Workington IS A Long Way...

Newport Pagnell Town vs Boston Town

The teams shake hands in Newport's picturesque ground.

... So I went elsewhere.  A 704 mile round trip to Workington for the second year running wasn't very attractive, despite the Pilgrims having beaten Workington eight time in a row.  It just so happened that the other team from Boston were playing 10 miles from my house, at Newport Pagnell Town.  With all the ex-Pilgrims in the line-up it'd be almost like watching United, almost.

Cricket: in case the game is rubbish.

Newport's Willen Road ground is a multi-purpose sports site and the cricket going on adjacent to the pitch would provide some entertainment in the unlikely situation that the football proved to be overly dull.  The club house was pleasant enough, a cosy bar area with Sky alongside a neat function room providing more than enough room to spread out.  The beer was reasonably priced but the food consisted of scant offerings, filled baps and peanuts being the only available sustenance.  Moving into the ground itself I ended up chatting to another "sort-of-Town-fan", he was a Northampton fan but follows the Poachers when Northampton are away, he pointed out the other ten or so Town fans in the "crowd" of around 100.

Newport Pagnell scored over 100 goals last season in the process of finishing third in the league behind big spending St Neots and King's Lynn and they were soon pressuring the Poachers.  For the first 15 minutes of the game Pagnell's physically bigger players, particularly their number eight, were the target as balls were thrown into the box.  The Poachers were lucky to escape as a belting shot came in from a completely unmarked Pagnell player on the edge of the box.  Boston dealt with the threat well though and with Michael Wood playing a key role in defence they slowly began to limit the Pagnell chances.  However, Pagnell were still in control of the game and threatened despite the lack of clear chances.  This all changed 34 minutes in when ex-Pilgrim Danny Matson pounced on a loose ball 20 yards out and scuffed a low shot home against the run of play.  Buoyed by the goal the Poachers started to play some nice stuff and were well on top of the game as the half-time whistle went.

Newport's giants pile on the pressure.

Newport came flying at Town in the second half, literally.  A strong side, Newport weren't afraid of the tackle and the Poachers players started to take a battering as they looked to play it around their bigger opponents.  Hard tackling drew the yellow card out of the ref's pocket on more than one occasion and there were times when the guilty party were lucky that the card wasn't red.  Boston, looking to rise above this, went 2-0 up on 65 minutes.  Another ex-Pilgrim, Shane Clancy, ran at the lumbering Pagnell back-line before letting fly with an effort which deflected and nestled neatly into the bottom corner.

A Boston cross-come-shot from a very narrow angle thudded against the inside of the Pagnell post and flew back out as the Poachers searched to finish the home team off.  Pagnell responded well in the middle of the park but were unable to fashion any clear chances up front.  Frustration got the better of one or two of the Newport players, the right back in particular was lucky to remain on the pitch.  The ball having gone out of play for a throw in was claimed by Matson and the Pagnell right-back, the right-back got there first and threw the ball into Matson's face.  The ref clearly having missed all this dismissed the frantically flagging linesman's protestations before nonchalantly wandering over and proceeding to book both players.  The referee did eventually consult the linesman but "didn't really understand what [he] was saying".  Oh, good.

Matson does the honours from the spot.

Justice was done minutes later when a rash challenge in the Pagnell box drew a farcical dive from one of the Boston players.  It was good enough to fool the referee and a penalty was given.  Matson stepped up and duly converted to cap a good performance from the Lincolnshire team.  Turns out that United had a similarly good day up in "Mordor", a Holsgrove winner coming in the 94th minute to give the Pilgrims three points on the first day.

Next up: Boston United play host to Histon at York St.

The Champions League Final... No NOT That One!

Olympique Lyonnais vs 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam

A cottage in a ground? Are you sure Fulham aren't non-league?

The second Women's Champions League final and the second involving Lyon and Potsdam, came to Fulham's Craven Cottage a few days before the slightly higher profile men's game also came to London.  Last year Potsdam came out on top in Spain with a win on penalties.  Lyon have thrown a lot of money at the women's team since then, even hiring a manager specifically to win the Champions League.  Lyon's quest for revenge was boosted by the news that Potsdam's star striker, Yuki Nagasoto, was out with a knee injury.

Rare Potsdam pressure from a corner.

Potsdam had the best of the early exchanges with a couple of low shots testing Lyons 'keeper.  Lyon had been free-scoring, netting 27 goals over eight legs in the Champions League and averaging five goals a game in the league, and they soon mustered a response to Potsdam's pressure.  The first Lyon chance was unorthodox in it's delivery as Necib nearly put the ball home directly from the corner spot.  This was just the first chance of many for Lyon as Lotta Schelin and Camille Abily started to show why they are so highly rated in the women's game.  Potsdam were a threat on the break but it was Lyon who were the better side.

