Yeovil Town vs. Bolton Wanderers - e-Bolton Report

Article by e-Bolton Correspondent Alan Houghton

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It was 07:30 muster on a freezing cold Reebok car park for the 5 coach loads going to Yeovil for Bolton Wanderers’ first ever league visit. Disaster struck for coach 4 when we had a tyre blowout near Taunton and we were stranded outside the Blackbrook Tavern. Our brief joy turned to disbelief as we discovered the pub was closed for renovations. We were rescued an hour later when one of the other coaches came back for us. On arrival at the quaint Huish Park, we were told that they didn’t serve beer in the seated area, which was enough to make grown men cry. However, we were saved when kindly stewards took pity on us and let us into the standing area temporarily for a couple of pints of much needed Thatcher’s cider.

Bolton started the match well and Mason missed a couple of chances early on. However, Yeovil soon got on top and deservedly went in front when giant Ishmael Miller turned Dawson’s cross in and then Dawson himself was allowed to shoot low from 25 yards for their second. We were being overrun in midfield and the defence was poor. Yeovil were being given the freedom of the park. For Yeovil Webster and Duffy kept Jutkiewicz and Mason quiet. We were struggling to contain them. We couldn’t cope with the physical presence of Miller and our full backs were getting no support. The brave fans in the standing area were singing “We’re Bolton Wanderers, we’ll sing in the rain” as the hail belted down. Things were not going well and half time could not come quick enough.

In the second half, Dougie through caution to the wind. Medo put one wide and then there was an almighty scramble in the Yeovil goalmouth which somehow ended in a goal kick. The Duke pulled one back when he drilled one with his left foot from the edge of the box and then disaster struck as Baptiste gave away a penalty, given by the linesman and got a red card for his efforts. Now it was a time for heroes and Bogdan stepped up to the mark and saved the penalty. At the other end rejuvenated Knight headed us level from Spearing’s free kick. The match was being played like a cup tie with both teams going for it. The Duke, Danns and Medo all fluffed chances to bury Yeovil in the last ten minutes. The fightback led by Spearing was terrific. There’s a bit of character emerging in this team. It’s ironic that the three best players today were Bogdan, Spearing and Knight, all of whom were villains in some fans eyes, not that long ago.

Both Dougie Freedman and Gary Johnson will probably claim they should have won it and both teams could certainly have lost it. So, a draw was probably a fair result. It’s a better result for us because Yeovil need the points more in their relegation battle. It just about keeps us out of the relegation dogfight, 10 points clear with 9 matches to go and we can look forward to the next two matches, both at home against Lancashire rivals Blackpool and Wigan.

Other than the long term injured, Holden and Tierney, we have the full squad available. I’m looking forward to some sort of consistency of performance growing over the remainder of the season. Then there is the massive job of sorting out the squad for next season. There are still some big wage earners to sort out, what to do about the loan players and which youngsters are going to come through.

There are also potential new recruits to boost the squad as Dougie wants. All this has to be done within the current tight financial constraints the club is under. The close season promises to be more exciting than this season!

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