REPORT BY WINNERS LAD

On a swelteringly hot day Neil Baker's Leek Town kicked off their 2022/2023 season with a tough looking opening fixture at Bootle but came away with a comprehensive victory, the performance meriting the 4-0 scoreline and providing an encouraging start to their league campaign.

Given the heatwave type conditions the game was never going to be fast and furious and for the first 5-6 minutes both sides probed away with some simple passing without troubling either defence.

The Blues started to get some joy down the left and won their first corner on 10mins, from which they took the lead with Josh Ryder poking in the loose ball after Olly Harrison had won the initial header and Scott Wara missed his intended effort.

The goal provided the catalyst for a good period of possession for Leek as they pinned the hosts back in their own half with the front three of Rob Stevenson, Dan Trickett-Smith and new signing Tom Carr playing in a false nine formation and causing the Bootle defence problems with their interchange of positions and running off the ball.

Carr had a chance to double the lead on 20mins after a slick passing move freed him in the area but he chose to square the ball instead of shooting before Billy Reeves was denied by a last ditch tackle moments later.

The first of the much needed water breaks came shortly after, but the break in play did not disrupt the impetus Leek had built up as half chances came and went for Trickett-Smith and Carr before the second goal finally arrived on 32mins through Stevenson.

From a forward ball out of defence Trickett-Smith neatly flicked it on to Carr who immediately fed it onto Stevenson. Stevenson, who looked as if he was returning to something like his previous form after an injury ravaged season last year, cut inside the full back and curled a lovely low left footed effort inside the far post for a great goal.

Bootle, despite being poor in possession for the majority of the half to the disgruntlement of their fans, finally carved out a chance in the final minute of the half but Jack McGowans first time effort flashed wide of Sam Booths right hand post and the half ended with Leek looking good for their two goal lead.

HT Bootle 0-2 Leek Town

The second half began and found Leek on the front foot once more with Reeves having a far post header deflected away for a corner, from which Ryder fired high and wide with a half volley.

Bootle tried to respond with Tom Peterson having a low shot easily gathered by Booth but the Leek back line were looking solid and were being well protected by the hard working midfield trio of Reeves, Marc Grocott and Ross Davidson.

The Blues were always threatening on the counterattack particularly through the pace and running of Carr, and it was Leek's number 7 who made it 3-0 on 68mins. Davidson broke up a Bootle move with a timely interception and found Trickett-Smith who looked up and played a delightful ball over the top for Carr to run onto and slide the ball under keeper Ashton.

With the game seemingly won, Baker made a couple of substitutions taking off Trickett-Smith and goalscorer Carr, replacing them with Lewis Short and Will Saxon for the final 15mins.

Saxon was immediately into the action and should have scored with his first contribution after good work from Stevenson put the substitute through, but an heavy touch meant the ball ran away from him and Ashton was able to gather.

He made no mistake a moment later, however, from yet another decisive Leek counterattack. This time it was Wara with a good defensive header which found Stevenson who then played the ball forward to a completely unmarked Saxon and he was able to roll the ball past the advancing Ashton to make it 4-0 on 79mins.

Both sides knew the game was over at this stage but there was still time for one of Bootles substitutes, Cian Spencer-McDermott to be dismissed in stoppage time for a poor challenge on Saxon.

FT Bootle 0-4 Leek Town

So the ideal start to the season that the Blues would have wished for but Neil Baker's side will know that there will be sterner tests ahead, none more so than on Tuesday evening when big spending neighbours and title favourites Macclesfield FC visit Harrison Park.

Leek Town line up as follows

1. Booth

2. Wara

3. Keenan

4. Grocott (c)

5. Harrison

6. Ryder

7. Carr replaced by Short (78)

8. Reeves

9. Davidson

10. Trickett-Smith replaced by Saxon (78)

11. Stevenson replaced by Tomlinson (85)

Substitutes : Brown, Morris (unused)

Attendance : 356