MATCH REPORT: Pendleton Edge Out Bolton To Progress In The Cup
A solid defensive performance see’s Pendleton progress in the National Cup
After a convincing win in the last round of the national cup, the Pendleton football team looked to progress to the next round, travelling to league competitors Bolton College. The game started even with both sides sharing possession, but the Pendleton forwards looking more threatening but unable to capitalise on the few half-chances they got. It was first year student Alex Holroyd, who’s on great scoring form, who broke the deadlock. Leading scorer Alfa Duru brough down a Zion Agbiji diagonal, beat his defender 1v1 and played the ball back to Holroyd on the edge of the box, Holroyd dragged the defender to the right before chopping back inside and drilling the ball off the far post to take the game to 1-0. The game stayed even for most of the first half, but during the last ten minutes of play Bolton started to threaten in wide areas and keeper Jaylen McCaffery was called into action twice, keeping the ball out of the net both times.
The second half was very similar to the first. The Bolton side was the biggest challenge faced by the Pendleton side this season, but the back line of captain Zion Agbiji, Brandon Power, Sam Townson and Ryan Ketcha Noungo dealt with everything thrown at them and didn’t look under pressure at all. In a game that was looking like a 1-0 victory or potential penalties, it was the defensive performance of Ishor Bajgai that proved pivotal. His energy and aggression in midfield allowed the Pendleton side to keep the pressure in the Bolton half leading to an abundance of chances. Agbiji hit the bar on a corner, Power headed over the bar from close range, Towmia Effunuga who’s long range effort rebounded off the post and found Alfa Duru with 3 minutes to go. The second year proved why he was top scorer finding the back of the net and sealing the game at 2-0.
Score: Pendleton Sixth Form College 2 | Bolton College 0
Goal Scorers: A Duru , A Holroyd
Player of The Match: I Bajgai
