In the middle of nowhere, on a windy, uneven surface inhabited by moles and rabbits, Boots Wednesday put in a committed and battling performance against Mattersey FC that ended with a result that misrepresented the tight game that had just taken place. Despite an unchanged back four, there were several players taking up new positions, including Chris Hawrylak on the right of midfield, Rowan partnering Parker in the centre, and Craig joining Danny up front. The first 45 minutes were a very close affair, with the Boots defence (marshalled by Spence and Fletch) winning almost everything in the air and allowing the midfield and full-backs to play the ball out to the feet of the hard-working Parker and Rowan. Although Mattersey created a few chances (most notably from corners), Boots also threatened when Brett and Phil both saw long-range free kicks unconvincingly parried by the keeper, while Craig was unlucky not to win a penalty when crudely tackled in the area following a good break-away move just before half-time.
At half-time Spence had to be replaced by Patto due to foot-knack, so Man of the Match Brett (having another composed and consistent game) moved into the centre of defence. Boots began to dominate the game, with Craig, Rowan and Parker winning everything in midfield, and Mattersey began to worry that they may not win as easily as they thought before the game. Craig played in Patto whose goal-bound shot was parried away by the keeper, while Danny broke away down the right but couldn’t quite beat the remaining defender with his pass across the area. Craig also saw a number of chances fall his way while Phil and Crozier linked well on the left to put in some dangerous crosses, and Boots also wasted several free kicks from dangerous positions. Griff came on up front for Danny, while Oli replaced Chris Hawrylak for his Boots debut. As Boots began to tire and the game evened out, Mattersey won a free-kick on the half-way line following a harsh handball decision against Fletch. While the Boots players complained, Mattersey took full advantage of the lapse in concentration and their substitute thrashed a low shot into the net to open the scoring. Several minutes later, their winger managed to whip in a cross from their right wing, and the wind curled the ball over Neil and into the goal off the far post for a fluky second. Boots continued to fight for the ball but Mattersey’s confidence was in the ascendancy, and they finally put the game beyond doubt when their left winger dribbled around several challenges in the area and finished from a tight angle. A final goal in the last minute, courtesy of Route One, fashioned a harsh scoreline for a game that could have gone either way 20 minutes before.
