Boston Boys

Boston United vs Burnley

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.

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.

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.

Next up: Hyde at York St in the FA Trophy first round proper.

United don't do cup competitions...

Boston United vs Kidsgrove Athletic

Boston fans of recent years have had a less than romantic experience of the FA Cup.  Since returning to non-league United have been unceremoniously dumped out of the world's premier cup competition in glamour-ties against the likes of Workington, Cambridge, Lowestoft and Worcester; in fact United have failed to go on a non-league cup run since the 1997-98 season.  Kidsgrove provided the second qualifying round opposition for the Pilgrims.  That's Kidsgrove who sit in 15th in a league two levels below United with 11 points from a possible 27; the same Kidsgrove that United knocked out of the FA Trophy three years ago, beating them 6-0 at York St.  United made one change from the mid-week home win against Droylsden with Burrow replacing a very slightly injured Lee.

A rare Kidsgrove effort in the first half.

Kidsgrove had the better of the opening exchanges and were passing it through the United midfield with virtual impunity.  An under-pressure United received another blow as Tom Ward was forced from the pitch with an ankle injury, he was replaced by Austin with five mins gone.  In truth there was very, very little to write about in the first half with the afternoon heat adding to the distinct pre-season feel of the day.  This feeling was reflected in the most inanimate 16 away fans I have ever seen in York St, the 801 home fans weren't exactly pulsating either.

Despite Kidsgrove playing some neat passing football it was the Pilgrims who enjoyed the scant first-half chances.  Semple and White both putting the ball high and wide.  Burrow failed to worry the Athletic 'keeper following a set-up from Newsham and Sleath.  It was Newsham himself who finished off the drab first-half on a high with a headed effort drawing a brilliant save from Kidsgrove's shot stopper.

Two-footed lunge, not a red card
apparently.

Kidsgrove actually had a shot in the first few minutes of the second period and this seemed to galvanise United who stepped up a gear.  United were much crisper in the pass and began to draw late challenges from the Athletic players.  The ref seemingly completely lost the plot, giving free-kicks and bookings for nothing challenges while giving nothing for leg-breakers, two-footed dives and elbows in the face.  Boston should have been in front but Burrow couldn't control a good ball into his feet while inside the area and the chance slipped away.  Burrow was again guilty of profligacy as he and Newsham failed to get on the end of a great ball across the face of goal from Semple.

A free-kick saw Semple fire over as the fouls started to pile up.  Kidsgrove's Dave Walker was lucky to escape a straight red for a two-footed, flying lunge on Bastock, the Athletic (not athletic) front man had further luck when he again took exception to Bastock and seemed to kick him in the chest!  Walker kept pushing his luck though and finally received his marching orders when he decided it would be a great idea to hack down Austin without reason.  What an idiot.

Lee and Fairclough were introduced in place of Burrow and Newsham in an attempt to freshen the attack up.  It worked, to an extent.  Boston were flying now with superb, patient build-up play piling pressure on the visitors.  Sleath was denied from close range by the 'keeper and then on the line by a defender within seconds as United looked to walk the ball into the net.  White headed just over the bar from a Milnes corner, then did it again a minute or so later.  The luck really wasn't with White who had his next shot blocked by defensive partner, Austin; the United centre-back could've shot from six inches out into an empty net and he'd still have missed!

Boston pile on the pressure in the closing stages.

The final chance of the afternoon went to player/manager Jason Lee who got up well to draw a fantastic tip over the bar from the Kidsgrove 'keeper as the ten men held on for the replay.  It was astutely pointed out that the game was reminiscent of the 2009/10 FA Trophy tie against Quorn; we lost that replay...

Next up: Altrincham away.

Arsenal win a trophy. Yes, really!

Arsenal Ladies FC vs Bristol Academy Women's FC

The Ricoh Arena in Coventry is possibly the most out of the way, difficult to reach, ground in the Universe!  This probably goes some way to explaining the lower than average attendance for a Women's FA Cup final, as 13,885 people turned up.  The sides had fought out a 2-2 draw a week earlier, filling the underdogs from Bristol with confidence.

The Ricoh Arena at kick-off.

Bristol's confidence looked well founded as they asserted early pressure, a Jemma Rose header flying just past the post.  Arsenal soon found their feet though.  Fleeting and Nobbs both put efforts high while Bristol and England 'keeper, Chamberlain, had to deal with an effort from Houghton and a free kick, again from Nobbs.  The pressure paid off when the best player on the field, Kim Little, waltzed past two or three Bristol defenders and nailed home to put the Gunners 1-0 up with 19 minutes gone.

Fahey takes an Arsenal throw.

Arsenal continued to knock at the door, Nobbs was denied well.  Chamberlain did well to put the ball out from an Ellen White effort after Fleeting hit the bar in the 33rd minute.  From the resulting cross Fleeting went one better and put Arsenal 2-0 up.  White and Fleeting both had chances to grab the third before the break.  Arsenal 'keeper, Emma Byrne, did have to be on her toes as Jess Fishlock went through but the shot stopper gathered well.  Bristol finished the half by shanking a free kick high and wide.

