The perfect 10: Bootle dig deep to maintain flawless start
Ten games in, 10 wins on the board.
It has been quite some start for NPL West Division leaders Bootle.
Alan Morgan's Bucks have started the season on fire, and whilst they were given an almighty scare by 1874 Northwich in midweek, a staggering turnaround saw them continue their perfect start in the league.
Trailing 3-1 midway through the second half, it looked like Bootle were set to fall to their first league defeat of the campaign.
But with 15 minutes to go, Ste Edmondson reduce the arrears. Then three minutes later, the former Blackburn Rovers youngster scored a delightful free-kick to not only complete his hat-trick, but drag his side back level.
Five minutes later, and Declan Daniels made it 4-3, before Edmondson helped himself to his fourth of the night as the game ticked towards stoppage time.
And still there was time for Daniels to add Bootle's sixth, sealing a remarkable win for Morgan's men.
Let's put their impressive league run into context. Across every side from Step 1-6, Bootle are one of only two teams to have won all of their league games so far - the other being Southern League Premier Central side Real Bedford.
Prior to Tuesday night, Bootle had also earned an impressive five clean sheets in a row, keeping their opponents scoreless for more than 500 minutes across all competitions.
The season is still in its infancy, of course, but the Bucks are riding the crest of a wave in the NPL West and don't appear to be slowing down anytime soon.
"Give credit to [1874 Northwich], they've improved a lot. They ran out of legs, I thought, and we carried on," boss Morgan said after Tuesday's win.
"That's what you want: character. We weren't great and went 3-1 down, but I still thought the next goal was going to be massive and we got it."
On Man of the Match Edmondson's four-goal display, he added: "Ste was the only bright part in the first half.
"And obviously, four goals, he's getting better and better as time goes on. He's got talent, the lad. I'm made up for him."
Their next league assignment comes away at sixth-placed Hanley Town on Saturday afternoon.