BWFC Scotland - Match Report

Well after our pre season I thought I’d better give our Honorary President all the charm I could muster. It worked well. We missed the first ten minutes of the game and that stunning Davies header. By the time Christina had composed herself and we’d stopped smiling Campo had scored the goal of the season! The ball went 43 yards and didn’t hit the floor til it was a yard from the keeper who was unable to make the save. To see a video of Campo's wondergoal click HERE

Well by now the smile on my face was so wide I could eat a kebab sideways – well not until the stitches are removed anyway. After explaining the off side rule to Christina three times we decided to recover some of the energy expended earlier by getting a couple of pies. I took her with me just in case the poor dishevelled lass was recognized…. The guy in front was asking his mate why we were playing City and not Spurs. No one took him on, then one guy shouted “Shut up Pearce” and he sat down sheepishly.

2 pints of bitter and 2 meat and taters please. She caressed every mouthful of the pie, with only a hint of ketchup spilt on her blouse. We could tell from the crowd noises that Bolton were still in the ascendancy. Tottenham were stunned by the way Bolton had come out. There’s more to The Superwhites than set pieces! After watching Christina polish off her pie and beer, we decided to watch some more of the match.

By now twenty minutes had been played – the best twenty minutes of my sheltered life. I was wondering if I could get to Prestons and back during the half time break but I decided not to rush things. Dioufy was down injured. The Spurs players didn’t know whether to kick the ball out or not – in the end they did. Dioufy wasn’t hurt too badly and was soon on his feet and tanking down the right wing again. The ref seemed to like giving them a free kick every time Bolton went near one of their players and one such kick resulted in a good shot from Defoe which Jussi saved nicely. Kevin Davies then ran the length of the pitch and almost won a corner.

Twenty-four minutes gone. Things were more even now. Crazy Frog tried a few tricks to no avail. Jol wasn’t a happy chappy. Bolton’s defence was tighter than a Dutchman’s wallet. Jermaine Anus had a shot blocked at the half hour point. Then all of a sudden I felt a hand down the front of my pants and Christina had that grin again. By the time we returned there was only 5 minutes left and she was hankering for another pie. She seemed to like her Big Sam’s Superwhites tee shirt I’d presented to her earlier on. I don’t think anyone noticed the damp patches.

Kevin Davies was brought down outside the box by Crazy Frog who claimed there was no contact. Speedo took the kick and only a splendid bit of keeping from Robinson kept it out for a corner which was cleared. Fortune was playing well and dispossessed Lennon on the Left. Kevin Davies was then penalized for a perfectly good tackle given Spurs a free kick 30 yards out. Again Fortune won the ball back for Dioufy.

The pattern of play continued till the whistle. Tottenham ended the half much better than they started. Dioufy was fouled on the stroke of half time – it was more than I could do to hope we didn’t concede before the whistle. Keano was looking perturbed on the bench as the whistle blew. What a good do.

After three bags of pork scratchings and two more pints we returned to our seats. Christina had a wonderful bladder for a girl, another one of those little things I was growing to love about her. The second half opened nicely and Kevin Nolan nearly got a goal on 55 minutes after a poor clearance from City. Bolton continued to attack, with the typically impartial linesmen wearing out their whistles for offside. A couple of minutes the opposition won a corner quickly followed by another on the opposite flank. But the flankers failed to capitalize as Jussi made another fine save. With half an hour to go Christina was shouting at the linesmen – the offside rule had obviously sunk in.

Keane was trying – very trying. Jussi stole the ball from the feet of Burpalot without giving away the foul – then Bolton broke and almost got a third as Vaz Te couldn’t quite make contact. The game was now very balanced with Tottenham enjoying most of the possession. The home fans were becoming a little anxious as is the way here at The Reebok. The stewards were also getting a little anxious as Christina continued to hurl abuse at the officials as Robinson made a great save from Dioufy’s header. He then dropped the ball from the ensuing corner. Our new signings were certainly proving to be excellent additions to the squad and will hopefully help us shut up our critics, particularly those bastards in the media that have been predicting we’ll finish the season in the bottom four.

As always our lads were very fit and organised and strong in every department, which is more than I could say for Christina. She was still looking a little tired and had been walking funny. Spurs were still failing to hit the target. On the 74 minute mark we won a free kick dispatched by Speedo but it was just over the head of Dioufy who was looking really fit and up for it, as Christina was a mere hour earlier. I had developed a slight itch in the nether regions – probably nothing. Nicky Hunt (with a silent C) did OK for a change. A thoroughly professional performance – so far so good. Then suddenly Downs dived – but the referee got up with a smile – I thought for a minute he was going to send himself off. Meanwhile Dioufy was still pushing hard. Hunt then went down on the deck after a collision with the crazy frog whose goggles had steamed up. He was soon back on his feet. Less than ten minutes left and Spurs were looking like they were running out of ideas fast. A brief foray in the Bolton half resulted in a Bolton goal kick. Bolton had had more shots on goal and more on target! Things are indeed looking up! Mind you we haven’t got to factor in the JayJay factor any more. Spurs are harboring ambitions for a top five finish as Speedo’s shot flew past the post. The whites were still looking very strong in the box. Stelios came on for Vaz Te for the last five minutes or so. This was Stelios’s 100^th appearance for us in the Premiership and long may it continue - he was our leading scorer last season.

