Non-league football fans were left feeling goal hungry after this weekend’s fixtures, with three games ending goalless: Marine v Hyde United, Litherland v City of Liverpool and Kettering v Southport.
But those supporting Bootle saw their side earn three points after securing a 2-1 victory against Skelmersdale United. But it was quite the opposite for City of Liverpool as they suffered a 2-1 loss to Mossley, as their winless streak continues.
Bootle found a winner in the shape of a Ben Hodkinson free kick. Then a red card for Skelmersdale’s Max McCarthy, after a scuffle between the players, made it too big of a task for the visitors to come back. It was also Nivaldo Rodrigues Ferreira’s first time getting on the score sheet for the Bucks as he capitalised on a Skelmersdale mistake and slotted it home.
Following the win, Bootle FC move up to 11th place in the Northern Premier League West table and they will hope to extend their undefeated streak to five.
After coming away from the weekend with no points, City of Liverpool sit 18th. Then to make it worse for them, the surrounding teams in the league have one or two games in hand.
The Purps have struggled all season to pick up some form and climb the table. If they don’t start to pick up some well-needed points, they are in for a bottom-of-the-table fight.
Despite the lack of goals in their last outing, Marine are fourth in the Premier table and still look to be battling for a top spot with the hopes of promotion.
Manager Neil Young will be hoping the blank against fellow high-flyers Hyde will just be a blip, having scored seven times in their two previous league games. The Mariners have been a threat from all over the pitch as the goals have been well spread throughout the squad.
It's a similar story at AFC Liverpool who also sit fourth in the North West Counties League Premier League after a 0-0 draw at local rivals Litherland REMCYA.
After an emphatic start to the season, the fan-owned club have dipped in form recently, with only one win in their last six outings. A fixture with league leaders Vauxhall Motors is looming, and the Little Reds will have to overcome this rough patch to keep they’re spot near the top.
National League North side Southport also ended the 90 minutes without scoring or conceding as they visited Kettering.
The Sandgrounders held most of the possession and created the most chances but were unable to capitalise on their moments of dominance. They’re currently placed eighth in the league and have shown the capabilities of a team that can finish in the top half of the table.
Elsewhere, Prescot Cables lost 2-1 at home to leaders Macclesfield Town, as did Widnes at home to Kidsgrove Athletic, but there was a 3-1 win for promotion-pushing Runcorn Linnets at Ramsbottom United.
Lower down the pyramid, there was cup action for Pilkington, who won 4-2 at home to Ashton Town, and South Liverpool, who grabbed a late equaliser to draw 2-2 at home to AFC Blackpool before winning on spot-kicks. In league action, Burscough won 3-1 at home to Prestwich Heys, Lower Breck went down by the same score at Bury AFC, Vauxhall Motors lost 2-1 at home to Avro, and FC St Helens won 3-1 at Garstang,