Lyon capitalized on their pressure well just under the half hour mark.  A cross was thrown in from the corner spot and Potsdam couldn't clear their lines.  Schelin saw an effort parried into the path of Renard who bundled into the Potsdam net.  Schelin had another opportunity to claim her place as the competition's top scorer but couldn't beat Sarholz in the Potsdam net as half-time approached.

Lotta Schelin worries the Potsdam defence.

Lyon sat back in the second period and this invited trouble onto their shaky back-line.  Inka Wesley and Babet Peter both headed wide absolute sitters.  Kershowski saw a shot saved by Lyon's 'keeper, Bouhaddi, much to her German counterpart's visible irritation.  The referee continued her shocking performance in a game that was rapidly slipping from her grasp.  The tackles were flying in and the ref. was doing nothing, this culminated in the turning down of two very good Lyon penalty shouts as the French team countered.

Lyon get their revenge.

Sarholz did well to keep her team in the game with five minutes left, claiming the ball from a clean through Dickenmann.  Dickenmann got the better of the same contest a minute later though, smashing home a belter from ten yards out.  This effectively ended the game as a contest and sparked celebrations on the bench and amongst the French fans.  This was only the second time in the game that Potsdam's fans and their cow bell fell silent and this silence lasted until the final whistle.  Lyon saw the game out to claim the Women's Champions League and their revenge for last year.

Next up: The last game of my season sees England take on Switzerland at Wembley in a Euro Qualifier.

Somebody else's party.

Hitchin Town vs Daventry Town

So then, a distraction before the first leg of Boston's play-off semi-final, something to keep my mind off it for a little while at least.  Hitchin Town vs Daventry Town in the Zamaretto Division One: Central play-off final looked likely to do the job.  Hitchin finished as the highest team in the division not to have points deducted so may have reason to feel aggrieved that they lost out on automatic promotion to local rivals Arlesey Town by a point.  The path towards the ground passed via a couple of decent pubs, Molly Malones and The Victoria, both worthy of a visit should you ever end up in Hitchin.

Kick off at Top Field.

Hitchin's ground is fairly tidy, although I'm not sure how much bouncing the stand made of wooden planks behind one goal could take.  I'm sure that programmes are usually readily available but the fact that the club were frantically printing more inserts to go into their programme from the week before seems pretty tinpot.  Not as tinpot as running out of programmes entirely, but still pretty tinpot.  The crowd was a bumper one, boosted by Arsenal fans and a good contingent from Daventry.  There were also a high proportion of attractive young ladies there, if this is what it's like in the southern league then I hope we get transferred south; if we don't go up that is!

Despite the hyperbole on the official report, there were no queues down the road as far as I could see.  There is a point here, I have only experienced it with Arsenal fans and usually from middle-class suburban, white lads who wish they were anything but middle class, suburban or white; they are terrible!  They come to lower league grounds and joke about "that one time they were at Highbury", they complain about the ground and the fans being quiet.  Yes, Arsenal fans complaining about a quiet crowd!  They sit there and compare the players to international players and then complain that the standard isn't the same.  I know it's nice they show an interest and more importantly bring in money but they should be banned from non-league.  BANNED!

Hitchin pressure Daventry from a free-kick.

Hitchin had the better of Daventry for large portions of the game and looked the better team by some stretch. There were complaints from the Hitchin fans about Daventry cheating, being overly-physical and diving about.  From a neutral point of view these claims were largely unfounded.  There were scant chances created with both defences standing strong until the 39th minute.  Following a good cross the ball was neatly controlled by Frendo who swivelled on the spot to spank the ball into the net.

Daventry tried to get back into the game after the break but the chances just weren't falling for them and when they did they couldn't take advantage.  Dav. Town were punished for not taking their chances when the Canaries deservedly went 2-0 up, a swinging free-kick flicked in off the head of Dean Gilbert with an hour gone.  Daventry were unlucky not to pull one back as they hit the woodwork twice and forced a fantastic save from Hitchin's Jimmy Carr look-a-like 'keeper in the space of a minute or so.  At this point some of the Daventry fans decided that the game was effectively over and that it'd be better to go and taunt the surprisingly quiet Hitchin/Arsenal fans with what were allegedly EDL chants.  Idiots.

Hitchin celebrate their first goal.

Hitchin defended stoutly and could have caught Daventry on the break a few times.  The Canaries couldn't find the killer third but in the end it wasn't required as the final whistle blew.  There was a mini pitch invasion from the Hitchin fans but it was all pretty reserved really; a very strange atmosphere.  The Daventry fans staged their own eye-watering pitch invasion, a man in a purple morph suit was joined by a man wearing a tiny orange mankini in showing one of the Dav. Town players their appreciation with a hug.  Poor man.  The subdued atmosphere was not quite as inspiring as the thought of the pub and so the journey home began.

