Boring, boring Boston.

Boston United vs Eastwood Town

Kick-off at York St.

Well that was boring.  There isn't much more to say than that really but I'll try anyway.  Eastwood managed their first win of the season at home to Corby on Saturday and are looking to build up a head of steam.  Boston are looking to put the woes of the Nuneaton game behind them by building on the solid performance at Harrogate.

Churchy and Sleath: bypassed.

Lazy August Bank-Holiday sunshine greeted the teams out of the tunnel and there was a slight air of pre-season amongst the 1579 supporters in the stands.  This feeling seemed to rub-off on the players and both teams were a bit slow out of the blocks.  Eastwood looked tidy and played some nice quick passing football.  They were unlucky not to take the lead when Stevenson skinned Jelleyman, not for the last time in the game, and pinged a shot against the crossbar.  Boston were having a few chances as well, one of which was powered to the back of the net by Pearson to put the Pilgrims one up just inside the half-hour.  The goal came slightly against the run of play and Eastwood continued to trouble United with several chances.  Boston had one further decent chance before the break as Semple put a free-kick wide, it seems he can only score from twenty-plus yards on the road.

The second period saw Eastwood continue their pressure but there were few real chances with the Badgers spurning two golden opportunities.  Boston couldn't really create either as long balls bypassed a non-existent midfield aiming for the useless Davidson up top.  There was still no flow from the Pilgrims but the crowd started to wake up as the heavy challenges began to fly in.  Players on either side were lucky to escape bookings as the ref. went from poor to totally losing the plot.

The ball drops in the Eastwood box.

The refereeing really marred the game as Andy Newbold missed several fouls and handballs whilst over-ruling his linesmen arbitrarily and handing out seemingly random bookings.  Eastwood should probably have been gifted a penalty in the first period when Davidson made a mess of heading/chesting a ball clear (yes, apparently that is possible) and handled inside the area instead the referee gave a free-kick on the edge of the box.  There was also a possible shout for a United penalty, again in the first half and again only a free-kick was given.  The referee's final insult was playing seven (SEVEN) minutes of added time when five were indicated and two would have been more realistic.  Ultimately this was irrelevant and Boston held on to win 1-0.  Looks like we can only score two or more away from home.  Still three points, five wins from six and the Newsh. got a bit more game-time.  Overall it was a  lethargic match, the Pilgrims always seem to struggle after good away wins.  Eastwood will have nothing to worry about this season, they are clearly a better side than their league position would suggest and will pick up soon.

Next up is Corby Town at Rockingham Triangle on the 4th of September.  It's non-league day so if you aren't doing anything then pop down your local ground and show some support.

A game of one half.

Harrogate Town vs Boston United

This Saturday brought a trip to the poshest part of North Yorkshire for another B.S.B Conf. North game.  Proof, if proof were needed that there is a definite sliding scale of posh.  North Yorkshire posh, when it comes to football, apparently doesn't buy you much more than a few tin sheds and a pitch with a steeper gradient than the finest of the worlds ski slopes.  Add to that a £12 entrance fee and your looking at an all round recipe for disappointment.  The actual trip up to Harrogate went pretty well, I hitched a lift instead of training it which saved me a lot of time and money.  The only issues encountered on the way there was traffic on the Weatherby Road on which the C.N.G. Stadium is located.  Parking wasn't too difficult to find in the hospital next door to the ground.  It was also free as the machine was broken.  Result!

So this is what passes for posh in North Yorks. then.

£12 in seems almost as steep as the slope on the pitch and when you add a £2 programme, a couple of over-priced and frankly terrible pints, and some reasonable food it starts to put a strain on the wallet.  The food wasn't even prawn sandwiches, it's obviously not that posh!  There is a good seated stand down one side of the pitch, a terrace stretches half the length of the other side.  For the first half the Boston faithful took up station behind the goal next to the tunnel.  As the teams walked out it was easy to spot the Pilgrims connections in the Harrogate line-up.  The manager to start with, Simon Weaver, put in a good stint with the Boston.  Dominic Roma who played two games for the Pilgrims in the league.  Boston born and bred Richard Pell who has played for Lincoln C***, Gainsborough Trinity and Boston Town; no bad blood there then.  The final connection is Matt 'Captain Clean' Bloomer, winner of the Daz doorstep challenge 10 years running.  Bloomer, what can you say about Bloomer?  He was the embodiment of everything that Pilgrims fans hated about the previous team.  No commitment, no passion, no hope.

