Double Header . BWFC V LIVERPOOL WED.4TH Feb 2015 1-2 , BWFC V WATFORD SAT. 14TH Feb 2015 3-4

"Double Header . BWFC V LIVERPOOL WED.4TH Feb 2015 1-2 , BWFC V WATFORD SAT. 14TH Feb 2015 3-4"

After the Watford game Neil Lennon stated an entertaining game was no compensation for a loss. Obviously for a fan  is it better to win a boring game than to lose an entertaining one. Is it ? Yes I think so . Do I ? . Obviously the ideal scenario is to win an entertaining game which both Liverpool and Watford did so their fans must be very happy . We could have won both these games , but we didn't , so I can't be happy , but I was entertained. An old cliche is to" take positives from a game" , but when both teams have played well and entertained  and you lose due to minor errors/inexperience , a bit of bad fortune or in need of a bit more luck , you can't even take positives."Well lads you played well but still lost " Bet Neil Lennon is right pissed off.
   You might have noticed I go to most games on my own , so am I a" Billy no Mates ". Not really over the years the people I have gone with have either moved away , lost interest or found something better to do . The last few seasons have been difficult and its a brave man who would say "lets go watch Bolton its great and fantastic value for money " So I am OK with going on my own . My son was up for the Liverpool game as were a lot of people, as its a while since we have had a "big" club at the Macron. We sat on the very front row of the East stand and its something I would recommend to everybody once in awhile . You are so close to the action . We saw both Liverpool goals from a perfect position and they were a delight to watch so close up . Especially Coutinho's. You get a chance to witness the ball skills and commitment from both sets of players close up .I know we have fantastic TV coverage with close ups and  slow motion etc , but its not the same.  I wouldn't sit there on a regular basis as I prefer the upper tiers for overall view.

                                                           Verdict 

      The Watford game was a cracker , 0-1 ,1-1, 2-1, 2-2, 2-3,3-3, 3-4 . It was great to see Zach Clough score 2 . Its about time we had a home grown star . Glad I kept going to the games .
        

BWFC VS LEEDS UNITED SATURDAY 10TH JANUARY 2015 1-1

"BWFC VS LEEDS UNITED SATURDAY 10TH JANUARY 2015 1-1 "

I normally sit in East Stand Upper end of a row but today was very cold and very windy so I went for North Stand Upper . A good decision as there were more than a couple of blizzards and hoods going up in the East stand proved me right . The view is good from the North Stand but goal mouth incidents at the far end are difficult to see and not being able to follow the play as closely as you would like makes it definitely more nerve racking when the ball is at that end . Leeds always fill their away end which adds to the atmosphere and with them getting a penalty in the first couple of minutes they were in fine voice. In my youth  Leeds United were THE team . Their decline has been painful but the support is good and their delight at being in front away from home was celebrated through out the first half with a sarcastic chant of "we are winning away , we are winning away ". I was very excited before this game as we had signed both  Eidur Gudjohnsen and Emile Hesky . They both started and were getting a lot of interest in the press ,if only for their combined ages! The dream of them both scoring never happened though Gudjohnsen looked classy . I think we were expecting to win but Leeds played well and deserved the draw . Its was odd that a  penalty was given right at the start of the 2nd half , luckily in our favour .

VERDICT 

It was very cold . I was sat at the right end for both penalties so had a great view for those . The Leeds fans contributed to the atmosphere . Bolton have come along way since Lennon took over and as I write this we have a home replay against Liverpool to come in the F.A . Cup . Leeds played well and in the end it was a hard fought point .

BWFC v's IPSWICH TOWN SATURDAY 13 TH DECEMBER 0-0

"BWFC v's IPSWICH TOWN SATURDAY 13 TH DECEMBER 0-0"

Two tickets . I managed to drag my son James along . We had  season ticket's for a number of years but once he turned 16 he found better things to do on a Saturday . We went to Cardiff for the Carling Cup final against Middlesbrough in 2004 and to the 2001 play off final against Preston . That was an epic day which I will cover later . I must commend BWFC on running a promotion for this game . Promotions are difficult as season ticket holders can easily be pissed off , this was £20.00 anywhere in the ground and £15.00 for under 23's . The ticket office saw the flaw in the under 23's idea . How does a 50+ year old guess the age of someone under 30. James was offered an under 23 ticket without having to ask , they had just given up . Saved me a fiver though . This could turn into a bit of a moan the tickets we were sold were restricted view due to the hand rails at the exits , surely this should have been mentioned after all it was a £28.00 ticket and I could have paid £56.00 . We could have and did move but that's not the point .At half time our kiosk ran out of hot drinks and we had to move to another kiosk and queue again . Minor I know but a business has to get the basics right after all we are one up from customers we are fans and need treating professionally . Something they do in abundance with the players and staff .

