Following on from last weekend's comprehensive victory over Old Bolts Reserves, today saw us welcoming Lymm FC to Moss Park - and we knew this one was going to be different. We went over to theirs earlier in the season and despite a good performance, we only came home with a point - with one mistake costing us - so we knew that we'd have to be really up for this if we wanted to claim these crucial three points...

There was a buzz around the place as people started arriving from far and wide - with two devoted programme collectors making the long journey up from Northampton so thanks Craig and Mitch and we hope you enjoyed your day at Moss Park - but there was work to be done first and foremost - and we knew that three points here would really benefit us in opening up a gap between these two team but also as we do our best to keep on the tails of the top-two in the league. Rochdale St Clements Dev. were taking on 2nd placed Old Rivs at the same time so we were hoping for a draw there as well. But we can only be the masters of our own destiny so as the lads warmed up for this one, they knew how big it was...

It was good to see the likes of Chris back from his one match ban and with Mark and Rav back in contention today, we had a 15-man squad to choose from. With Jack Holt now joining the list of absentees for the season - and Robbo out until the end of March - this really is about using the squad now so it's all hands to the pump. News started filtering through that there would be a half-hour delay to kick- off due to the Match Official being in traffic on his way from Wigan - so it was a case of relaxing but keeping those muscles warm at the same time. The team was announced - with only two changes being made to those that started seven days ago - and that saw Mark in for Liam and Yatesy - after his second-half hat-trick from the bench last weekend - came in for Charlie. And by the time the referee did arrive, Moss Park was ready - with the fans behind the newly-installed advertising hoardings - and when the whistle went to begin proceedings, we were all expectant...

The early exchanges saw us doing most of the pressing and the link-up between Lewis and Logan on the left was causing them problems already. Mark was joining in to ensure we had numbers and we won a succession of corners that the visitors defended well. It was apparent early doors that they had pace up front and whenever their midfield got it, they were looking to play it over the top as quickly as they could. One such move saw Keegie hold his line well to catch them offside but it was clear what their intentions were going to be. However on 7 minutes, it was us that broke the deadline - and what a good goal it was. Catching them offside again, we won a free-kick about 30 yards from our goal. Mitch came forwards and as he crafted the ball down the middle, Yatesy managed to get a headed flick to it before their big centre-half could intercept - and the ball fell lovely in front of our Lewis. With skill, he brought the ball under control and rounded their on-rushing keeper before slotting the ball into the empty net from about 8 yards out. A great finish and a great move from start to finish. Moss Park erputed with a noise that belied the attendance and we were off. 1-0...

Once again Logan was in the heart of the action and he was keeping their right-back on the back foot all the time - and with 14 minutes gone, he skinned him once more before getting to the byeline and with bodies filling the box, he just couldn't cut it back to the feet of any of them and the chance was gone. Next up he played a great 1-2 with Mark to see their full-back have no option to put it out for a throw and Ben launched it in like a missile to see their defender head it out - but to everybody's amazement, the referee decided to awarded a goal-kick. We were on top at this point but the Lymm players were still showing enough to let us know this was by no means won yet...

They looked as though they'd grabbed their equaliser on 20 minutes when being allowed too much time to pick where they wanted to pass it, the ball was fed through the gap and their striker was clean-through on Mitch. He approached the box and as he drilled his shot low and hard, there was our No.1 to make himself big and save well when it looked easier to score. A big stop in the scheme of things - and we had to cut out that long ball...

Back up the other end and Mark saw a rasping effort from about 20 yards out fumbled by their keeper - but nobody was there to follow it up - and as the minutes ticked by, the next goal was going to be oh-so important. Keegie played a fantastic, sweeping pass all over 60 yards into the path of Ben and he fed it inside to Lewis - but his shot took a big deflection off the Lymm defender and it took all the pace off it so it was easy for their keeper to simply pick it up. We were pushing and pushing - but it just wouldn't go in...

We did score on the half-hour mark when Yatesy once again used all of his experience to get his body the right side of his marker to play it into the space in front of Lewis and he smashed his shot across goal and into the opposite corner of their net. As he wheeled away and the home fans celebrated, they were quickly dampened when the referee adjudged our striker to have been offside. Dubious to say the least - but on went the game..

And two minutes later, the scores were level again. Sods Law. We had been on top and doing all of the pressing and then one mistake and it's all-square again. Guilty of over-playing near our own box, we gave the ball away and as it went out to their left, their winger went to cross it in - but the ball hit Nathan's hand and the referee had no hesitation in pointing directly to the spot. The United players protested - asking where else he could put his hand when jumping - but as his hand was above his head, the referee had no choice. The place hushed as their striker placed the ball and as he came forward, he sent Mitch the wrong way before slamming the ball home to our No.1's right. A good pen if we're honest and now with the score at 1-1, it was all to play for - again...

Apart from a couple of half-chances at our goal, most of this game had been played in the Lymm half - so we were all baffled as to how this was level. However that's football and it's about taking your chances - so we had to do better at that. We thought we'd won a spot-kick of our own on 39 minutes when Logan used his silky skills to get into the box and it looked as though he had his heels clipped as he cut inside - but the referee didn't agree and as he waved play-on, the home fans were loud in their disagreement. This game was on a knife-edge and everybody knew it...