Pretty sure this is a photo of Church getting the touch to put a Pearson knock-down in.
At least it would be if my aim was as good as his!

After the disappointment of Tuesday night a reaction was required and didn't the Boston lads just show it?!  In the first five minutes they set themselves well and truely apart from the old Conference North regime and good work from McKeown denied Harrogate.  Boston soon went on the offensive and the first goal went in with twelve minutes gone.  Pearson beating Bloomer (surprise, surprise) and another defender in the air before heading the ball home.  Five minutes later it was Pell with all his Boston ties beating his own defenders in the air to score a perfect own goal.  Semple, who for me was the man of the match, put in another good cross which Yates managed to 'meg the keeper with.  Church managed to get a touch on another goal-bound Pearson effort to score the Pilgrims fourth goal in twenty-three minutes.  It was looking like another Redditch and we looked like scoring with every attack.  Harrogate were rocking and so were the Boston support, mockery of 'Captain Clean' was the order of the day: "That's how you make a tackle, Bloomer!"

Harrogate scramble the ball to safety again.

Harrogate aren't Redditch, however.  They have a threat going forward and they aren't bad across the middle of the park either.  This combined with some shoddy defending let Harrogate get one back.  Hardy taking advantage as Boston's back-line made a right hash of clearing it.  Obviously after a 9-0 we have forgotten how to defend on the road.  Weir-Daley put Boston 5-1 up after some stunning footwork from the oft disappointing Davidson.  The scoring still wasn't over, Harrogate getting another one back courtesy of Nowakowski (or at least that's how I think you spell it) taking advantage of a rebound following a cracking McKeown save.  There was time for one more before the break and Semple added the finish of the match to curl home from the edge of the box.  Nothing the keeper could do about that one.  6-2 at half-time, who needs the Premier League for excitement?

The boys in the 'car-park' end.

A quick time-out for a beer during the interval and we were back out for the second half.  This time we took up station behind the other goal.  We were standing in-front of a rotten toilet block sitting in what was essentially a car park.  When in such a situation it is incredibly difficult to get any sort of atmosphere going.  This led to a odd sort of feeling pervading the second period.  This feeling was matched by the performance on the pitch.  The game never really got going again and the highlight was probably the banter with the 'keeper: "Who's Bloomer's sponsor, 'keeper? Daz?"  That one got a smile amongst others.  You get the feeling he doesn't really appreciate 'Captain Clean' in his defence.  Bloomer was oblivious to all this as he was off with the fairies wandering aimlessly around the eighteen-yard box and trying to dodge the abuse from the Pilgrims Support as well as rogue patches of mud.  Both keepers pulled out some brilliant saves to keep the second-half score down with only Hardy able to break through for Harrogate in what was a reasonably equal half.  Boston seemed to have taken their foot off the gas and this was evidenced by Gareth Davies substitute appearance giving us a more 'robust' midfield to see the game out.

The great open-cast mine of Weatherby Road.
Who says mining is dead in Yorkshire?

The game petered out to nothing really and it was all a little disappointing.  To say that about a 6-3 win seems a little strange but after the second-half it, bizarrely, almost felt like a defeat in front of the 447 crowd.  Still, three points and a boost to the goal difference isn't unwelcome.  We're looking very, very tasty going forward, averaging over three goals a game and with Marc 'Jesus' Newsham playing the last ten minutes things will only get better.  The momentum is starting to build and the games are coming thick and fast with Eastwood next up at York St on Bank Holiday Monday.

Nuneaton are slightly better than Redditch. FACT.

Boston United vs Nuneaton Town

The Town End.

York St played host to Boston's fourth game of the B.S.B. Conf. North season on Tuesday night.  Having come out of the blocks faster than a fat kid after a burger van there has been a lot of optimism in the Pilgrims camp.  Optimism perhaps not entirely founded in realism it must be said.  Stafford are a mid-table side, as are Hinckley and Redditch are going to do well to stay up.  The real test comes on nights like these against teams like Nuneaton Borough Town.  They have a new name since last time we met.  Financial issues and a two league demotion was followed by two consecutive promotions, last year as play-off winners, to bring them back to the Conference North.

