tuke thought he had scored again when he shot past the 'keeper, but this time he was adjudged to have fouled a defender on his way to goal.

Radcliffe should now have taken total control, but as has happened too many times in recent games, their play became sloppy and they gave the ball away far too easily.

Bolton took full advantage of this and forced a number of corner kicks at the Radcliffe end. Mike Morris in Amateurs' goal was kept busy and had to make a series of saves to keep the ball out.

In the end, there was one corner too many and as the ball came over, it was deflected past Morris and the other Radcliffe defenders, to find the back of the net and give Bolton their first goal of the match.

Gugniewicz, Stevens and Scott Hannah had to work hard to keep Bolton out and it was from a mistake by Radcliffe on the half-way line that Bolton broke loose and their forward fired in a 25-yard shot which didn't give Morris any chance of stopping it to put County level at 2-2.

A third goal for Bolton was narrowly averted when Bret Hannah was on hand to clear a shot off the goal line. Minutes later, the visitors should have scored again when a shot bounced off the crossbar into the path of one of their forwards, who somehow managed to shoot wide of an open goal.

In the latter stages, McDonough was replaced by Scully as Radcliffe made a late bid to regain the lead, but it was too late and the game ended in a 2-2 draw.

A fair result overall with Radcliffe having the better of the first half and Bolton taking the honours for the second period. This, and other recent disappointing results, means that Radcliffe fall from top spot and drop into second place in the Premiership division for the first time this season.

With only three games left to play, it may be too late to regain top spot as other teams close in with games in hand.

RADCLIFFE AMATEURS: Morris, Gugniewicz, Wilkinson, Stevens, S. Hannah, English, Tuke, Andrew, Isherwood, McDonough, Dalton. Substitutes: B. Hannah, Scully, Maffia.

Radcliffe's seconds played top of the league Gregorians and were unlucky to come away 2-1 losers.

Matt Dunn was on the scoresheet for Amateurs. Meanwhile, the third team was involved in an exciting 3-3 draw with Lymm where John Tennant, Lee Haworth and Rob Johnson were the scorers for Radcliffe.