Lunch was home-made chicken, ham and leek pie with proper chips, al-fresco at the House in the Tree, washed down by some excellent Butcombe Real Beauty ale.
Confidence was high after our solid start to the season, although there were memories of our double Gloucester slip up in a bad week last year. Most fans seemed pleased with our recruitment, and further ins and outs were debated.
George Thomasson should stay but in today’s football, we realise that every player has their price, as Spurs fans are discovering about Harry Kane. If we have to sell, then we must get a decent valuation, which would allow us to recruit a replacement for less. Hopefully we are not under pressure to sell but wheeling and dealing is going to be part of our sustainable business future.
Ian Evatt started with the same eleven as started at home to Lincoln, with a strong bench boosted by the new recruits. Any concerns about this match being a potential banana skin were blown out of the water as we dominated from the start.
Once Dion Charles had opened his account, there was only one way this match was going. Aaron Morley’s free kick and a second from Dion Charles put us in full control before half time. Apart from one superb save, Nathan Baxter had very little to do and he could have sat with us to watch the match.
We changed the midfield and strikers in the last 20 minutes and encouragingly, we kept the pressure on until the end.
The fans were singing ‘Bolton, Bolton, Top of the League’ as news of Barnsley’s draw at Bristol Rovers came through. Let’s hope we are singing that for the next 44 matches!
There was great joy with Bolton being top, while Wigan are bottom. Obviously, there is a long way to go and things will get tougher.
But we could not have asked for a better start. Fleetwood’s Cod Army and Wigan’s piemen should make for an interesting time next week. We are looking good; the goals are flowing; our defence is strong. But we all know that things can change quickly if injuries, suspensions or changes in personnel kick in.