Central Set To Stake Top-of-the-Table Claim in Bolton Borough Clash

Manchester Central visit the Eddie Davies Academy on Saturday afternoon for their clash against league-leaders, Bolton Borough. Central, who are the only team so far to have taken points off the Bolton-based side, will be looking to regain their place atop of the Division One table.

Manchester Central were knocked off their perch atop of the Division One table last weekend. Central’s dropped points against Elton Vale and the cup victory over Avro Reserves over the weekend allowed Bolton Borough to surpass Tomkinson’s side on goal difference after their impressive 7-2 win over Wilmslow Albion.

Following a run of poor fixtures, Tomkinson is hoping that the 2-1 win that his side ground out over Avro Reserves in last weekend’s cup fixture inspires his side with the belief necessary to go toe-to-toe with Bolton Borough.

Borough, who currently equal Central’s total of 22 goals for so far this season, will be a tough opposition for the visitors. The home side has conceded 8 goals less than Tomkinson’s side and have been defeated just once – at the hands of Manchester Central in August.

The two sides were promoted alongside each other last season, with Bolton Borough narrowly finishing second in Division Two, just a single point behind their cross-town rivals Bolton United. Thus, Tomkinson has prior knowledge of his opposition’s tactical style and ability and is adamant that it will be a tough fixture for his side.

“We have played Bolton Borough a few times over the last couple of years, so we know what to expect. They are a very good side, they’re extremely hard to break down and their attack is deadly if given the opportunity. I’m expecting a tough ninety minutes this weekend, but I believe in my squad, their talent and mindset. If we can recreate the performance we put in against Borough earlier this season and retake the top of the table place, I’ll be very proud of the lads.”

Central will be wary of their promotion rival’s potent attack. Mohammed Nageeb has already shown the league his statement of intent, continuing the goal-scoring form that saw him finish Division Two’s second top scorer last season, with 34 goals in 28 games, as he has already netted 8 goals in 6 games in 2022/23. However, Nageeb is not Borough’s only threat as 12 other players have found themselves on the scoresheet for the hosts this season.

Similarly, Bolton have proven themselves as a tough team to break down, boasting the second best defence in the league thus far. Borough have conceded just 7 goals to Central’s 15, just one goal more than Govan and University of Manchester, posing an exciting challenge for the league’s top scorer, Fuad Kasali.

In the last meeting between the two teams, Central emerged victorious with a tight 2-1 win. The fixture saw all three goals come in the second half, with Jordan Cover scoring for Borough whilst Junior Silva and substitute Gabriel Wiwoloku netted for Central. This remains the only game so far this season where Bolton Borough have failed to take all three points.

However, this was the first time that Central had bettered Borough, having lost both fixtures by tight margins last season. In August 2021, Manchester Central fell to a 2-1 defeat away to the Eddie Davies Academy, with Wiwoloku scoring the consolidation goal for Tomkinson’s side, whilst in October 2021, Borough beat Central 1-0 at Wright Robinson courtesy of a Mohammed Nageeb goal.

The top of the table clash kicks off at the Eddie Davies Academy at 2 pm on Saturday and is sure to be a tightly contested game between two of the league’s best sides, who fiercely battle it out for top-of-the-table.