Next up: PLAY-OFFS! Boston United are hosted by Guiseley in the BSB North play-off semi-final, first leg. Coverage on United Live and BBC Radio Lincolnshire.

An Arsenal defensive collapse? Who'd have thought?

Arsenal Ladies vs Birmingham City Ladies

The Women's Super League is a semi-professional, summer league of eight teams at the top of the Women's game in England.  When I say top I mean financially of course, because that's what matters these days.  The league has been split into two segments, one either side of the impending 2011 Women's World Cup.  Not such a smart idea playing the WSL over the summer months, you might think.  The reason for this switch, which also throws the clubs out of sync for the Women's FA Cup, is to bring in more spectators and more interest.  It's so that the football can be screened on a big TV channel that everyone watches, like ESPN of course.  It's also so that there are no other pesky fixtures to distract people, football or otherwise and screw what the cricketers think.  Who watches cricket in the summer anyway, or any other sport for that matter?

Arsenal warm up before the game.

Regardless of whether the FA WSL is a good idea or not it has thrown up the biggest challenge to Arsenal Ladies dominance of the Women's game in England for a long while.  There are now several teams capable of competing with the Gunners on a regular basis in the league.  Birmingham City Ladies are definitely one of these teams and they went into the night at the head of the table, three points above the Gunners having played a game more.  Arsenal hosted this match at Meadow Park, their Borehamwood home and managed to draw an impressive crowd of 789.

Birmingham started the brighter with a couple of chances spurned.  The great family atmosphere at the game was exemplified early on by the seven year old near the front screaming "dickhead" at the referee, it was probably deserved as well as he made yet another poor decision; winning a corner or throw-in from this team of officials was very much a case of roll a six to start.  The one woman, Arsenal army briefly gave the girl-guide songs a rest to have a go at the ref, again correctly.  The Birmingham right-back, Weston, had decided it was probably easier to mark Rachel Yankey if she was rolling around on the floor in agony and promptly tried to cut her in half with a thumping tackle.  If it was in El Clasico she'd be off, as it was Weston saw yellow.  

The Birmingham ascendancy didn't last long as Kim Little's class started to show through in the Arsenal midfield.   Little's superb work playing in Danielle Carter and Ellen White up front or supplying a fully recovered Rachel Yankey on the wing was really starting to cause the Blues defence trouble.  Someone should really tell the Blues' defence they aren't good enough to play it out from the back.  Arsenal went close a couple of times as Chapman tested the Birmingham 'keeper and White shot narrowly wide after doing well to get in front of her marker.  Despite Jo Potter in the Birmingham midfield looking like the only player who could hold her own, Birmingham should've been in front; ex-Gunner Karen Carney spanking the ball over when it looked easier to score.  Carney's profligacy was punished almost instantly when Ellen White ran onto a long ball over the top and lofted the 'keeper from 25 yards.  Great finish and 1-0 Arsenal at half time.

Birmingham defend an Arsenal corner.

The Arsenal fans spent the break either discussing the goal, irritatingly talking about how "quaint" the ground was or wondering why Rachel Yankey was booked towards the end of the half.  For those fans still wondering, it was because she kicked the ball away.  You'd think Arsenal fans would know that rule better than anyone by now!  The aforementioned Yankey set White up early on in the second-period but she could only smash the ball against the bar.  This was the best chance Arsenal would get as a resurgent Birmingham went on the rampage.  Some great wing play saw a wonderful cross to the back stick, headed back across goal and into the bottom corner by Williams.

Arsenal looked for a response with Little trying to fashion chances but the Gunners backline, missing key players, looked visibly shaken.  Arsenal 'keeper, Emma Byrne, who was lucky to stay on the pitch having karate-kicked an opponent in the chest, found herself having to pick the ball out of the net again minutes later. The Arsenal defence looked startlingly like it's Premier League counterpart as a mistake allowed Carney to walk round the on-rushing 'keeper and slot home into an empty net.  Arsenal tried to unsettle the Birmingham back-line in the remaining 15 minutes but the Blues always looked comfortable as they claimed the three points to stay top of the WSL.

Next up: The final game of the regulation BSB Conference North season as Boston take on Vauxhall Motors at York St.

Stand up if you love Villa...

Aston Villa vs Blackburn

Rain and a pitch which reportedly resembled Skegness beach at high tide put pay to Boston's trip to Stafford Rangers; not unexpectedly, it has to be said.  There was doubt about this game from as early as Tuesday when Stafford's mid-week clash also fell prey to the conditions.  So it was that, while hopeful the game would be on, several of us set out with back-up plans at the forefront of our minds.