Little has a go.

Suffice to say the first half Arsenal dominance killed off the match and the second half was considerably less entertaining than the first.  Little was still dominating the middle of the park and Rachel Yankey created another opportunity for her with a pull back; Little's powerful shot saved well by Chamberlain.  A good run through the midfield ended with a free kick for Bristol 20 yards from goal.  Daley had a crack from the dead ball and clipped the top of the cross bar.  This was Bristol's best chance of the half as they dealt much better with Arsenal's threat.  They still couldn't contain Little though and the Scot came close twice more before full time.

Arsenal Ladies: Women's FA Cup Winners 2010/11

Arsenal had one last half chance before seeing the game out, Danielle Carter, on as a sub, running through on goal but unable to convert.  Full time saw Arsenal actually pick up some silverware and Bristol go away consoled by the fact that both clubs go into next seasons Champions League.

Next up: Olympique Lyonnais take on Turbine Potsdam in the UEFA Women's Champions League at Craven Cottage.

It'll be terrible but...

Bolton Wanderers vs Wigan Athletic

I've been putting off writing this post all morning.  What to say about this game?  Drab, dull, dreary and devoid of entertainment.  Like a standard episode of Everybody Loves Raymond.  The Stalybridge game fell early to the frost.  Not early enough to prevent me from having got half way there on the train already.  Rather than waste the tickets I looked for a plan B.  Sheffield Wednesday?  Been there.  Rochdale?  Hell to get too.  Chesterfield?  That'd still see me wasting half of my train tickets.  Bolton - Wigan in the FA Cup fourth round?  It'll be a terrible game but it's a ground tick and it uses almost all of my train ticket so it'll do.

The Wigan contingent of the 14,950.
NOTE: the empty seats which characterised this game.

£15 to get in and pay on the gate wasn't terrible and a programme for £2 meant that this game hadn't cost me much more than a pre-game trip to the Buffet Bar at Stalybridge.  The train station, Horwich Parkway, is right next to the ground so access is fairly easy.  My compatriot from More in Hope than Expectation and I considered which team to support.  We dredged through history and came up with the heinous slight inflicted on the Pilgrims by Wigan back in the 1977/78 season.  Boston won the Northern Premier League but were denied promotion to the Football League due to ground grading issues.  Wigan's Springfield Park was probably certainly worse than York St. but Wigan were put up for election to the League in Boston's place anyway.  Wigan won the tight vote at Southport's expense and the rest, as they say, is history.  That was enough for us to lend our support to the Trotters for this match at least.

Nat Lofthouse OBE; 27 August 1925 - 15 January 2011

The tribute to Nat Lofthouse OBE outside the ground was a moving reminder of the wonderful life of a true gentleman and one of the greatest strikers that the English game has ever seen.  Named the Lion of Vienna for his exploits in a 3-2 win over Austria, Lofthouse went on to score 30 goals in 33 England appearances.  Lofthouse died at the age of 85 on the 15th of January 2011.

Not a terrible view for £15.

Queuing up to get into the Reebok Stadium was an experience in itself.  Never before have I seen such an assortment of trackie bottoms, it was like being trapped in a JJB superstore. Which incidentally can probably be found in the retail park in which the ground sits.  For £15 the seats weren't bad and we took our places close to the away fans.  There was nearly a goal within seconds as Kevin Davies put through Ellmander who tested Mike Pollitt in the Wigan net.  The game was bubbling along nicely and only a lack of class in the final third from Wigan's own Moses; combined with some good goal keeping from Jaaskelainen, denying Gomez, kept the score at 0-0.  Petrov was forced to try and single handedly drag Bolton into the game before half time but couldn't hit the back of the net.

The Wigan fans providing the pick of the entertainment.
The attendance might have started at 14,950 but it finished closer to 14,940.

The second half was not the best half of football I have ever seen.  Robbie Blake's introduction threatened to spark some excitement.  Not much, just some.  The best chances of the half arrived in the last few minutes with Jaaskelainen doing well to keep out McManaman while at the opposite end Wheater couldn't hit the target, nailing a shot just wide.  It was never going to be the most exciting of games and the best entertainment was the banter between the two sets of fans combined with the occasional ejection.  The odd chant of "it's time to go home" when a fan gets thrown out is nowhere near as catchy as "cheerio".  The majority of other songs seemed to be exactly the same from both sides with only key words being swapped, the team name for example.  There was much contention amongst the fans over the allegiance of Ali Al-Habsi, on loan to Wigan from Bolton.  I'm not sure how that was even relevant as he wasn't playing.  The oddest of all the songs, however, seemed to be the "wanky, wanky, Wanderers" song.  Which was sung by both sides...  Maybe it means something different up there.

