After the cancellation of last weeks game due to the weather, Boldmere entertained bottom of the league AFC Sutton at their Church road home and came away 8-2 victors to stretch their winning league run to 10 games.
Another big squad was available to the gaffer. New signing Jamie Walker came in up front for his debut. Aaron Humphries dropped into midfield to replace skipper Paul Brady who was working away in Dubai. Tom Shakespeare came in on the left side of midfield as the gaffer tinkered slightly with the formation. Richard Leighton replaced the injured Steve Cullen in goal.
Craig Oates, Darren Hamilton, Olly Nicholson, Paul Davis and James Duff made up a 5 strong bench.
The game started and Sutton immediately scored after 1 minute when a goalkeeper error was punished and the Sutton forward rolled the ball into the net. Boldmere soon got going and started to miss chances against a packed Sutton rearguard. Having already missed at least 3 golden opportunities Bulldogs grabbed the equaliser in the 9th minute when Chris O'Brien set up Aaron Humphries to slot home. Boldmere continued to dominate possession. Many more chances came and went again for the 'Bulldogs' with a combination of poor finishing, the woodwork on 3 occasions and some inspired goalkeeping by the Sutton keeper. Then out of the blue In the 34th minute Sutton grabbed a second goal on a rare break out of their own half, with the Sutton forward hitting home a great shot from 25 yards over an out of position Rich Leighton. Boldmere immediately bounced back and it was that man Aaron Humphries again who got the goal, following up a pile driver from Chris Dawber to finish with ease. New 'Bulldogs' striker Jamie Walker was starting to link well with others and after missing a few good chances, in the 43rd minute he got his first goal in Boldmere colours and himself on the score sheet when he finished well from the industrious Humphries pass. One minute later on the stroke of half time Walker was at it again, pouncing on a poor defensive error and finishing well..... Half time 4-2
One change at half time saw the return from injury of James Duff who replaced the out of sorts Rich McCausland. Sutton continued to defend resolutely in numbers as Boldmere were encamped in the Sutton half and the Sutton keeper continued to frustrate Boldmere with a string of fine saves. Darren Hamilton came on for his first appearance of the season and his second debut for the club when he replaced Michael Dosset on 60 minutes. In the 64th minute Liam Hannon met a great delivery from Tom Shakespeare and planted a header firmly into the net for a morale boosting goal for him and Boldmere's fifth goal of the game. Jamie Walker then showed just why the gaffer had bought him in when he finished off John Haycocks knock down for a debut hat trick. Hat trick completed and ring rust blown off, Olly Nicholson then replaced the tiring Walker. With Aaron Humphries dictating play in midfield and Chris O'Brien rampant on the right, goal number 7 was always on the cards and it came when Liam Hannon once again finished well with his head from Duffs well placed cross from the left. Just enough time to add one more and it was 'man of the match' Aaron Humphries who completed the scoring and his hat trick when he finished off Liam Hannons excellent work and cross to move to the top of the 'Bulldogs' scoring charts
Final score 8-2 to the 'Bulldogs'. Sutton packed the defence throughout and in truth Bulldogs football did not flow as it has previously. However, if half of the missed chances had been taken, we could have been looking at a cricket score! Well done to Sutton for never giving up.
Next week sees the 'Bulldogs' travel to Minworth FC from division 2, in a tough rearranged Challenge Cup 2nd round encounter. A much improved performance is expected against much tougher opposition as Boldmere look to advance into Round 3 #WeGoAgain
