Craig Carney’s long-range effort cancelled out Jack McGowan’s first-half volley as 10-man Bootle drew with Colne.
The Bucks put an end to their five-game losing run with their resolute team performance in Lancashire.
McGowan made it two in two (four for the season) inside 20 minutes when he peeled towards the back post and powered a volley home from Ben Hodkinson’s free-kick.
Up until that point, it was largely uneventful between the two sides as the visitors attacked down the slope in wet conditions.
Bootle almost had a fortunate second, Hodkinson’s corner caused trouble in the Colne box as they failed to clear, inadvertently firing off one a Reds defender before looping into the grateful arms of Andre Mendes.
But for the remainder of the first-half, Steve McNulty’s side were forced to defend resolutely. Firstly, Matthew Devine got an important touch, flying out to Jake Wallace’s distance from the edge of the box.
Then on the stroke of half-time, Bootle man-of-the-match, Jacques Welsh, was in the right place to deny Enock Lusiama off the line. The former Southport loanee picked up Wyll Stanway’s partial clearance before shifting past the shot-stopper and firing goalwards.
After the restart, Hodkinson squandered a guilt-edged chance to give the Bucks a vital two-goal cushion. Simon Wills’ pass was inch-perfect, the touch and rounding of Mendes was equally good by last season’s top goalscorer but with the goal at his mercy he fired over on his weaker foot.
Ben Roberts’ dismissal for a second yellow card in quick succession meant that Bootle were not only defending up hill but had the uphill task of a man disadvantage for half-an-hour.
Colne probed looking for an equaliser but it was Hodkinson again who came close, he burst into a tight angle, he weaved left and right before shooting but the desperate slide from the Reds defender took the sting off the effort.
With 10 minutes to go, parity was restored. After resorting Colne to speculative efforts for the majority of the second half, it was a long-distance strike that levelled proceedings.
Carney’s effort from range looped and swerved into the top right corner wrong-footing Stanway.
Ultimately it wasn’t to be for Bootle but their gritty showing, under the recent adversity, showed signs of promise as they move up to 15th ahead of their preparations for Mossley’s visit, next week.
Match Stats:
Colne 1-1 Bootle
Goals: 80′ Craig Carney; 19′ Jack McGowan.
HT/FT Score: 0-1/1-1.
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