With confirmation of the cancellation coming just after 10 a.m. the discussion on where to go began in earnest.  There were a couple of non-league options but all were either off or in severe doubt.  That only left the higher league clubs... great.  One suggestion which was quickly shot down was a trip to MK "franchise FC" Dons, I am not going there!  The other options within easy reach were Leicester vs Coventry, Wolves vs Blackpool, Walsall vs Rochdale and Aston Villa vs Blackburn.  Leicester was too expensive; Wolves wasn't appealing and was, as More in Hope than Expectation later found, inexplicably sold out;  I'd already been to Walsall so that left a trip to Villa Park.

The players line up before kick-off

The Premier League is pretty tight near the relegation spots and both Villa and Blackburn were nervously glancing over their shoulders at the start of the day.  A win for Villa would propel them to mid-table and above their rivals.  Blackburn were looking for three points from the teams ninth meeting in two seasons, to cement their mid-table status and stave off relegation fears.  Meeting up with the other Pilgrims at Villa Park it was apparent that it's a nice enough ground and, from our £23, back-row seats, we could definitely see plenty of it!

Villa attack the Blackburn goal.

Sadly, the view was largely wasted for the first 45 minutes as the "greatest league the world has ever seen©" produced one of the worst first halves I have ever seen.  There were only two points of interest; only one of which was football related.  The first point was how any club could pay £24 million for Darren Bent; through on goal with only a prone 'keeper to beat, he walked it right into the 'keepers hands.  The second was the hilarity of, possibly seated, Villa fans in the Holte End singing "stand up if you love Villa" eliciting absolutely no response from any other Villa fan in sight.  Clearly the fans aren't that enamoured with their club!  Villa did muster the odd shot, mainly thanks to some woeful Blackburn defending.  Luckily for Blackburn the Villa efforts were equally poor and were easily kept out.

The second half produced some entertainment.  Blackburn had an attack straight from the kick-off.  However, within minutes of the restart Ashley Young was hauled down in the box after the defender was reluctant to get rid. The penalty was duly dispatched past Paul Robinson in the Blackburn net by Young.  Blackburn seemed insistent on returning the ball to Villa with every pass.  Ten minutes later and an own goal (Hanley) was followed closely by a good run and finish from Downing to put Villa three in front and cruising.

Young about to convert the penalty.

Villa were controlling the game and Blackburn had only managed one shot on target until the 80th minutes when a heavily deflected Kalinic shot foxed Friedel in the Villa goal to make it 3-1.  Blackburn's fledgeling comeback was very short lived as Young made it 4-1 with a good shot from 20 yards almost straight from the restart.  Both Kalinic and Emile Heskey, or "the Premier League's Danny Davidson", put shots narrowly wide in the closing minutes.  Blackburn's woeful performance was capped when Nelsen was sent off for bringing down Young inside stoppage time.

So, the first half was awful but five goals and a sending off in the second period partially made up for that.  After all, it could've been much worse; we could've gone to Walsall!

Next up: Boston United vs Droylsden

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.

A nice distraction

Wootton Blue Cross vs AFC Kempston Rovers

After yesterday's debacle at York St. I decided I needed to get the bad taste out of my mouth immediately so I, along with about 100 others, made my way down to a ridiculously cold Weston Park in Wootton, Bedfordshire; where fourth bottom Wootton Blue Cross would be playing host to high flying AFC Kempston Rovers in a postponed Boxing Day fixture in the Hereward Teamware United Counties League Division One.  A win for AFC Kempston would see them go second ahead of two fixtures against the teams around them.  Wootton would be looking to consolidate into mid-table.  Apologies for just the one photo, it was too cold!

Wootton defend yet another Kempston corner.

AFC Kempston started the brighter and seemed to have a little more class on the ball than Wootton as  expected from the club's respective league positions.  The pressure was being piled on with numerous corners but the Wootton defence was standing strong and dealing well with any aerial threat Rovers could muster.  Clearly the Kempston 'keeper continuously shouting "Kempston winners" whenever the ball was thumped up into the air was having little effect.  This was demonstrated perfectly when a Wootton goal-kick fell to the right winger who travelled with the ball before cutting in and flashing a shot-come-cross which the Kempston shot stopper did well to keep out.  Wootton were having the better of the chances despite not seeing much of the ball and some good work down the left wing resulted in a very dangerous ball across the face of goal.  Kempston rallied towards the end of the first half and a foul on Sam Brown, their ex-Rushden and Diamonds left back, presented an opportunity.  A good ball in from the free-kick resulted in a scramble before the ball was hacked clear by a Wootton defender.

The second half started with Kempston seeing a lot of the ball but still not fashioning many chances.  The Rovers management gave it 15 minutes and, when it was still even, switched things around a bit.  Kempston went 4-3-3 and pressed on forcing Wootton to go with one up front and to drop off a lot more.  Blue Cross weren't helped by their lone striker's inability to be onside, ever.  Kempston's pressing was nearly their undoing though.  A high line enabled a ball to split the defence but the Wootton front man wasn't able to do any more than chip it into the 'keepers waiting arms.  This Wootton chance was the exception though and Kempston were knocking at the door.