The gayest kit in non-league, nay, the world?

Nuneaton's away kit is worth a mention.  Flourescent pink (yes really) so bright we barely needed the floodlights!  1681, now blind, people turned out to watch the game, including 106 from Nuneaton and within twelve minutes even the most tactically inept of us in the ground had the same insight: Nuneaton are bloody quick!  Never have Boston United been blessed with speedy full-backs and this showed as a flatfooted Jelleyman was left for dead on the break from a Boston corner.  That isn't entirely fair.  He was facing play as the ball went past him so he had to turn and he did manage to get back and make a wonderful tackle in the box, it's just that the ball squirted out of the tackle to a Nuneaton player who crossed for Moore to head in.  1-0.  Crap.  The goal came against the run of play and Boston were dominating possession.  The Pilgrims hemmed Nuneaton in well and kept the ball but despite winning numerous corners could only create one or two real chances.  It was looking like Nuneaton were doing that irritating thing of being lucky AND having a plan.


Not much had changed after half-time.  Nuneaton were defending really well and using their blistering pace on the break.  It was working and the luck was with them again as they went 2-0 up fifteen minutes into the second period.  A cross was thrown into the box; it hit Hadland, who knew nothing about it, and flew over McKeown, who also knew nothing about it.

Boston have yet another ineffectual set piece.

The Nuneaton players pace was showing as the Pilgrims committed men forward.  Nuneaton needed to be quick to get anything done in between the ridiculous amount of time-wasting that was going on.  Their keeper walked away from every ball that went out for a goal kick and waited for a United player to go and get it for him.  This started about five minutes in and the ref. did absolutely nothing.  


Nuneaton's blinding kit must've affected the referee's vision as well.  He was consistantly poor, he missed several incidents including what probably should have been a sending off for Pearson.  Person seemed to get a kick to the head from their keeper, who wasn't punished, and he retaliated by stamping on the keeper on the floor.  The ref. decided it was a yellow, I'm not too sure.  It also took far too long for their number eight to be booked for telling the ref. and linesman to f*** off every thirty seconds.  Nuneaton were flying into challanges dangerously and how they didn't get more bookings I will never know.


Boston despite looking as though they wouldn't score in a month of Sundays did finally manage to convert one chance.  Hunter, on for Yates, firing home from short range on 85 minutes.  It was too little too late and Nuneaton took the 3 points back to Leicestershire.


So ends Boston's unbeaten home record this year.  No complaints about a lack of application or effort from the Boston Boys.  Church exemplified the attitude of the team.  Running all over the place, flying into crunching tackles and just generally playing his balls off.  The result was probably fair though.  I think Nuneaton were about a goal better than us on the night, they were very solid defensively and when they had the ball some supurb, quick passing led to lightning breaks from their pacy forwards.  Boston had most of the possesion and must have had fourteen or fifteen corners but were snuffed out by Nuneaton who came to do a job and did it very well, time wasting and all.


That said the Nuneaton players actions while coming off the pitch left a little to be desired.  They wound the Boston support up massively, celebrating right in some of our fans faces.  Particularly the number 6.  This won't be forgotten when we travel to their place on Easter Monday.  I'm looking forward to that day.  Overall they remind me a bit of Guiseley, a good side full off tossers who'll be there or there abouts.


Next up: Harrogate Town away.

If I see one more 'Cloud Nine' headline, I swear to God...

Redditch United vs Boston United

It's steeper than it looks, all right!

I had a bad feeling about this trip for a day or two before the game.  Redditch United away should be a win but I had the feeling it might come back to bite us after a good start to the season.  The Reds had lost their first two games, 2-0 away at Stalybridge and then a 5-1 defeat against Alfreton on home soil at the Valley Stadium.  The trip was ok with the only delay being between Leicester and Birmingham New Street but then I can't remember the last time I did that route on the train and didn't encounter problems.  I arrived at Redditch station at two-ish and made the very short walk to the ground.  There is a long, downhill driveway leading to the ground.  It's pretty steep, especially for us fenlanders, which whilst nice on the way in makes walking out of the ground after the game a bit of a pain.

