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| York St. |
The youth system at Boston United, headed by Steve Welsh, has been a fantastic set-up for many years now. This seasons FA Youth Cup has seen the youth team receiving the rewards and success that they deserve, whilst simultaneously showing the first team how to play cup football. The lads had beaten Lincoln United, Mickleover Sports, Pinxton, Stourport Swifts, Burton Albion and Bradford City to get into the third round of the competition, one of only four non-league youth set-ups to do so. The reward for this run was to host Championship club Burnley in front of a fantastic 492 at York St. That's a greater attendance for United's youth team on a Tuesday night than seen at eight out of the nine BSB North games in mid-week.
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| Hipwell barking orders at his defence. |
Very early on in the game United matched the visitors but it was soon apparent that Burnley were a class above. United were dogged - Charlie Rossington playing particularly well at left back - but never really threatened Burnley's net. Hipwell in the Boston net, giving vocal encouragement to his back-line throughout the game, was forced into a good save before centre-back Jordan Nuttell was called into action to hook the ball off the line. Hipwell was forced into another good save and then it was the bar to the Pilgrims rescue as Burnley dominated possession and chances.
The pressure finally told in the 34th minute, Gilchrist turning to plant the ball home well. Nuttell was needed to clear off the line for the second time, to save the blushes of Hipwell. Burnley were soon two up though. A deflected Hewitt free-kick foxing Hipwell. Boston had a chance to reply but the Burnley 'keeper was paying attention and saved well.
After the break United had another opportunity to pull one back, Elliot Price deftly chipping the ball over the onrushing Burnley shot stopper. This time it was the Clarets' turn to have blushes spared by a goal-line clearance. Boston were to rue these missed chances as a crazy twelve minute spell saw them concede five goals and be reduced to ten men. The twelve minutes were began with a diving header from Howieson to plough home a Williams cross. Nuttell made a hash of a clearance, slicing the ball past his own 'keeper before Mullin made it five from just inside the box.
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| Burnley line up a free-kick. |
Boston were reduced to ten men as Sanders got himself sent-off for what the linesman saw as a cynical elbow to the defenders face. Shortly after the dismissal the Pilgrims conceded their sixth, Gilchrist heading past Hipwell. Gilchrist completed his hat-trick, and United's rout, two minutes later as he converted a Hewitt shot which had come back off the bar. Boston re-grouped and regained a bit of composure to pin Burnley to seven goals but the damage had been done. The Pilgrims were unlucky not to pull one back through Tricks just before the final whistle signalled an end to their FA Youth Cup run.
