Reserves......

[t_o_molloy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZUQ9HdZsQI" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The overhead kick, earlier discussed.

[Salford Trotter]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010%E2%80 ... th_Group_A" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

this explains the set up of the reserves league for those who find this sort of stuff remotely interesting

[seanworth]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010%E2%80 ... th_Group_A

this explains the set up of the reserves league for those who find this sort of stuff remotely interesting

Much appreciated although would have preferred to not have seen us bottom of the group.

[malcd1]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010%E2%80 ... th_Group_A

this explains the set up of the reserves league for those who find this sort of stuff remotely interesting

Much appreciated although would have preferred to not have seen us bottom of the group.

I think we have won 3 from the last 4 games (Are they all league games?) so things are certainly looking up.

[seanworth]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010%E2%80 ... th_Group_A

this explains the set up of the reserves league for those who find this sort of stuff remotely interesting

Much appreciated although would have preferred to not have seen us bottom of the group.

I think we have won 3 from the last 4 games (Are they all league games?) so things are certainly looking up.

Maybe that's why I thought the reserves were doing quite well. Let's hope they keep improving. Would love to not only see some of the reserves cracking into the starting xi, but doing so on merit and not because of limited finances.

[t_o_molloy]

Beat City 3-2

Blakeman scoring again, along with Obadeyi and O'Halloran.

Samuel played 90 minutes but Ward got injured.

http://www.bwfc.co.uk/page/Reserves/0,, ... 71,00.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Lofthouse Lower]

Eaves didn't score? Knew he was shit

[Riviman]

Bolton News report:


Man City Res 2 Wanderers Res 3
9:43pm Wednesday 23rd February 2011

JLLOYD Samuel made his first appearance in a Wanderers shirt in more than 10 months in last night’s victory over Manchester City in Hyde.

The full-back, whose last competitive appearance at the Reebok was last March against Manchester United, helped the second string keep up their excellent run of recent form which now reads four wins in their last five games.

Samuel has been out of action since the summer with a serious thigh injury but took a big step on the road to recovery by playing 90 minutes of a comfortable win, marred only by a handful of first half injures that prompted 11 minutes of added on time.

Danny Ward limped off for Wanderers, while City lost three players - keeper Gunnar Neilsen, Ryan McGivern and Tom Smith.

Salford-born defender Joe Riley was impressive on the right, having a hand in two of Wanderers’ three goals. And his contribution might well have given Owen Coyle some food for thought, given the current dearth of full-backs at his disposal in the senior squad.

The Whites were good value for their lead when they edged ahead early on with an Adam Blakeman penalty, given for a trip on the lively Tom Eaves.

It proved a double blow for City, who then lost the Faroe Islands keeper on a stretcher before his replacement Erik Johansen was beaten from 12 yards.

Riley then came into his own, supplying an excellent cross for Obadeyi to double the lead from close range.

Michael O’Halloran made it three with a composed finish after more good work from Riley down the right hand side, and at that point it looked as if City were in for a long night.

But they steadied the ship before the break with Alex Nimeley pulling a goal back just before the interval.

The two sides had drawn one apiece a few weeks ago at Leyland, but despite having Michael Johnson marshalling the midfield, the junior Blues struggled to match the pace and organisation of their opponents.

It was a case of damage limitation for both sides in the second half, and while City did threaten to make a game of it, the only time they managed to break through came a minute from time when Andrea Mancini – son of City boss Roberto - finished off a flowing move.

Wanderers: Lainton; Riley; Samuel; McQuade; Connolly; Blakeman; Obadeyi; Vela (Irwin 90); Eaves; O’Halloran; Ward ((McGeechan 30) Sampson 90). Not used: Lynch; Hampson.

[Riviman]

BWFC official site report:

Man City Reserves 2 Wanderers Reserves 3

First-half goals from Adam Blakeman, Tope Obadeyi and Michael O'Halloran helped to earn Bolton Wanderers reserves a 3-2 win over their Manchester City counterparts at Ewen Fields, stretching the team's unbeaten run to five matches.

On another pleasing evening for coach John Henry, Jlloyd Samuel also completed 90 minutes worth of action as he stepped up his fitness following a period on the sidelines with a ruptured thigh.

The full-back, who had last been seen in a Bolton shirt during the pre-season friendly with Osasuna last August, led by example on the left-side of defence as he played his part in an assured team performance, which was tarnished slightly by Alex Nimeley's and Andrea Mancini's goals in injury-time at the end of the first and second-half respectively.

Samuel was full of energy from the first whistle to the last as he coupled his sound defensive display with numerous forward runs down the left touchline.

Indeed, after Tope Obadeyi had fired wide from the edge of the box early on, Samuel helped to carve out Bolton's first clear cut opening of the game with just under 20 minutes played.

The number three embarked on a marauding run, evading a couple of tackles, before sliding the ball into the feet of Tom Eaves who fired across goal and just wide of the far post from a tight angle.

The former Oldham Athletic man had another half-chance in Bolton's next attack when he latched onto a bouncing ball over the top of the Manchester City defence, however Faroe Isles international goalkeeper Gunnar Nielsen raced quickly off his line to make the necessary block.