Redditch were trying to achieve an attendance of 777 for this game which was optimistic in spite of Boston's strong start to the year.  As a supporters trust owned club Redditch have very little debt (£15k) for a non-league club.  It is refreshing to see a club being run in the correct fashion especially when so many others aren't.  Sadly this good financial sense has seen Redditch lose a lot of their better players to bigger clubs.

Making my way through the turnstile I was immediately accosted by young ladies selling programmes.  A pleasant change after the debacle at Hinckley.  A good pint of Banks' beer or two was much appreciated pre-game whilst socializing with a few Pilgrims I hadn't seen since the disaster of the Marine trip at the end of last season.  The Redditch fans had put on free food for the Boston support in a wonderful gesture.  Unfortunately the attendance wasn't quite the 777 hoped for as 456 people turned out on a sunny afternoon in Worcestershire.

The Boston support takes over one end of the Valley Stadium.

The Redditch support were vocalizing their support well (even if they were mostly Man United songs) as we moved to the terrace for kick-off.  Boston were starting with the same line-up used against Hinckley with the only difference being the inclusion of Spencer Weir-Daley on the bench.  Boston went ahead on four minutes, terrible defending and the 'keeper flying out of his goal into no man's land before making a real hash of his clearance enabled Danny Davidson to lob the ball into an empty net from thirty yards.  Good start that and it got better.  The Pilgrims were absolutely battering The Red's back line and went close two or three times before a Yates set piece was headed home by a seemingly unmarked Shaun Pearson sixteen minutes in.  A few minutes later and Pearson got his second, a lovely finish from a fairly tight angle following a long throw.  The Redditch 'keeper Meredith should have done much better, not for the first or last time during the afternoon.  Church made it four with ten minutes of the half remaining after some good work from Davidson to put the ball in.  Yes; Davidson, work and good all in the same sentence there.  There was still time for a slightly injured Hunter to make it 5-0 before the break before being replaced by Weir-Daley.  Redditch cleared one off the line to end the half.  5-0 up with only forty-five minutes gone.  I haven't seen that happen, well, ever.

Church heads home the Pilgrims' fourth. What the hell is their 'keeper doing?

A quick beer and a nice chat with a couple of Redditch fans as the break passed quickly.  I was reliably informed that the Redditch first choice 'keeper was sold to Kidderminster shortly before the start of the season, at this rate they really need a replacement smart-ish.  The Boston fans switched to the temporary stand after the break but this killed the atmosphere and so some of us moved down the side next to the still vocal Reds support.  Not, though, before we'd seen Church head home his second and Boston's sixth following yet another poorly defended set piece.  Five or Six minutes later and Weir-Daley poked home after a scramble in the box.  That's seven, just in case you were losing count.  Church inadvertently cleared off the Redditch goal line saving them from an eighth.  This was the last chance Boston had for almost twenty minutes during which McKeown actually had to make a save.  With five minutes left the Pilgrims still had time to add a further two goals to the tally.  Davidson waltzing through the Redditch defence with some wonderful play before slotting home.  Semple matched this quality with an exquisite curling drive from over twenty yards to finish the game off.

The Redditch fans, still singing at full time.

9-0.  That's NINE.  The Redditch 'keeper was responsible for at least four, possibly five of those goals.  He wasn't helped by some shocking defending and a seeming aversion to marking throughout the Redditch back line as well.  I have a massive amount of respect for the Redditch supporters who never shut up at any point in the game.  Their stewards were top notch as well, friendly and really into their football.  Top bunch of people who took the day in good humour.  I'd like to think our fans would be so gracious following a drubbing but somehow I doubt it.  If you're reading this Mr Newton, reduced entry for Redditch fans at York St. at the end of November please!

Passionate about goalkeeping indeed.

