Semi-Final
Thank God for play-offs! After messing things up at Marine on Saturday the play-off semi-final provided an excellent opportunity to put the disappointment of a few days ago behind us and crack on towards promotion. Boston were drawn to play North Ferriby at York St. Both teams had been on decent runs of late but I was secretly confident that Boston had enough to win this game. The last meetings against Ferriby had gone in the Pilgrims favour with a 3-1 win at York St. in November followed by a scrappy goalless draw at Ferriby later in the season.
Boston started really well and had much the better of the first half. Chances went begging but it always felt like we'd get a couple of goals. The goals duly came in the form of a couple of screamers from Yates and Newsham in a five minute spell towards the end of the half. Boston took this lead into half time and looked really comfortable.
Floodlit at York St.
Boston played much the same in the second half, whilst Ferriby were lucky to finish the game with eleven men. Some shocking decisions were made by the Ref., including a couple of horrendous two footed tackles going unpunished. Luckily none of our players were injured and Boston continued to press. A goal against the run of play by Foot with 12 minutes to go made things a bit nervous but the Pilgrims always had the beating of Ferriby.
The Pilgrims attack the Town End.
Things kicked off in the York St stand a couple of times during the second half but it was mostly the kids clubs from either side involved. A strong police presence after the game kept the trouble to a minimum, at least around the ground anyway! A reminder to those who'd questioned the use of segregation at our ground.
Bradford Park Avenue had won the other semi-final against Kendal, a scrappy affair by all accounts including three penalties (two missed). This set-up an all or nothing tie against the Pilgrims at the Horsfall Stadium on what came to be known as 'Second Chance Saturday'.
The Final
A lift to the Horsfall was secured in a (successful) attempt to avoid any Marine-esque travel related shenanigans. This paid off as I arrived in Bradford with plenty of time spare to sample the local pub's offerings. The pub had a great jukebox and was almost exclusively populated with Boston fans. I also had the good fortune to fall into possession of a free pint, it's intended target having already departed for the ground.
Free pint dispatched I decided to amble down towards the turnstile. The queue wasn't as bad as I'd expected. The turnstile was doing brisk business and there were several guys taking money for entrance through a steel gate. Obviously everyone going through the gate was counted onto the attendance. I'm sure it would never cross Bob Blackburn's mind to fiddle the gate receipts as some less trusting people have alleged. The next mission was queuing for the toilet, two urinals for half a stadium was never going to be enough!
The Boston players warming up.
Those trifling matters out of the way I went looking for somewhere to watch the match from. The main stand was where all the Boston were gathering and it seemed as good a place as any. It was heaving and many people were stood in the gangways, much to the annoyance of the locals. The stewards did ask politely that we move but to no avail. With a good atmosphere building it was time for the football...
Bradford started well and were denied an absolutely stonewall penalty when their striker went down in the box within the first minute or so, how the Ref missed that one I have no idea. The game was stretched and a few end-to-end exchanges culminated in Boston conceding. At the time I could've sworn the goal was offside but I've been reliably informed since that it wasn't and so Reeves put BPA 1-0 up on the 35th minute. BPA had the better of the remaining minutes and went into the break the happier team.
The second half saw Bradford continue where they had left off in the first. They kept pressing and how they didn't go three or four up I will never know. The wind was against the Pilgrims but if anything this helped Boston as it encouraged them to get the ball down and play, as they had done for the rest of the season. BPA were still playing well and as they hit the woodwork though there seemed no way back for the Boston. The one hope for the Pilgrim supporters was that all these missed chances would come back to bite Bradford and, as is so often the way in football, come back to bite them they did. On 61 minutes 'Tap-in' Newsham pinged in a brilliant strike, his 29th of the season, following a cross from the recently brought on Semple.
The goal acted as a catalyst for the Pilgrims who went on to batter BPA in the latter stages of the second half in an attempt to find the winning goal. It was not to be, however, and the final whistle blew with the score level. Extra time well and truly got under-way when Church smashed home three minutes in to send the already brilliant Boston support absolutely crazy! The two security guards had no chance of stopping celebrations spilling onto the running track. In all the madness the BPA manager belted the side of his dugout and subsequently spent the rest of extra time hobbling much to my delight!
Boston played out the rest of extra time as much the better side. Chance after chance was created. I don't say this often so take note... DANNY DAVIDSON PLAYED WELL! Barring the fact he should've had a hat-trick but failed to convert any of his chances, other than that he did well though. The final few minutes were very nervy summed up by Newsh.sat between the dugouts, head in hands, unable to watch. The whistle finally rang out after what seemed an eternity and Boston United were promoted. Cue pitch invasion, champagne and just general insanity.
Match Highlights including the two Boston goals, the final whistle and pitch invasion. All shamelessly ripped from Youtube and the wonderful BUFCnet.
Once things had calmed down (well as much as could be expected) the trophy was presented, pictures taken and the trip home made before a night of celebration. If I'm honest don't remember much after that...
The play-off winners trophy is presented (honest)
What a great day! Thanks to all those at the club who made it possible. The most obvious one is the chairman, David Newton, who saved the club. Thanks to Paul Hurst and Rob Scott, I had no idea who you were when you were appointed but you are truly awesome! Thanks to the players for showing the commitment that wasn't shown by last years squad. Thanks to the back-room staff for all the hard work. Finally thanks to all the fans in the Unibond, Boston or otherwise, for making it an exciting and (mostly) friendly place to watch football. I'm finally proud to be a supporter of Boston United FC again, it's been too long... In the eloquent words of Scott Dalton - Boston United, from bankrupt to back up in three years.
