Sandbach United welcomed football back with a friendly against Premier side Bootle FC, with the away side winning 3-2.

It has been a tough week for those associated with the Ramblers, with the passing of beloved goalkeeper coach and long-time volunteer Andy Kimber. Before match proceedings, both teams and fans impeccably observed a minute's silence in loving memory of Kimber.

Sandbach started the better side on a cold Saturday afternoon and took the lead through Robbie Hatton after seven minutes of play. Bobbie McDonnell and Scott Evans linked up play well before the former set the ball to Hatton, who placed a low shot beyond the goalkeepers despairing dive into the bottom left corner.

McDonnell was the best player on the pitch for the majority of the first half and consistently troubled the Bootle defence with his excellent footwork and guile to create space to shoot on goal, coming particularly close in the 16th minute with a rasping shot that hit the side netting.

Hatton held his head in his hands on the half-hour mark after McDonnell struck a wicked shot that dipped and swerved so much that the away keeper could not hold on, but Hatton was unable to convert the rebound from no more than 4 yards away, admittedly under pressure from the recovering goalkeeper. He then provided a wonderful cross a few minutes later to spot the late run of Sean Moscrop, but the midfielder narrowly missed from 17 yards.

Bootle equalised at the start of the second half in dubious circumstances, through a penalty that seemed very harsh to give for a handball from extremely close range. The visitors then took the lead after 55 minutes when Jack McGowan thundered a strike past Ryan Moss off the underside of the crossbar.

The Ramblers won a penalty less than a minute later after Kieran Garner-Knapper danced through the defence and was tripped, but Hatton's strike from 12 yards was saved after the keeper guessed the right way. Hatton tried a make amends a few minutes later with a powerful shot from outside the area, but the goalkeeper proved equal to that as well.

The second half almost became the Knapper show with the Sandbach forward exhibiting skill and speed to consistently beat defenders, and almost scored a beauty on the hour mark after gliding effortlessly past three defenders, nutmegging a fourth but the Bootle stopper beat away his strike.

The away side then extended their lead on 66 minutes with Ben Hodkinson getting his second of the game – albeit in fortunate circumstances as an attempted cross from the left wing just crept under the crossbar into the far corner.

Knapper maintained Sandbach's dominance despite the Bootle goal and got the goal his play deserved with 16 minutes left to play, after again beating defenders with ease before striking past the keeper to see the ball nestle in the bottom left corner.

Kris Stockton returned from injury as a substitute and offered a much-needed threat from set-pieces for the home side, but ultimately Sandbach couldn't find the equalising goal that, on reflection, would have been fair given the balance of play over 90 minutes.

Northwich Victoria will travel to Hind Heath Road on Saturday 12th December for another friendly, before the NWCFL season is timetabled to resume the following weekend, where the Ramblers will hope to face Maine Road on the 19th.