As always the last few minutes were nail biting but not as much so as the last few games of last season. Meaty Meite was going down well with the fans, but not as well as Christina had earlier on. Dioufy won a throw in on the right side almost picked out Stelios in the box. We were still looking good and no indications of tiredness. Maybe we can finish higher than last season? Diouf almost won a yellow card and Robbie Keane wasted a few seconds away protesting to the ref. No cards today. With Sam’s problems with injuries and getting new singings the show wasn’t going with the script. Hopefully there’ll be a striker out there watching this game and considering joining our boys. If we don’t find one then on todays performance who cares. Big Sam and Bolton are off and running again.

The fans rose in appreciation as the final whistle blew. A perfect start to a new season. Two away games are next on the fixture list so a win today was really important. The crowd were absolutely fantastic and spurred our lads on.20,000 Bolton fans and 2,700 travelling fans. Let's hop the numbers grow.

As the players walked off the pitch Christina approached Davids – I thought she was after an autograph but she asked him for a ringtone…. As his goggles steamed up I whisked her away for a celebration drink.

What a day. I’ve never felt this way before about a girl who understood the offside rule and had never had a Greeleys pork pie - I wonder what time Preston’s opens on Monday?

Well having been in despair at the lack of signings and the increased injury list, walking down to the Reebok in trepadation at the upcoming doom of a thrashing from Spurs, the 10 minute walk seemed to take hours. But once at the ground the news that Fortune, Davies and Hunt where fit at least gave the team some air of respectability.

The game started and for once the atmosphere at the Reebok was excellent, the team where up for it and so where the fans that turned up. Bolton started bright and hard, mixing up the long ball (measured passes) and thrown in's with short and incisive passing. Fortune looked good, quick and decisive giving Leon a good ankle tap at the start to let him know he was there, at last another good left back, Meite is another bargain basement steal and could be the bargain buy of the season at around £750k, strong quick and a good reader of the game.

Bolton put the pressure on from the start and had Spurs rattled with Meite nearly scoring from a Corner, then Fantastic 'Super Kevin' firing in a bullet header, what a start, what a goal, the roof was raised by the Bolton Crowd. Then what a surprise Bolton kicked on, no sitting back they pilled on the pressure causing Havoc in the Spurs defence, then from a bad clearance from no where up runs Camp, whack, fantastic What a Strike. Oh my God it must be Goal of the month at least 40 yard, the Reebok roof lists off the fans can't believe it, the fans screaming 'Ivan Camp, Ivan Campo', what a superb skilful strike.

Bolton continue the first half dominantly containing the Spurs attack and for all of there new £20 million players all they can do is fancily pass it side wards without causing much threat. Then a quick 1-2 opens a space for Defoe to strike which is superbly saved by Jussi. Half-time, I wish they'd sort the facilities out big queue's for the pie's.

Second Half is as expected Bolton soaking up the pressure from the Spurs attack with swift counter attacks from Vaz Te and Diouf, the crowd getting anxious as the Bolton players drop deeper into there own half. The crowd start singing continuously for over fifteen minutes and this seems to inspire the Bolton players as Bolton push forward, the Nolan gets the Ball passed to him in the box and gets jumped all over by the Spurs Defence 'PENALTY' shout the crowd but the ref as usual waves play-on, another blatant penalty not given !!!!

But Bolton push on the defence keeps everything Spurs can do a bay, a fantastic block by Tal Ben Haim the Bolton defence looks mean and invincible, the game is excellent moving from end to end but chances are falling for Bolton and a goal looks more probable at the Spurs end. The ball breaks for Captain fantasic but Nolan's normal finished eludes him and his first time strike is pushed round the corner. The game is nearing it's and Diouf produces some good skill in the corner time and again turning the Spurs players and creating some good late chances, it could so nearly of been 3-0.

At the final whistle the team gets a roaring standing round of applause from the crowd, fantastic start to the season, 3 points on the board, Sam has stated at least 3 new quality player to come in and then we have the return of Gardner, Faye and Joey O Brian. At this moment it time it looks good, will it be Europe again next Year and will Bolton be in the first Final at the new Wembley (if it's ready of course) let's hope so Come on you Whites !!!!!

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