We played well and 9-0 is a record away win in the B.S.B Conf. North but I don't think we should get carried away.  Redditch were a poor team and while the result sends a message it is still only three points.  I just hope it doesn't all come crashing down against Nuneaton on Tuesday night.  I have a feeling it will but then we all know how accurate my feelings are.  One sour note to the day came, perhaps unsurprisingly, on the Birmingham New Street to Leicester train where some 'youths' from Birmingham thought it would be terribly funny to smash one of the windows on my train with a brick.  No one was hurt and it didn't manage to spoil my day one bit.

Hinkley, Hinkley, ra-ra-ra....

Hinckley United vs Boston United

The games come around quick in the B.S.B. Conf. North.  Too quick really.  Our first choice strike partnership were out injured with no time to recover before this trip to De Montfort Park.  At least I hope they were, because I don't rate Davidson much as a first choice!  I arrived at the ground about forty five minutes before kick-off to find the programmes had already sold out and a massive queue for the poorly staffed bar.  T.I.N.P.O.T.  I'm not sure Hinckley were expecting quite so many away fans with almost half of the 615 in attendance being from Bostonshire.

Hinckley started the better team and pushed Boston back.  However, Hinckley, like Stafford on Saturday, had no real threat up front.  Boston defended well with Murphy putting in a particularly brilliant shift.  McKeown also played well between the sticks and managed to mop up any shots that Hinckley got off.  The presence of Davidson provided the option for lobbing balls up front.  This proved to be too much of a temptation and sadly Boston reverted to a long ball game.

Davidson actually wins a ball in the air.

As the half wore on the Pilgrims wide men came into it more and started to provide some good deliveries into Davidson.  This might not be such a terrible thing if Davidson could win a header rather than letting it hit him and bounce off in a random direction.  At least one of these random deflections did fall to Hunter who ran clear through on goal but couldn't beat the keeper.  Hunter was looking sharp and given a few more games to bed in could be a big player for Boston.

Boston came out looking more dangerous after the break and were having all the chances.  Hinckley tried to shake things up by bringing on Gary 'Dorothy' King who is both ex-Boston and ex-Lincoln.  There was some brilliant ripping of him by the vocal Boston fans during half-time and I got the feeling he would get his own back by scoring.  Thankfully I was wrong and Dorothy is still as terrible as I remember, red boots or not.  Shortly after the substitution, Hunter's persistent play set-up Church to score the winner for the second game in a row.  Giving the Pilgrims support even more to shout about as they out-sang the home fans easily.  Hinckley tried to fashion an equalizer but the Boston defence was solid and it was two wins out of two for the Pilgrims.

Boston United: solid at the back.

It was pleasing to see just how much an away win meant to the players this early in the season.  This is the sort of commitment we have grown to expect over the last year or so and long may it continue.  According to the Hinckley keeper we were better than the bookies favourites for the league, Alfreton.  If this is true, combined with the players commitment and belief, we might be in with a shout of going up.  Maybe, just maybe.

Next up: Boston United away at Redditch.

And So It Begins...

Boston United vs Stafford Rangers

Sun, beer and football.  York Street after the closed season, it's like coming home after a long holiday.  It's the first day of the Blue Square Bet Conference North season.  First day in a new league and I can't wait!  First game is Stafford Rangers, the teams haven't met since 1993 in the Conference.  Boston were favourites in this game and were hoping to carry last seasons form into this league campaign following a successful pre-season.  The ground filled up, the team came out and it was time to get on with it.

Boston, resplendent in their new home kit, started well and were looking very dangerous.  Newsham and Weir-Daley started together up front and were soon causing the Stafford defence no end of problems.  Both teams had early goals ruled out for offside.  The linesman in the half that the Pilgrims were attacking wasn't particularly good and got three or four offside decisions wrong; he probably got that one right.

The keeper keeps Newsham and Yates out.

The Pilgrims were dominating the game and playing football sexier than a Charlize Theron sex tape and that's saying something!  Stafford weren't seeing much of the ball at all, this dominance was rewarded with a Church goal about thirty minutes in.  Rangers did have a bit of threat on the counter-attack but it was Boston that looked more likely to extend their lead going into the break.  James McKeown made his début between the United sticks and dealt with the odd chance that Stafford created well.  The keeper, on loan from Peterborough, looked ok but he needs to settle in, stop running out of his goal and stop flapping at crosses.  That said he should provide good competition for Aaron 'Adam' Butcher on all of those things.

