Title-chasing Bootle recorded a comfortable 3-1 victory over mid-table Alsager Town and will go top of the table if they win their three games in hand on current leaders Padiham. It was no surprise when Bootle took the lead in the 25th minute through Jamie Hay. Light snow fell during and after the interval but didn’t stop the visitors extending their lead with two further goals in five minutes from Daniel O’Connor and Lee Thompson around the midpoint of the second half. A great shot from Sam Aspinwall gave Alsager a late consolation goal. The LAW Training Stadium is still a pleasant ground and now has an impressive new clubhouse.
Alsager Town 1 Bootle 3
North-West Counties League Premier Division
At: LAW Training Stadium
Kick-off: 7-45 pm
Admission: £5; Programme: £1-50 (36 pages)
Weather: cold, light snow during second half
Alsager Town (black and white stripes / black / white): 1. Michael Langley, 2. Alex Hedley, 3. Elliott Ledwards (capt), 4. Liam Prince, 5. Raphale Evans, 6. Ryan Mitchell, 7. Sam Aspinwall, 8. Tom Parkes, 9. Jack Kenny, 10. Leigh Skellern, 11. Jed Davies. Subs: 12. James Lunn (for Kenny, 81), 14. Andy Stockton (for Davies, 85), 15. Joel Mills (not used), 16. Dave Woodvine (for Evans, 75). Manager: Andy Turner.
Bootle (yellow/yellow/yellow): 1. Dean Porter, 2. Mark Kilroy, 3. Paul Byrne (capt), 4. Neil McQueen, 5. Liam Dodd, 6. Kurtis Gill, 7. Neil Prince, 8. Jamie Hay, 9. Daniel O’Connor, 10. Jack McCabe, 11. Lee Thompson. Subs: 12. Kevin Black (not used), 14. Nathan Martland (for McCabe, ht), 15. Phil Green (for McQueen, 75), 16. William Smart (for Gill, 68), 17. James Olsen (not used). Player-manager: Neil Prince.
Referee: J. Hayes (Manchester).
Assistants: S. Osiadacz (Manchester) and A. Coop (Altrincham).
Attendance: 41
Duration (45): first-half: 47:05; second-half: 48:21
Goals:
0-1 Jamie Hay (25)
0-2 Daniel O’Connor (64)
0-3 Lee Thompson (69)
1-3 Sam Aspinwall (87)
Cards:
Alsager: Alex Hedley (YC, 56), Leigh Skellern (YC, 56), Michael Langley (YC, 78)
Bootle: none