Half-time: BREIGHTMET UNITED 1-1 Lymm AFC

As the lads came in, the boss was quick to praise them. We'd done everything right really - we'd passed the ball, we'd competed and we'd been the better team - however the one thing we had done was allow them a little too much time on the ball. Somebody had to try and cut that long-ball out so that we didn't have to turn and run towards our own goal - and if we could relax a little up top and make sure that the chances were made to count, then this should go our way. The next goal would be massive though - so we had to make sure it was us that got it. One change was made - with Logan's calves giving him a bit of an issue - so Lewis went onto the left-wing and Charlie came on to join Yatesy up top. Just relax. Work hard but relax on the ball. The drinks were drunk with gusto and before we knew it, they were back out there ready to do it all again...

This was an even game now - being played between two teams who knew how to play football - and as the second-half progressed, it was becoming a bit of a midfield battle. The visitors had changed their shape at the break and it took us a bit of time to get accustomed to the switch - but it was us that got the first chance of note when Ben received the ball out wide on the right and as he left his marker for dust and cut inside, he was slightly off balance and the ball flew high and wide of the target. We then thought we'd seen another victim of the famous 'Breightmet Bobble' and the Lymm defender passed back to his keeper and as he went to swipe it clear, the ball bobbled up and he could only slice it out for a corner kick. He wouldn't have been the first - and he definitely will not be the last...

And then we got it. With 63 minutes on the clock, we were awarded a free-kick about 28 yards from goal in a central position. As the lads made their way towards the edge of their box, it looked to everybody there that our skipper had the idea of shooting. It was just his body shape so we all looked on expectantly. We were right - as he fired his shot low and hard and it took a big bounce of their wall to fall into the path of our Mark about 10 yards from goal. He still had a lot to do however - and as he clipped the ball over the on-rushing keeper, it was on it's way into the back of the net - before their defender came in and made sure by shoving it into the net. The referee later claimed that it was an own-goal or he was giving a penalty - but we're having that as our Marko's first goal in the famous white & black shirt. His team-mates mobbed him and with the score now standing at 2-1, it was about game management now...

With the middle two asking for help to combat their middle three, we then made a switch that saw Lewis come off for Liam and as reverting to the 4-3-3- shape that has served us so well over the past. This was in an attempt to regain that midfield battle and as the minutes ticked by, the chances were still coming for both teams - but nothing of note that bothered either keeper too much. That was until the 73rd minute though - as that's when we gifted them a way back into the game again. Once more, rather than use our footballing brain and simply whacking it as far away from our goal as we possibly could, we tried to play it out - and they managed to nick it from us. A little clipped ball in front of their striker and BANG! - he slammed his shot past Mitch's dive and saw the ball nestling in the bottom corner of our net. A tidy finish in truth - but we had once again been guilty of making things too easy for our opponents. Four draws means eight points dropped and those eight points would see us sitting in 2nd place tonight. It is what it is though and there was still time to win this one...

Wayne and Brian decided to go for it and we then went to a 3-5-2 - with Nathan coming off for Chris and Ste and Ben slotting in as wing-backs - and as the seconds ticked away, one thing was clear - we were still trying to win this. Charlie was hustling and bustling their back-line - helped by Yatesy - and whenever we did get the ball out wide, our pace and trickery was giving their defenders headaches. And on 87 minutes, we thought we'd seen the winner. Winning a corner on our right, Alex went across to swing it underneath their crossbar - and he did just that. As the ball came in, Ben managed to contort his neck enough to get a powerful head on the ball - and it raced past their keeper and towards goal. But we didn't see their defender behind the pack in front of him and he managed to get his head to it to clear it off the line. The home fans thought that was in that's for sure...

But that was that really. When the referee blew for full-time - somewhat early according to our watches - it ended in a 2-2 draw and more points that we've given teams far too easily. We'd played really well today with some really good football on view - but to walk off the pitch sharing the spoils was somewhat difficult to take. Credit to the Lymm lads - they dug in and did what they needed to do today - and their celebrations when they left the field were there for all to see. Good in one aspect - that teams celebrate taking points from us - but if we're honest, they should have been going back to Cheshire with nothing tonight. The handshakes were done with pride and top marks to all of the Lymm players, officials and supporters for joining us for a beer in the Clubhouse after. Good luck for the rest of the season chaps - but please drop points along the way....

As for us, there was a sombre mood in the dressing-room after. The lads knew it. Wayne had to say it. But we move on. This is our first season in the LAL - especially Division 2 - so with only four games left to go, it's about claiming as many of those 12 points that are available and making sure we give a good account of ourselves in the League Cup Quarter-Final that is still to come. It can still be a really fruitful season and we've got to be proud of our efforts so far. That's probably what the frustrations are as the lads are a lot better than they believe they are. So it's back to the training field on Thursday as we prepare for the trip over to Middleton next week to take on Chaddertonians Reserves and the plan is to come back out in seven days time and make sure those three points come home to Bolton with us...

A massive thanks to those of you that made the trip to cheer us on today - and you Lymm fans - and we're sure you'll agree that for the neutral, that must have been a really good game to watch. Make sure you keep coming down to support us as this club is going from strength to strength - and we'd love you to be a part of it!

Another point to the tally then. Coulda, shoulda, woulda...

#OnceUnitedNeverDivided

Chris on for Nathan 79mins 3-5-2

87mins corner Alex to Ben great header cleared off the lin