Second-half saw Boston spurn more chances to increase the lead as the Pilgrims were denied by some good goalkeeping and some wayward finishing.  Stafford were much more dangerous in this half and pushed United back for extended spells.  This didn't translate into chances, though, and Boston still looked the most likely to score.  Boston did score, depending who you believe; those looking along the goal-line will tell you the ball was a foot over the line, those behind the goal say it wasn't.  Unfortunately the referee and his assistant agreed with those behind the goal and it wasn't given.  Surely this is proof the B.S.B. Conf. North needs goal-line technology!  Are you reading Sepp Blatter?  Sort it out.

Boston create yet another chance.

Davidson came on during the second period.  I used to think this guy was big, overweight and useless, now he is just big and useless.  I assume Danny has had to lose weight to fit into the ridiculously small sized Boston shirts this season.  That said I won't be complaining if he miraculously bags another sixteen or seventeen goals as he tends to do!  More impressive was the substitute appearance of Hunter late on.  He pinged the post with his first touch of the ball and looked lively throughout, surely an indication that he should get more of a chance to impress.

The moaners apparently complained about the fact Boston didn't dominate the entire game and that United wasted the last minute or so by taking the ball into the corner, you'll never please some people I guess.  The moaners and the missed chances were ultimately irrelevant as the Pilgrims ran out deserved 1-0 winners in front of a healthy 1604 attendance.  Three points and an excellent start to the season.  On the way out a Stafford fan wished us luck and told us we'd need it playing like that.  Not sure what game he was watching but then the hundred or so Stafford fans did end up singing "we're not going down" at one point.  Funny bunch they are, at least they made some noise.

Hinckley away next on Monday night.  The season is well and truly here!

The Ghost of World Cup Past

England vs Hungary

I went to Wembley to watch England play Hungary in an international friendly this week.  The F.A. had reduced ticket prices for this friendly, possibly as an apology for the dire showing during the World Cup.  However, this reduction occurred after I'd bought my ticket though meaning I spent £30 to watch the game, £10 over the odds.  The seats were in row 16 near one of the corner flags so at least I had a good view, even if it was a good view of a poor game.  I'm not going to say much about the actual game because you either watched it or can read match reports elsewhere.  What I will say is that for the first hour it was a terrible game.  Don't believe the 'England make amends' headlines on some sites.  They didn't.  The game did perk up eventually with some of the substitutions but I'll go into that in a second.

The other thing I would like to mention is booing England players.  There has been some condemnation of fans paying their money and then booing the team.  I disagree with this, one pays ones money and is entitled to an opinion.  I do think that booing the team doesn't help and I refused to participate, making an exception for two players only (J.T. and Rooney; both arrogant tossers in my humble opinion).  At least the Hungary fans looked like they had fun.

What I thought I would do for this post is to give my assessment on the players that played a part in the game and then to come up with a line-up that, in my opinion, should start against Bulgaria in a couple of weeks.  We'll start at the back and work forwards then...

Joe Hart: looked assured at the back and surely has to be England's first choice 'keeper.  One of my mates suggested giving him the number one and telling him it's his for ten years.  I think he might be right.


Glen Johnson: did a reasonable job at the World Cup.  Good going forwards, not so good defending but I like him at the back and he is fairly consistent.  He could do with taking a controlling touch every now and then rather than going first time with crosses.


Phil Jagielka: if he can stay fit he should be competing with Ferdinand for a first-team place.


John Terry: played all right in this game but in general is a bit slow and makes mistakes.  He makes far too many last ditch tackles where a better defender wouldn't have to.  Needs to be dropped for me.  Replaced by Michael Dawson who played well other than the mistake for the goal.  Dawson would be in my starting line-up over Terry.


Ashley Cole: much as it pains me to say it I think Cole was one of our players of the World Cup (not like that is saying much) and he is consistently one of the best left-backs in the world.  Replaced by Kieran Gibbs who looked every bit the international player.  Close to being my breakthrough player of the night.


Gareth Barry: poor game and gave the ball away too often.  Could be a candidate for dropping; I'm not sure who I'd replace him with, possibly Michael Carrick.