They thought they'd found a way in when a big penalty shout went up.  The ref and linesman both said no and they were probably right.  It would have been harsh as the lad had no chance to get his hand out of the way.  It almost didn't matter as the ball dropped kindly and the striker was inches away from connecting with the cross at the back post.  Wootton were sitting deeper and deeper and this cautious approach was to prove costly.  A Rovers attack down the left wing struck a defender on the head and fell back to the winger.  A driven cross was fired in which was bundled home from close range by the Kempston number 10 with seven minutes to go.  Wootton went in search of the equaliser straight from the restart but pushed too many men forward and two minutes later a simple ball over the top put a Kempston striker clean through.  He calmly sold the keeper a dummy and slotted the ball into the bottom corner to effectively end the match.

I've just about got the feeling back into my fingers by typing this!  In spite of the cold it was a very entertaining match and one that was thoroughly worth the £4 gate money.  A pleasant distraction from Boston United for a night.

Next up: It really is Stalybridge Celtic away this time!  Honest!

Paul Bastock, what a legend!

St Albans City vs Ebbsfleet United

Welcome to Clarence Park.

Week two of no games for Boston.  Week two of finding a relatively local game.  Week two of a lie-in on Saturday morning, I could get used to this.  This weeks chosen game was a B.S.B. Conference South game at Clarence Park.  I'd lived five miles from the home of St Albans for three years and only now I've moved away do I bother going.  I had attempted the trip once on a cold Tuesday night but my trip was scuppered by a bus strike.  Bloody typical.  This time, however, I did make it to the ground as the trains proved a mite more reliable than the bus service.

Clarence Park looks fairly foreboding from the outside and the inside isn't much better.  The ground has all the makings of classic non-league - it could do with a tidy up in other words.  Eleven pounds entry is a little steep for a struggling side in a shabby ground and might go some way to explaining why attendances hover around the 350 mark; a little low for a city.  The journey through the turnstiles and up the steps to the top of the terrace makes it feel like entering an amphitheater, terraces surround three sides of the ground with a raised seating section running along the dug-out side of the pitch.  There is a small amount of covering over the terrace straddling the half-way line.  The terracing is heavily populated by grass growing through it and enclosed by a large tin wall.

The terrace has seen better days.

There is a supporters bar which sits above the seated section and can be accessed by leaving the ground through a back entrance - make sure to keep your ticket to get back in!  The bar furnishing matches much of the rest of the ground.  That said the real quality of a bar can only be judged by it's beer and this was excellent; an offering of local, micro-brewed ale goes a long way.  The bar was almost entirely populated by 'Fleet fans and there was a feeling that this would be the Saints greatest attendance of the season so far - this turned out to be correct with 472 in attendance.  I ended up discussing the problems of St Albans with a Geordie called Dave who encouraged people to support the team of the town in which they were born.  This seemed a little odd at first until he explained he was a Geordie fan and was only at Clarence Park to report back to his university bound son who'd been born in St Albans.

Bazza: Legend.  Fact.

Dave informed me that the Saints had been struggling at the back, in the midfield and going forwards.  The only options up front were two big men who had all the skill of Danny Davidson but none of the luck.  In fact the only two good players were the left back and the legend that is Paul Bastock.  Bazza was voted Boston's all time greatest player having made 625 appearances for us.  Great goalkeeper.

The fears about the rest of the team seemed well founded when sixth place Ebbsfleet dominated the game straight from kick-off.  Ebbsfleet were eleven games undefeated and St Albans didn't look like challenging this run.  It took 18 minutes for the away side to break through as a Callum Willock shot deflected over Bazza.  The Saints were seeing plenty of the ball but they went long every time and seemed to struggle at winning the knock-downs.  'Fleet were the only team looking likely until the Saints finally managed to get hold of one of the long balls and Inih Effiong slotted home for a frankly undeserved equalizer.  Ten minutes later Ebbsfleet were back in front as Tom Phipp headed home from a corner to end the half.

The travelling 'Fleet support.

The second period followed a similar pattern of play.  Ebbsfleet dominated completely, creating several chances which they were unable to convert.  St Albans really struggled to get any of the ball and only managed one chance of note late on.  A team on better form would have run out winners by a five or six goal margin, 'Fleet had to settle for the one.  St Albans are going to have to improve dramatically to pull themselves out of trouble at the bottom of the table because - as Geordie Dave pointed out - a relegation may just kill a club struggling for attendances as things stand already.

Next up: Boston United attempt to go back to the top of the B.S.B. Conference North away at Blyth Spartans.

N.B.: Boston do play away at Guiseley on Tuesday but I can't go to that one.  You can follow the game on the excellent United Live service.

