BOLTON WANDERERS 1 CITY 0
League Division 2
20th November 1965
Attendance 22,698
Scorer Hatton(30)
Ref D Smith
City Dowd, Kennedy, Bacuzzi, Horne, Heslop, Oakes, Summerbee, Crossan, Murray, Pardoe, Young – Sub Brand
Bolton Hopkinson, Hartle, Farrimond, Rimmer, Napier, Hatton, Butler, Lee, Davies, Bromley, Taylor – Sub Lennard
City’s promotion challenge ground to a halt on a grey November day in Bolton, where the Blues suffered only their third League defeat of an exciting season by a solitary goal.
There were plenty of lessons to be taken from the outcome and from the way City performed – or didn’t, as the case might be. And one of the most important ones still holds good today, and always will do – if you don’t take your chances, you don’t win matches!
In the opening stages, foe Mercer’s team frittered away plenty of opportunities. In the third minute, Neil Young was the guilty man as he headed wide of the post with only ‘keeper Eddie Hopkinson to beat.
Then, after 24 minutes, Glyn Pardoe failed to connect with an easy header when Young sent over a tempting cross. There were other chances, which, if they had been converted, would have given the Blues a comfortable half-time lead.
After the interval, Bolton’s tactics appeared to be working in their favour. They retreated in depth, even Wyn Davies helping out in a blanket defence, then counter-attacked swiftly and piled real pressure on the City back four and Harry Dowd.
The Blues’ cause wasn’t helped by the fact that Johnny Crossan had an off-day, and his ineffective marking led to the winning goal.
A certain Francis Lee was back in the Wanderers’ team after missing some games through injury, and it was Franny’s sheer graft that won the ball which, in turn, he switched to Dave Hatton. The Bolton No 6 was 35 yards out but that was no obstacle to him as he let fly and beat Dowd all ends up.
Wyn Davies gave City centre half George Heslop a hard afternoon, but the former Everton player emerged from the tussle with credit. Davies did net once but was clearly off-side.
ADAPTED FROM AN ARTICLE BY JOHN MADDOCKS IN THE CITY PROGRAMME 22ND NOVEMBER 1999