Frank Lampard: I have to say I wasn't aware Lampard was on the pitch until I read a post-game match report.  Poor player at international level, can't play with Gerrard and is completely anonymous far too often.  Drop him and drop him quick. Replaced by Bobby Zamora.  My breakthrough player of the night.  Held the ball up brilliantly and will score goals.  I'd play him over Rooney any day of the week.


Theo Walcott: played some great stuff down the wing, just needs a better quality final ball to make the shirt his own.  Replaced by Ashley Young who similarly did a good job.  I think Walcott just shades it over Young for me.


Steven Gerrard: consistently pulls the England team's arse out of the fire, nuff said.  Replaced by Jack Wilshere. Eight minutes is not enough time to judge a player's quality, Fabio.


Adam Johnson: showed some creativity to get into useful positions but the final delivery was poor.  I expected better.  A few more caps might sort that out though.


Wayne Rooney: form is temporary, class is permanent. Unfortunately Rooney's serious lack of form is overwhelming his class.  Playing in a team which doesn't give him the support he gets at Man Utd his frustration takes over.  The guy has an attitude problem and his inclusion in the team clearly isn't working.  It is unsurprising that we looked a much better team when he left the pitch to be replaced by James Milner.  Coincidence?  I think not.

So my line-up for the Bulgaria game:
G.K. Hart
R.B. G.Johnson  C.B. Dawson  C.B. Jagielka  L.B. A.Cole
R.M. A.Johnson  C.M. Milner  C.M. Barry  L.M. Walcott
C.M. Gerrard
C.F. Zamora

It's just an opinion and I'd like to hear your thoughts and comments, agree or disagree.

Special Reserve

Newark Town vs Boston United Reserves

Welcome to Station Road.

The peanuts in question, at least the year is correct!

I was presented with a choice of games this weekend.  Boston United away at glamorous Gainsborough in the Lincs. Senior Shield or Boston's reserve team away at step seven Newark Town.  I've been to Gainsborough before and I'm going again later this season, with this in mind the lure of a ground tick and a hint of the unknown was irresistible; especially when compared to a day in Gainsborough.  The first obstacle was locating the ground.  Don't get me wrong, it isn't difficult to get there from the station, it's just not Newark station that you get there from.  Newark Town actually play their games at Station road in Collingham, a village just north of the town itself.  The ground itself is little more than a field with a fence down each touchline.  There is a clubhouse serving (terrible) beer and out of date peanuts so it is best avoided if at all possible.

The second issue came into sharp focus while I watched the Boston team warm up:  I had no idea who any of our players were.  In fact this was such an issue that for the first ten minutes of the pre-match warm-up I was watching the wrong team not realizing that Boston reserves play in the white away kit worn by the first-team last year, not the light blue away kit of this years first-team.  Worryingly I wasn't the only one confused as one of the Boston players tried warm up with the Town squad.  Even more worryingly it seems the official site doesn't know who our players are either.

We're the ones in white, yeah?

As a couple of home fans arrived, meaning I no longer outnumbered the home support one to none, the referee led the teams out.  The ref. looked about six and I'm sure it was the same guy who refereed the game I attended at Radford over Easter this year.  The reserves started the game on the front foot and Newark soon had to hack the ball off the line to keep the scores level.  Things became more evenly balanced as both teams cancelled each other out in midfield.  United had the better of the half going forward and struck the crossbar just before half-time.  Town were lucky to go into the break on level terms only mustering one decent effort in the entire half.

It's like spot the Newark fan, but without any Newark fans...

I'm not one hundred per-cent sure that the same Boston side came out in the second half.  I say this not because the faces were any different but because the performance most certainly was.  With Boston half asleep Newark looked to take advantage.  Good work from the keeper came to United's rescue when the right back dawdled, not for the first time, and was dispossessed.  Boston took the lead against the run of play when the ref. awarded a penalty.  I'm not entirely sure he got that right but it did balance a marginal decision he got wrong in the first-half, sort of.  The ball was duly dispatched and the game settled back into the rhythm that had dominated much of the second period.  Newark eventually got the equalizer that they deserved courtesy of some route one stuff.  Long ball punted over the top for the striker to run onto. Bang. One all.  'Pass the ball better, all of you'; some good advice from United's manager.  It paid off too as Boston woke up and started playing again.  Chances came and went, Boston hit the bar then had to clear off their own goal line moments later, but ultimately time ran out for both sides.  1-1.  Probably about right on the day.

