Play-offs here we come!

Boston United vs Blyth Spartans

First off I want to say how impressed I am with the Blyth fans.  It's a hell of a long way and I don't know how many of the 1316 they brought but it was a brilliant effort for such a epic trip.  They definitely brought more than some other clubs; so I take my hat off to them, or I would if I wore one.  Following the shameful treatment Eastwood have received from the Conference, 500 seats only count as 500 seats if they are in two places or fewer apparently, Boston needed a win from this game, or for Solihull to drop points against Hinckley, to secure a play-off place.  This was either going to be really tough against an eighth placed team who'd just missed out on the play-offs themselves or really easy against one of the most inconsistent teams in the league.

The team colours are white, green and black;
the obvious choice for sock colour? Red, of course!

Following his less than sterling efforts during the Hyde and Stamford games, Cullingworth was replaced at right-back by Shane Clarke.  Semple and Dudfield returned to the team at the expense of Frost and Newsham.  Boston started well in front of a surprisingly active crowd basking in the sunshine.  Kevin 'Keith' Austin missed a golden opportunity early on as he headed a Yates free-kick high and wide.  You can't help but feel Pearson or even Canners would've scored that.  Weir-Daley knocked a tame shot into the 'keeper and Spartans went on the attack.  Brayson, who could easily finish the leagues top scorer, was denied by a good Sleath block.  Brayson was clean through again minutes later and this time it was some alert goalkeeping from Paul Bastock that kept him at bay.

Blyth attack the Pilgrims in front of the travelling Spartans.

Having survived a couple of scares the Pilgrims went up the other end and put the match to bed.  Blyth failed to clear a Yates free-kick which dropped to Semple.  Semple had a pop but the shot was blocked back to him.  He had another go and rocketed it into the back of the net.  Goal of the season?  It's a contender.  A visibly lifted Boston side were queueing up to score.  Weir-Daley couldn't test the 'keeper when he should have done better.  Dudfield did test the 'keeper but he was equal to it and gathered well.  It was Church who was to add the second, slipping the ball inside the near post.  Then Dudfield put Boston three up with another absolute belter from just inside the box.

The Pilgrims try to add to their tally.

The three goals in five minutes was enough to ensure Boston went into the break comfortably.  The comfort margin was greater than it could have been as Bastock and some poor finishing each denied Brayson.  There was a further chance a piece but neither team could bother the score sheet before half-time.  There were chances aplenty in the second period too.  Bazza had to block with his legs to deny Alexander while Jelleyman was in the right place to clear off the line as Spartans threw the kitchen sink at the Pilgrims.  The appearance of Newsham and Boyes brought fresh blood to the attacking line up, replacing Weir-Daley and Dudfield.  Newsham's build up play was superb as ever and he held the ball up well to furnish Boyes with his first chance.

It was Bastock who was the busiest of the United players as he had to make one or two stunning saves to keep the scores level, the best coming as he tipped a great 25 yard drive over.  Clarke switched to midfield as a sheepish Cullingworth came on to replace Yates.  Newsham and Church soon set Clarke up to finish any Blyth resistance.  Boyes then capitalized on a mistake to literally walk the ball into the net.  Clarke could have scored again from a similar position to his first just a minute later as Spartan heads fell.  Boyes had the last chance to score for the Pilgrims but couldn't add to the tally despite a dominant performance to reach the play-offs.  Oh yeah, Solihull lost 7-2 anyway.

Next up: Nuneaton Town away at the Liberty Way Stadium

Back to it then.