So it wasn't great but a ground tick is a ground tick and the local Tesco in the retail park did ensure there was some food on hand for the long trip home.

Next up: Boston away at Worcester.

Disappointing

Boston United vs Worcester City (FA Cup)

"Disappointment: (noun) The emotion felt when a strongly held expectation is not met"

Well, that was disappointing.  I've not been that disappointed since the day which shall not be mentioned at Marine.  The FA cup is really important to the managers, or so they say.  That must be why they made four changes to a winning team for the start of this match at York St.  Semple, Sleath and Weir-Daley were all dropped for Davies; Cullingworth and Jesus himself, Marc Newsham.  The other change was enforced by Peterborough who insisted that on loan 'keeper McKeown not be cup tied meaning a start for Butcher.

Early controversy abounded when the Worcester front-man Danks flew through Pearson in what some people call a 'red-card challenge'.  I've seen people sent-off for less but it would probably have been harsh and the Yellow was about right.  The 1352 at York St probably realised it was going to be one of those days about 15 minutes in the very same Danks curled the ball into the top corner from 25 yards.  I don't care what you think of Butcher; there was no way he was getting to that!  A smattering of applause from the Pilgrims support added to the jubilation of the Worcester faithful.  Five minutes later the Boston defence backed off and allowed a shot to come in; McKeown would've dealt with it easily, the much maligned Butcher didn't.  The ball squirmed past some weak goalkeeping into the bottom corner.  2-0 and we were in trouble.

'What are you DOING, Butcher?'  - a common call around York St. when he plays.

The team just wasn't gelling.  Davies in the middle looked ponderous and seemed to have the turning circle of a large oil-tanker.  This left Church to do all the running and with consequence Worcester were bossing the game and almost creating chances at will.  With a lack of service from midfield any chances that did present themselves for Boston were created by the genius of Newsham.  Newsh played some brilliant flicks and passes to get Davidson into the game.  Unfortunately Davidson was back to his usual self and a golden chance was spurned following a great save from the City 'keeper.  Danny injured himself in the challenge for the ball and was replaced by Spencer Weir-Daley.

Davidson's injury: the start of the Pilgrims comeback.

Ryan Semple came on after the break and Boston picked up a little making the odd chance or so.  The persistence was rewarded when the Worcester 'keeper tried to be clever by shielding the ball past Newsham and out of play.  The Newsh confirmed his deserved man of the match award when he duly punished the 'keeper's impertinence by nicking the ball and slotting home from a tight angle.  Sleath was brought on just after this to reunite the full first team, other than McKeown.  Boston looked much, much better despite the ridiculous linesman who appeared to have flag-Tourette's, randomly flagging for offside or a foul when nothing had happened.  Boston were absolutely battering City and it should've been two when Weir-Daley missed a brilliant chance at the back post.  Moments later it was two as Yates got on the end of a cross to stab home.  The Pilgrims even played some of the second half with ten men as Pearson was off the pitch having a head wound treated.

Commitment: Pearson back on the pitch after a lengthy treatment to his head.

The momentum was well and truly with the Pilgrims and there was a feeling around the ground that we'd go on to win this now.  This was almost the case but Weir-Daley missed yet another sitter at the back post - very unlike him.  So 2-2 and a replay, not that bad I suppose.  That's what I would've been saying if the game had finished in the 88th minute.  Last minute of normal time and Tom Thorely went clean through on goal for Worcester until last-man Jelleyman rugby tackled him.  So a red card then?  No.  I don't know how the ref. got that wrong but he did.  That was the most stonewall sending off you will ever see.  Just about sums up the official's day really.  Even though Jelleyman was lucky to remain on the pitch City still had a free kick in a good position.  The people around me had a bad feeling about this set-piece and they were not wrong.  The free-kick rebounded out to Glover who hit the inside of the post with a scuffed shot.  Butcher just stood there and watched the ball roll along the line and in.  Terrible 'keeping; NEVER PLAY FOR US AGAIN, BUTCHER!

So it finished: 3-2 and the Worcester fans and team were celebrating like they'd won the cup.  No hard feelings towards them, they may have put in a few hard tackles but they won the game thanks to a weakened, first-half Boston team and some woeful goalkeeping from Butcher: think 'Almunia with far more mistakes' and you won't be far off.  I was talking to one of their fans in the pub after the game and I can do no more than wish them the best of luck for the next round and the coming season - except against us of course!

I am, it has to be said, not impressed.  We always seem to perform badly in the FA competitions.  Add this loss to the defeats at Lowestoft and Quorn last year and the poor record starts to add up.  Whilst we are doing well in the league we really do need the money from a good cup run.  The other point brought to the fore by this game is the lack of strength in depth of our squad.  Heaven forbid we get a midfield injury and have to rely on Davies, we'd finish in the relegation zone if that were to happen!

Next up: the Pilgrims return to league action away at Vauxhall Motors.