Bolton Burst Central’s Bubble in Tough Loss

Manchester Central’s winning start to 2023 came to an end following a 2-0 defeat at the hands of promotion rivals Bolton Lads & Girls Club.

In what was already an improbable task, Central’s job has been made that much harder as they lose more ground to those above them in the standings. It was frankly a poor display from a Central side who came into the game having won their previous three, and a side that looked to build on their winning start to the year.

A fizzing long-range effort and a spot kick at the start of each half were enough for Bolton to see out Central and extend their lead over Central to five points in the Division One table.

The big talking point from the game was the controversial decision that saw Bolton awarded a penalty after a challenge from Sultan Kasali in the box, despite him seemingly winning the ball.

It was ultimately Central’s downfall in the game, despite such a poor opening 45 minutes, the away side had started the second period in much better fashion than the whole of the first, but their progress was brought to a halt when the home side doubled their lead.

Central boss Chris Tomkinson maintained their previously used system, keeping the same back four that saw them cruise to a 6-0 victory over East Manchester.

Captain Daniel Dolling, Aria Asqari, Emmanuel Sholabi and Sultan Kasali all kept their places, whilst Central stalwart Daniel Whiting returned in between the sticks. Nell Noupoue and Claudio Costa were unavailable for Tomkinson, so Bamba Fall and Dennis Raposo took their places.

The in-form Kaine Martin and Luca Navarro kept their positions in the middle of the park, whilst familiar duo Junior Silva and Fuad Kasali remained up front.

Central began the game with a particularly narrow shape, leaving them vulnerable to attacks down the flanks, but had hoped to be able to soak up pressure and use their pace and power to cause damage going forward.

However, Bolton got off to the perfect start, when the ball found their midfielder 25 yards out, he fizzed a bouncing ball expertly towards goal, which flew past Whiting in the Central goal, giving the away side the worst possible start.

From then on in the home side took control, giving Central no time on the ball, and sustaining pressure in Central’s half.

Bolton had a succession of shot’s from outside the box, the first was a curled effort that went past the post, whilst the successive two efforts were both denied by Whiting in the Central goal.

Although throughout the first half the home side failed to create anything clear cut in front of goal, their quality and speed of play was particularly impressive, whilst Central could not match their intensity off the ball.

However, in the final ten minutes Central did manage to carve out a few openings, the first the away side went direct, finding Raposo in behind who controlled well with his chest. The ball found its way to Silva on the edge, but his effort was smartly saved by the Bolton keeper.

Raposo then five minutes later was involved again, as Dolling drilled a low ball through the opposing midfield where it found Raposo who controlled well and looked on to strike but was shut down just in time by the defender.

That capped off a difficult 45 minutes for Central, who despite a few half chances, were unable to get a grasp on the game, leaving Bolton a goal to the good at the interval.

Tomkinson would have to rough up his ideas if his side were to get back into the game, as it was a display of stark contrast to their previous ones. A lack of usual intensity and energy, whilst failing to have the composure to get the ball down and play was a real issue for Central in the opening half.

Central were also struggling with their narrow shape, and were being bombarded down the flanks, where most of their defensive problems were coming from. Tomkinson was insistent at the break for his side to maintain a more solid shape, and his team initially, seemed to have responded.

The away side, however, began the second period like a new team had come onto the pitch. The ball was sprayed out towards Kasali who had made a darting run in the left channel. The Central forward managed to turn and swing in a dangerous looking cross that drifted just over Silva who was stretching.

Central began the half popping the ball around with more pace and conviction, and looked set to push for an equaliser, but their brief progress was brought to an abrupt end when a controversial point to the spot from the referee awarded Bolton an early second half penalty.

The Bolton forward found himself inside the box on the right, where Sultan Kasali made an attempt to win the ball round the side of his opponent with a sliding challenge, in which he seemed to get a good chunk of the ball, whilst the opposing attacker jumped over the challenge.

The referee, however, deemed the challenge enough to award a spot kick in which the captain stepped up, and converted expertly into the top corner.

It was a tough pill to swallow for Central, who had started the half well, but Bolton’s second had set them back once again, making their job of a comeback even tougher.

Leading up to the hour mark in the game, the home side regained control following the penalty, and had a flurry of opportunities. First the Bolton number seven fired an effort towards goal which forced Whiting to save, whilst Asqari had to come to the aid of his teammates, making a goal-line clearance.

On the hour mark, Tomkinson’s patience ran out, and made a triple change to try and turn the game around. Navarro made way for Tom Janney in central midfield, whilst Kyle Odell replaced Sultan Kasali on the left side of the back four. Ruben Abreu also came in for Junior Silva.

Just a few minutes later, Central had their best opportunity of the game, and were ultimately made to rue the few chances they had in the game.

A complete mishap between goalkeeper and centre half for Bolton allowed Raposo to touch the ball past both and in behind with an open net, however, the ball had too much pace on it which Raposo could only strike the outside of the post.

Chances from then on for either side were few and far between, with Bolton controlling the majority of the possession. With 15 minutes to go Central made another change, bringing Ruben Lawal on for Raposo.

Just inside the final ten minutes, Central had their final chance of the 90. An excellent delivery from the left by Kasali was met by a wonderful diving header from Martin, but his effort was matched by a terrific save that tipped it over the bar.

That ultimately capped off a tough day at the office for Central, who never looked at the races from the moment the whistle blew.

Following a dire first half display, the away side did improve in the second, but not by enough, as they couldn’t capitalise on the few good chances they had. Although, Bolton were good, and certainly warranted the three points on the day.

It must have felt like one step forward, two steps back for Tomkinson, whose side were a shadow of what they had produced in the first three games of the year.

The result meant Bolton extended their lead over Central to five points in the league table, and went level with Avro Reserves on 30 points, who suffered a tough 2-1 loss to Avenue on Saturday. Bolton now look ahead to next week when they host Avro, in what will be a huge game with regards to the promotion picture.

Central remain in eighth place, and now face a ten-point deficit to third placed side Elton Vale. They will look to rectify this defeat when they go on their third successive trip in Division One next week, in another important game in the race for promotion.

They will visit fourth placed side Avenue, as they will look to get back on track in their bid to catch those in the hunt for promotion.