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.