Plane sailing

Cranfield United vs Hoddesdon Town

The mighty Pilgrims are out of action this FA Cup weekend, due to a not so mighty performance in the second qualifying round.  As such we all had to find our own entertainment.  My choice was a short trip to strugglers Cranfield United to see them take on sixth place Hoddesdon Town in a Molten Spartan South Midlands League Division One Clash, that's step six in case you're wondering.  Cranfield United play their games at Crawley Road.  Appropriately for the league the ground is fairly spartan, there is a covered stand down one side which houses some lovely seats and a lean-to sheltering the tea hatch.  The ground is located at the end of an airport so if you get bored of the football you can always watch the planes take off and land.

The club house at Crawley Road is something to behold.  Well furnished and very tidy, with Sky T.V. and windows with a great view looking out over one end of the pitch.  Yes the beer isn't brilliant and yes it's a little expensive at £2.70 for a pint of Fosters but it has to be one of the best club houses I have visited in recent years.  The programmes are £3 for a largely black and white offering, this is offset by free entry though so what more could one want?

The teams line-up.

Those boots don't make you
any better son...

Cranfield have only managed two wins from seventeen coming into this game, both at Crawley Road.  This looks like an easy win for Hoddesdon then?  No.  Hoddesdon have been on a shocking run and currently sit below the Cranes in the form table having taken only five points from the last six games.  Hoddesdon started the better and pushed Cranfield back; even when United did manage to exert some pressure Hoddesdon broke well.  One of these breaks lead to the first major incident.  The ball was launched over the top for a (possibly offside) Town player to run on to.  The keeper made a right hash of the clearance, handling the ball well outside the box and injuring himself in the process; before a defender managed to clear.  The referee refused to give either decision and after a lengthy stoppage to treat the keeper play continued.  Hoddesdon belted the crossbar from 35 yards with a terrific effort.  Moments later another 30 yard shot was lashed wide.  Town's players certainly weren't shy of shooting from distance and this was having a telling effect on the Cranfield manager who was smoking like a chimney in his technical area.  Add in the odd booking and that was pretty much the half.

Town's managers,
like mini Scott and Hurst.

Cranfield flew out of the blocks after the break playing some wonderful football against the clearly more technically gifted Town.  In spite of all their good work it was Hoddesdon who were creating the chances, forcing the United keeper into making three great saves in succession.  Cranfield responded well and could've put themselves in front from a set piece but their striker just couldn't connect.

Minutes later Cranfield did go into the lead in bizarre circumstances.  The ball was thrown into the box for a United striker to scramble it home but the flag was raised.  The referee consulted the assistant who'd raised the flag and after a conference decided the ball had come off a Hoddesdon player.  No offside; the goal was given.  1-0 to Cranfield.  It could have been two but a United shot was blocked on the edge of the box as the 30-ish in attendance sheltered from a heavy autumnal squall.

Hoddesdon heads dropped following the goal and they struggled to create chances.  Cranfield were easily on top until a spate of bookings for time-wasting and bad challenges resulted in a United player getting his marching orders for a second yellow.  This lifted Town who had multiple chances from a set piece as the ball pinged about in the Cranfield area before being poked out; Cranfield were lucky to survive but it didn't last for long as a good volley found the back of the net from the resulting corner.

Cranfield apply some pressure.

Town were flying and were unlucky not to pull off a spectacular come back.  A poor back-pass put the 'keeper in trouble which he compounded by clearing to a Town striker ten yards out.  Unfortunately for Town the striker fluffed his lines and rolled it back to the grateful keeper.  Town had one last chance to grab the win as the ball bounced around in the Cranfield box before a Hoddesdon player handled on the line.  1-1 and full-time in a very exciting and entertaining game.

Next-up: still no Pilgrims action so it's St Albans City vs Ebbsfleet United in the Conference South - probably.

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.

Special Reserve

Newark Town vs Boston United Reserves

Welcome to Station Road.

The peanuts in question, at least the year is correct!

I was presented with a choice of games this weekend.  Boston United away at glamorous Gainsborough in the Lincs. Senior Shield or Boston's reserve team away at step seven Newark Town.  I've been to Gainsborough before and I'm going again later this season, with this in mind the lure of a ground tick and a hint of the unknown was irresistible; especially when compared to a day in Gainsborough.  The first obstacle was locating the ground.  Don't get me wrong, it isn't difficult to get there from the station, it's just not Newark station that you get there from.  Newark Town actually play their games at Station road in Collingham, a village just north of the town itself.  The ground itself is little more than a field with a fence down each touchline.  There is a clubhouse serving (terrible) beer and out of date peanuts so it is best avoided if at all possible.