Verdict 

Very cold ! started well but fizzled out . Under pressure in the 2nd half but didn't buckle . Happy with the point .

BWFC VS HUDDERSFIELD TOWN SATURDAY 29TH NOVEMBER 1-0

"BWFC VS HUDDERSFIELD TOWN SATURDAY 29TH NOVEMBER 1-0"

Apparently the bookies ran out of money at the Wigan game ,as so many people had 3-1 to Bolton . The same score line was heavily backed again so as always the bookies got their money back . Another 3 goals was a bit unlikely ,however we did get the 3 points . Personally I enjoyed this game more than the Cardiff game , which had a wow factor but had an air of fantasy about it . This was for real . Both goalies had a cracking game saving their sides (what they are paid for after all! ) on more than one occasion . We hit the bar when a goal looked certain and Huddersfield defended well and hit us on the break and were unlucky not to take the lead in the 2nd half . Admittedly the 1st half  was a bit cagy but after the interval it came alive and could have gone either way . Deservedly it went our way courtesy of a well taken goal from Craig Davies.

Verdict

A good game played to a high standard by both sides . This division is amazing and is going to be difficult to get out of . But if anyone can do it Mr Lennon can .  

BWFC VS CARDIFF CITY TUESDAY 4TH NOVEMBER 2014 3-0

"BWFC VS CARDIFF CITY TUESDAY 4TH NOVEMBER 2014 3-0"

Feeling sorry is not the right word . There is a lot of money in football. Dougie set out to build a team to compete in the Championship and gain promotion to the Premier League . He had to do this with next to no money and reduce the wage bill at the same time . Tonight looked like he had achieved his goal, trouble is the team was the same bar a few tweaks but the management was new. Neil Lennon was the new manager . After defeats to Fulham away (0-4) and AFC Bournemouth home (1-2) Dougie left by mutual consent and Mr Lennon took over . He won the first game away at Birmingham (1-0) then lost to Charlton away (1-2) before beating Brentford at home (3-1) , which I considered a must win game . An away loss to Norwich followed (1-2) so we had picked up 6 points from 12 under Lennon , with three of the games being away .Not bad at all . Our next two were home games against Cardiff and Wigan, to win those would take us out of the bottom 3 but it was a big ask against strong teams .

A small crowd of 12,000 watched the destruction of Cardiff

 It was like watching a different team , the mistakes had practically all gone and we were playing with determination and confidence . In fact Cardiff reminded me of the old BWFC . A team of players stealing a living . Lets hope the new BWFC is here to stay . This result was followed by a 3-1 win over Wigan three days later . HAPPY DAYS INDEED !

Verdict 

Wow very impressed with the the team substitutions and the overall performance . Happy Happy Happy ! Oi Oi Oi .And well done to Feeney on scoring 2

BWFC VS DERBY COUNTY SATURDAY 27TH SEPTEMBER 2014 0-2

"BWFC VS DERBY COUNTY SATURDAY 27TH SEPTEMBER 2014 0-2"

GK

1

Keith Branagan

DF

2

Scott Green

DF

3

Jimmy Phillips

DF

5

Guðni Bergsson

DF

6

Alan Stubbs

MF

7

Neil McDonald

46'

MF

4

Jason McAteer

MF

10

Mixu Paatelainen

MF

11

Alan Thompson

FW

8

Owen Coyle

FW

9

John McGinlay

Substitutes:

GK

12

Peter Shilton

DF

14

John Dreyer

FW

15

Fabian de Freitas

46'

Manager:

Bruce Rioch

This team  seems such along time ago . Saturday was awful a new low ! The pitch protest was a bit of light relief but this game has to be forgotten . We are playing Fulham tonight . This was my first game of the season . Undecided about Saturdays game .

    Verdict

Totally and utterly depressed after this game 

B.W.F.C. VS WIGAN SATURDAY 29TH MARCH 2014 1-1

"B.W.F.C. VS  WIGAN SATURDAY 29TH MARCH 2014 1-1"

This was a great day out ! Always after a bargain I saw an offer on Amazon Local for "The Lion of Vienna Suite " £39.00 , normal price £79.99 . I followed the instructions and a few days later got my ticket . Now the £39.00 included a padded seat on the half way line , a program , a buffet lunch plus half  time coffee and cake  . Throw in a quiz , team sheet and entertainment it was a good value . Thing is I wasn't the only person realizing this . I arrived at 1.30 and it was busy . Every table was occupied and luckily being on my own I was able to find a seat . Not so for the people arriving after me . Regulars who had sat at the same table all season were unable to find a seat together . I kept my head down and tucked into my roast pork . I will be on the look out for more offers like this . The 2nd half was the best I had seen all season .Wigan equalized in the 88th minute and after  being awarded a penalty 4 minutes into extra time looked certain to take all 3 points . A Bogdan save kept the game level at 1-1 and it felt like a win !!

Verdict .
     Great afternoon out .