Next time: I go to Wembley to watch some overpaid, badly organised chumps muck about for an hour and a half; and that's just the train on the way there...

Pre-season Episode V: The Pilgrims Strike Back.

Belper Town vs Boston United

A football ground?  Down there?  Really?

In ground car parking, it'll never catch on.

So, Belper.  What can I say about Belper?  As a town it seems to consist of a station, a mill, a football ground and several pubs.  That's it.  The ground isn't far from the station and there are several good pubs along the way.  Take advantage of them because at £3 for a pint of crap lager the clubhouse isn't what I'd call value for money.  The clubhouse itself is pleasant enough, which provides a nice contrast to the rest of Christchurch Meadow.  There is one good stand down one side and a small shed opposite, the remainder of the sides double as car parking areas (yes, really!).  A miniature piece of terracing behind one goal and a field behind the other can be used to view the game as long as you are tall enough to see over the fairly substantial fencing/wall.  The field end was my location of choice for the first half.  The field area is unsightly and spoils the picturesque views, that and it smelt of fish.  No programme was available at the game which added to the disappointment.

Boston faced Evo-Stick Division One (or whatever it's called now) opponents for the third match in a row.  The team was slightly changed to accommodate a couple of débutantes.  Gareth Jelleyman made his third début for Boston after re-signing from Barrow while Chris Adamson was on trial having been released from his position as goalkeeping coach at Hereford.  Chris played in Ilkeston's promotion season under the now Boston managers, hopefully he'll sign and provide some healthy competition for Aaron 'Adam' Butcher.

The shed, the mill and the church.

Suarez  injured his shoulder within the first minute or so but played on for a little while before another knock forced a substitution, with Davidson already out injured this pushed Newsham up front as Semple came out onto the wing.  The Pilgrims settled in this formation very quickly and looked great going forward.  Yates took advantage of some brilliant build-up play and put Boston one up inside 15 minutes.  It should have been two but for Boston old-boy Lee Thompson clearing off the line.  Thommo wasn't the only Boston old-boy in the Belper side, Jon Froggatt announcing his presence by belting home an unstoppable free kick to equalize.  At least I thought it was the Froggatt who played for Boston; I must be mistaken as this guy could actually run!  The equalizing goal was just a blip though as the Pilgrims continued to play some really classy football.  Sixty-yard pinpoint passes?  It's just like watching Brazil!  Boston piled on the pressure and were rewarded with a penalty which Weir-Daley emphatically converted.  Boston were flying and the Newsh scored a classy goal a few minutes later to send us in 3-1 up at half-time.

Weir-Daley makes it 2-1 from the spot.

To the pub it was for an extortionately priced pint and to watch some.... women's golf?!  Clubhouse not got sky then? No? No.  Some of the Boston fans were already suffering from temporary balance issues (a.k.a. being a little tipsy) and the shirts came off during the second half (not mine you'll be pleased to hear!) accompanied by some 'rich' language which seems a little much for a pre-season match.  I know it's a bit of fun but won't somebody please think of the children?!

I spent the first few minutes of the second period talking to Miles Hunter.  Nice lad who has his head well and truly screwed on.  Chatting with a player during a game, as pointed out in an FC United book I read recently, you wouldn't be able to do that in the Premier League.  Belper actually managed a shot and what a shot it was!  They were denied by a wonderful Adamson save, indicative of his solid first performance for the Boston.  The Pilgrims were still the far better side but weren't able to convert dominance into goals.  Belper's keeper did pull off some good saves and got lucky a few times to keep us out.  It is safe to say he wasn't loving the banter but that's what you get for wearing tights.  Substitutions disrupted the flow of the half and Boston had to settle for 3-1 from a cracking performance.  The final whistle saw an exodus to catch the 1658 out of Belper which, having rushed to the station, was predictably late.  Thanks, East Midlands Trains.  All in all though a good day and a useful exercise.