The second issue came into sharp focus while I watched the Boston team warm up:  I had no idea who any of our players were.  In fact this was such an issue that for the first ten minutes of the pre-match warm-up I was watching the wrong team not realizing that Boston reserves play in the white away kit worn by the first-team last year, not the light blue away kit of this years first-team.  Worryingly I wasn't the only one confused as one of the Boston players tried warm up with the Town squad.  Even more worryingly it seems the official site doesn't know who our players are either.

We're the ones in white, yeah?

As a couple of home fans arrived, meaning I no longer outnumbered the home support one to none, the referee led the teams out.  The ref. looked about six and I'm sure it was the same guy who refereed the game I attended at Radford over Easter this year.  The reserves started the game on the front foot and Newark soon had to hack the ball off the line to keep the scores level.  Things became more evenly balanced as both teams cancelled each other out in midfield.  United had the better of the half going forward and struck the crossbar just before half-time.  Town were lucky to go into the break on level terms only mustering one decent effort in the entire half.

It's like spot the Newark fan, but without any Newark fans...

I'm not one hundred per-cent sure that the same Boston side came out in the second half.  I say this not because the faces were any different but because the performance most certainly was.  With Boston half asleep Newark looked to take advantage.  Good work from the keeper came to United's rescue when the right back dawdled, not for the first time, and was dispossessed.  Boston took the lead against the run of play when the ref. awarded a penalty.  I'm not entirely sure he got that right but it did balance a marginal decision he got wrong in the first-half, sort of.  The ball was duly dispatched and the game settled back into the rhythm that had dominated much of the second period.  Newark eventually got the equalizer that they deserved courtesy of some route one stuff.  Long ball punted over the top for the striker to run onto. Bang. One all.  'Pass the ball better, all of you'; some good advice from United's manager.  It paid off too as Boston woke up and started playing again.  Chances came and went, Boston hit the bar then had to clear off their own goal line moments later, but ultimately time ran out for both sides.  1-1.  Probably about right on the day.

Next time: I go to Wembley to watch some overpaid, badly organised chumps muck about for an hour and a half; and that's just the train on the way there...

Pre-season three: Once upon a time in St Neots.

St Neots Town F.C. vs Farnborough FC

Welcome to The Building Site, home of St Neots Town F.C.

Tuesday saw me make a trip across to St Neots for yet another pre-season game.  I managed to find the Hunts Post Community Stadium without too much bother.  The ground is located in the middle of a half finished housing estate and walking to it at night feels like something out of 28 days later.  This fact aside the ground has brilliant public transport links nearby (unlike Sutton Parkway) with regular bus services to Cambridge and Oxford as well as being within walking distance of an East Coast Mainline station.

St Neots have been in their ground for around a year now and the facilities are very impressive.  Currently the ground seats 300 people in a stand down one side which is shared with a nice perspex walled covered area which could, in the right circumstances, be used to make some noise.  Terraces are located at the ends of the ground, which only requires a minor upgrade to reach Conference level.  Inside: the sports bar looks very impressive and is furnished with leather chairs and sofas.  Alcohol is allowed outside in plastic and glass in the build up but not while the actual game is taking place which does beg the question, what is the point of plastic?  Wouldn't it be nice if clubs could just be a bit consistent on the issue of alcohol in grounds?

The main seated stand.

The perspex stand, how long until one of the sides is smashed?

Yet again the football proved me wrong as the match was great fun to watch and far more entertaining than any of the World Cup games.  The match was looking a bit predictable when Farnborough went ahead in the first minute but the goal was ruled out and St Neots never looked back.  You wouldn't know on this evidence which team collected 93 points last season in the Zamretto Premier, scoring 100 goals in the process and which team missed out on promotion from the United Counties League, finishing second.

The Saints were first to every knock down and won every second ball while playing some really classy passing football.  When Farnborough did manage to win back possession St Neots closed down really quickly and pressed up well.  The newly promoted Conference South side looked a bit rattled by this and they couldn't get any tempo into their game.  With Farnborough struggling to create anything, St Neots took a well deserved lead.  Some woeful marking from a corner enabled the Saints player to get loose and knock his free header down for a front post tap-in.

Desperate defending: Farnborough struggle to clear their lines.

Farnborough tried to put pressure on after the break but team changes made it difficult to get any rhythm and the frustration started to tell.  A few tasty challenges started to fly in and in a competitive match the referee would have found it impossible to keep his cards in his pocket.  Farnborough did manage to win a few set pieces but even then they seemed incapable of delivering anything other than a deep cross which the keeper collected expertly all night.  I got the feeling that a driven near post ball could have provided an equalizer but it never materialized and the chances slipped away.

On this showing St Neots could be making some real headway in the United Counties League this year, as long as Kings Lynn don't boss it that is.  On the other hand I hope that was nowhere near a full team from Farnborough otherwise I think they are really going to struggle for goals in the Conference South.  Not that you can really tell anything from these pre-season games anyway.