Blyth Spartans vs Boston United

Boston United returned to league action last Tuesday drawing away at a semi-flooded Guiseley.  Unfortunately I couldn't find my rain coat so I missed that game and made my return to league spectator action on the long trip away to Croft Park where the Pilgrims take on the mightily named Blyth Spartans.  A 9a.m. departure saw the supporters coach make the lengthy trip up the A1, meeting bus loads of Gateshead fans going the opposite way for their Cup tie against Notts. County at the service station stop.  With encouragement from already tipsy Gateshead fans ringing in our ears we continued to arrive at Croft Park about an hour before kick-off.  The club house is relatively tidy and has some cracking beer on tap in the form of Spartan ale.  Unsurprisingly our luckiest supporter, Jacko, won the clubhouse raffle first prize: a bottle of whiskey.  What is the point of giving out a prize, pre-game, which you can't take through the turnstiles?  No, I didn't see any either.

Welcome to Blyth.

Moving into the ground we were all hoping Jacko's luck would hold and we'd gather a much needed three points to set us back on track after the lengthy period without a game.  A lot had happened in the two and a half weeks between Stalybridge at home and Guiseley away; not least our new, old hope, Jason Lee, announcing his retirement for personal reasons.  Best of luck to you big Jase!  The ground is really tidy and one of the better ones at this level.  There is a large seated stand about the half-way line on one side and some nice terracing on the remaining three sides.  Whilst the esteemed author of 'More in Hope than Expectation' became the proud owner of a burger which was 99% bap and 1% actual burger meat we were busy talking to a Geordie, AFC Bournemouth fan.  He wanted to know why we weren't in the southern league; we wanted to know what the hell he was doing supporting Bournemouth.  Apparently he lives there or something, I couldn't really understand what he was saying.  In honesty the reason the pre-amble is so long this week is that there isn't really that much to talk about game wise so I had to fill the blog with something...

Those are some fancy boots for a right back.

The travelling Pilgrims support took up station behind the goal which United were attacking as the game got underway.  Newsham was brought into the starting line-up in an attempt to sharpen the Pilgrims edge up front.  Boston had the best of the scarce chances with Semple doing well to charge down the keeper but unable to score from a difficult angle.  There was only one other real chance in the first half as United had to contend with some resolute defending and a referee who didn't mind the Spartans centre-backs assaulting Danny Davidson every time he received the ball; it was a bit like watching '300'.  Canners and Churchy combined well to put Yates through on goal but the Spartans 'keeper made a decent save.  Boston were having some really nice spells of good football but just couldn't break Blyth down.  The vocal Blyth support did have something to cheer about as they went through a few spells of forcing Boston back but they, again, couldn't break through.

The half-time break saw a change of ends and an opportunity to mock the Blyth 'keeper during his warm-up with cries of his most used words: "squeeze" and what we thought was "f*** off" which actually turned out to be "no cross" in some daft northern accent.  He was from Carlisle we discovered.  Brilliant, bring on the sheep jokes!  In fairness to the lad he took it all in good humour and clapped the travelling support at the end of the game.

Ryan Semple takes on Mr Fancy-Dan boots.

The second half didn't produce much more memorable football for the 558 in attendance either.  Weir-Daley came on with half an hour to go and perked the Pilgrims attack up with a couple of good efforts but nothing too testing for the Spartans 'keeper.  Despite finishing the game with four strikers on the pitch Boston were never going to score.  Blyth had no real chances of note to challenge Boston's 828 minutes without conceding a goal and the game ran out as a bore-draw.  So things learnt from the game: we are still defending brilliantly and there are no complaints with that.  However, we do look a bit rusty up front and I think we need to knock a few past someone to get back to the flying form we were in before the enforced two and a half week break.  Oh and Geordie stewards have difficulty pronouncing 'refrain'.

The Blyth massive: they're there, honest!

200 miles each way is a long trip for a 0-0 and it was difficult to see the positives of a point as we piled onto the bus home.  We called in at the same services as on the way there and who should we meet but the Gateshead fans from earlier, now much more the worse for wear.  We hopped off the coach to songs of "We hate Spartans and we love Boston" brightening up an otherwise long trip home.

Next up: not long until the next fixture as Tuesday sees the Pilgrims play host to Corby Town who have just forced a replay from billy big-time Luton Town in the FA Cup.