It was Eaves' strength and pace which led to Wanderers' opener before the end of the first-half, as Bolton produced a breath-taking period of football which culminated in three quick-fire goals.

O'Halloran's precise ball down the right channel on 42 minutes was collected by Eaves, who outpaced left-back Chris Chantler before being grounded by Nielsen inside the area. It was a double blow for the City stopper as not only was a penalty kick awarded against him but he was unfortunately stretchered from the field with a serious looking injury following the collision.

After a five-minute stoppage because of the injury, play restarted and replacement goalkeeper Erik Johansen's first task was to pick the ball out of the net as Adam Blakeman confidently stepped up to convert from 12 yards out.

And just two minutes later he had to do it again as Obadeyi doubled Bolton's lead with a neat far post finish. Again the build-up stemmed from a slick move down the right where substitute Maison McGeechan combined with overlapping full-back Joe Riley, who sent the perfect cross through the six-yard box for Obadeyi.

And within a blink of an eye Bolton scored their third through Michael O'Halloran, who again made the most of some superb support play by Wanderers' right-sided players. The young Scottish forward produced a classy finish as he side-footed through Johansen's legs from six yards out.

It was looking like Wanderers would go into the break with a commanding 3-0 lead but, unbelievably, there was to be another goal in a dramatic ending to the first-half. Almost ten minutes of stoppage time was played largely due to the injury to Nielsen, and just before referee Mr Khatib blew for the interval, Alex Nimeley reduced the deficit with a close-range shot that beat Rob Lainton at his near post.

The Manchester City goal, coupled with Danny Ward limping out of the action on the half-hour mark, were the only disappointments to come out of the first-half for John Henry. Wanderers' defence, marshalled by captain Mark Connolly, had looked extremely strong as they had restricted City to only one real opportunity before their goal, which Manchester City first-team boss Roberto Mancini's son, Andrea, blazed high and wide from 20 yards.

The second-half started in unfortunate fashion as again play was held up for a long period following another serious looking injury for a Manchester City player. Tom Smith, who had replaced Ryan McGivern at the end of the first-half, was stretchered from the field - making it a total of four players who had to leave the action through one injury or another.

As expected, City pressed and probed as they sought a way back into the game. Samuel made his first telling defensive contribution with 60 minutes on the clock when he threw his body in the way of a Frederic Veseli shot, while Israeli forward Gai Assulin fired wide from a promising position eight yards out.

But Wanderers stood firm and continued to give as good as they got. The influential Josh Vela in central midfield dragged an effort wide from the edge of the area and Johansen denied Obadeyi his second of the evening with a fine diving save.

Mancini set up a tense end to the game when he found the net in the 90th minute but Wanderers second string held on for a deserved victory, which was helped largely from a brave block from Connolly in the sixth minute of injury time after Assulin unleashed a thunderous effort from ten yards out.

Manchester City: Gunnar Nielsen (Erik Johansen 44), Shaleum Logan, Chris Chantler, Scott Kay, Frederic Veseli, Ryan McGivern (Tom Smith 44 (Harry Bunn 50) ), Michael Johnson, Gai Assulin, Alex Nimeley, Andrea Mancini, Donal McDermott (Subs not used: Bradley Robinson, Kieran Kennedy)

Wanderers: Rob Lainton, Joe Riley, Jlloyd Samuel, Alex McQuade, Mark Connolly, Adam Blakeman, Tope Obadeyi, Josh Vela (Liam Irwin 90), Tom Eaves, Michael O'Halloran, Danny Ward (Maison McGeechan 30 (Jack Sampson 90)),(Subs not used: Jay Lynch, Ben Hampson)

[Winter Hill White]

Not much to add to the two fairly comprehensive reports above. Just a few musings:-

- Bolton were far more superior to City than 3-2 would suggest.
- The injuries did mar the game. The physios and stretcher-bearers earned their money. Two of the City ones looked particularly serious. It certainly affected them - Bolton scored all three goals in quick succession following the first two City injuries/substitutions, including the keeper being carried off.
- Bolton started with a very attacking formation - Tom Eaves, Topi Obadeyi, O'Halloran and Danny Ward all started - you could call all of them strikers.
- Jlloyd played 90 minutes. Encouraging given the current paucity of fit defenders.
- This Joe Riley fellow played at right back - he made useful runs and crosses for both the open play goals. Can't recall seeing/hearing of him before.
- Tom Eaves probably didn't have his best game. Having said that, his mere presence, not least because of his size, seems to scare defenders.
- A typical (from what I've read/heard) Topi Obadeyi performance. Exciting to watch - quick, runs with the ball. Almost invariably ends up with a misplaced pass or a Muambaesque shot.
- Mancini's lad may have scored, but he didn't do a lot else.
- City's number 11, a Donal McDermott (don't think it's Terry's lad), looked a cracking player. Ran well with the ball. Very difficult to get the ball off. They had an Israeli chap, Assulin, who looked reasonable as well.

[Lofthouse Lower]

He should, seeing as he came from Barcelona and is reportedly earning £45,000 per week!!