Next time: Boston United take on the oldest club in the world.

Pre-season - A Belfast Special

Cliftonville vs FC United of Manchester

Cliftonville are Northern Ireland's oldest club.  I say that because I think it's likely that there are some of you out there who don't know.  Founded in 1879 'The Reds' have won the Irish League three times, finishing second last season.  The week before FCUM's visit they beat HNK Cibalia in the first leg of the second qualifying round for the Europa League.  On the whole then it was looking like a tough ask for FC United to get anything out of this game, the inaugural Ladbrooks Supporters Cup.

Donegal Celtic Park clubhouse.

Sadly the game was moved from Cliftonville's Solitude stadium to Donegal Celtic Park due to work being carried out to install a 3G pitch at Solitude.  Donegal Celtic Park is basically a drinking club with a stadium attached, currently the ground holds 3,000 (1,600 seated) but there are plans to increase the capacity to 5,000.  The seated stands are quite modern in design and look a little bit odd next to the old style cowsheds running down one side.  There is access to the clubhouse during the game but it takes that long to find ones way through the dark alleys and randomly distributed games rooms that it might not be worth it.  A word of warning; the ground (and clubhouse) are in a Nationalist area so it's probably best not to walk in wearing a England shirt, or a Rangers one for that matter.  In fact it's probably best to be careful in the rest of Belfast as well.  I found it to be quite an uncomfortable place to visit.  Having said that, this is a football blog not a travel guide so let's get on with the game.

Arriving well before the game we found an Anti-Racist World Cup five-a-side tournament taking place.  Teams from around the world were taking part in an attempt to raise awareness for the anti-racist, anti-fascist cause.  The tournament looked a good laugh and the atmosphere was very relaxed with some of the substitutes taking on the odd pint of Guinness while on the sidelines.  Eventually the tournament came to an end and it was time for the main event.

Substitutes on a strict health regime.

Pouring out of the drinking club and into the ground the FC United fans took over the 400 seater away stand and proceeded to make some noise.  I'm not sure where I stand on this.  Whilst it is nice to have a good atmosphere it did seem a little exuberant for a pre-season game.  A lot of the songs were also very Manchester United orientated.  I was assured this isn't always the case but it is a little confusing.

FC United: 'A Right Bunch Of Dicks'.

Don't get me wrong, I have a lot of respect for what FC United are doing.  I think it is a great idea to give football back to the fans; it's not just about Galzier either, it's about the ridiculous ticket prices and the kick-off times dictated by Sky.  All these things ruin the modern game.  All these things are important.  However, it does seem a little odd that fans sing songs about never going back to Old Trafford and not giving money to Glazier, yet they also sing about being the best team in Europe and some even turn up in Man Utd shirts.  Maybe I've missed the point, maybe someone will tell me I've got it wrong.  I hope so.

That all said, the atmosphere was very good and the songs about George Best had added poignancy as all fans, FC United and Cliftonville alike, joined in.  It was down to the football to provide the entertainment to match the atmosphere.  Cliftonville started slowly with FCUM having all the early chances including a 30 yard drive.  The early pressure was soon rewarded with a goal on 19 minutes from Michael Norton who took advantage of a goal keeping error to rifle home from short range.  The goal sparked the odd chance from Cliftonville but they were unable to convert and FCUM went into half-time unlucky not to be two goals to the good after hitting the post.

FC United defend a corner.

Half-time saw my companions an I make an ill-advised trip to the snack bar.  If Donegal Celtic are going to increase the ground's capacity to 5,000 they are going to need much, much better facilities.  There was only one solitary burger van outside and we started queueing just before half-time.  We we're in the queue until roughly 20 minutes from the end of the game.  It was only when we were near the front that we were informed of another bar inside serving the same types of food.  In fairness though, the queue wasn't even that long.  Slow service from a one woman team, who insisted on putting sauce on the burgers for the customers rather than getting on with the next order was a cause for much consternation.  After all that the food wasn't even that good.

FC United fans filling the away stand, taken from the burger queue.

Taking all that into consideration I didn't have that great a view of the second half.  Five FCUM substitutions seemed to damage the team dynamic and Cliftonville quickly started to assert themselves.  Five minutes into the second half and the equalizer came with Caldwell firing home as the loose ball rattled around the area.  FCUM had only one real chance in the second half but failed to convert it as Cliftonville threatened to run rampant.  The home side took the lead on 72 minutes when a square ball eluded the defence and Caldwell slotted home.  The poor view made for a moment of confusion a couple of minutes later as it was unclear whether a carbon copy of Cliftonville's second goal had been allowed or not.  This was only cleared up after the game, turns out it was offside and the final score was 2-1 to the home side.

Next up: St Neots, high flyers in last seasons UCL take on new Conference South members Farnborough.