Dr Jekyll

Boston United vs Hyde FC

The first round proper of the FA Trophy brought yet another new team to York St... no, wait... brought the same team that was here barely a month ago.  Hyde did us over on that occasion with a couple of soft goals.  Since then United have been in good form, with the exception of the last Trophy game, even if results haven't quite been there.  In an effort to maintain this momentum the line-up was unchanged.

Apologies for the lack of photos, my camera doesn't like to focus when it's cold.

The story of Boston's season was played out in the first half as the Pilgrims did well but struggled to threaten in the final third.  There were very few chances of note, Hyde seeing a chance flicked just wide of the post while United saw Newsham and Semple shots blocked.  Ian Ross had a go from range, forcing the Hyde 'keeper to save well.  United went behind just before the break, the otherwise good Jordan Fairclough was done down the Pilgrims right and the resulting cross was smashed past Bastock via the head of Spencer.  Boston tried to respond immediately but Jason Lee's header was cleared off the line.

The second half performance was much improved and the Pilgrims pushed Hyde back.  The good Boston play was rewarded on the hour.  Austin converting a Milnes corner to notch up his eighth goal in twenty something years and his first for the Pilgrims.  As the Pilgrims celebrated, Hyde's Griffin stupidly mouthed off and earned himself a second yellow.  Possibly the daftest sending off since Jamie Yates threw a ball in a players face when Boston were 10-0 up against Durham!  

Moonrise over the York St end; brass monkeys.

Ben Fairclough was thrown into the mix as ten-men Hyde struggled to handle United.  United scored their second through Ben Fairclough, the shortest player on the pitch - possibly in the world - heading home a driven cross from Ross.  Hyde recovered well and maintained possession in the closing stages but the return of Tom Ward in the middle of the defence, after Jelleyman was subbed off injured, ensured that nothing got through.  Ward has been a massive miss for Boston so hopefully he's nearly back to match fitness.  Despite their possession it was Hyde who looked more likely to concede.  United were giving the Manchester club a taste of their own medicine and playing confidently, with pace on the break.  Sleath was twice denied by the Hyde shot-stopper who then had to be alert to keep Ross out just before full-time.

Boston through to the second round then and the draw has thrown up Dartford away.  Dartford are doing well in the BSB South and will be a tough challenge for the Pilgrims.  Don't they have grass on their roof or something?

Next up for me: Eastwood Town at York St on Boxing Day.

Centurion.

Boston United vs Hyde

My 100th post on this blog is celebrated by a gala event, the league leaders at York St.  Sadly it is not the home team which brings this honour but the team from the outskirts of Manchester.  Having really struggled to stay-up last year, Hyde have undergone quite a transformation.  Training equipment from Man. City and a few players from Hoddle's Spanish academy have revolutionised the club who are now flying and are surely title contenders.

An unseasonably sunny and warm York St.

Boston, on the other hand, aren't struggling but aren't flying either; the Pilgrims seem to be hit and miss at the best of times.  The rearranged Hyde game kicks off a difficult run of league games that sees the Pilgrims face Hyde, Gainsborough and Stalybridge; a good start to the run was a must.  Newsham was the only change, starting up front in place of Burrow.  United started brilliantly, pressing Hyde every time the team in blue had the ball.  The first ten minutes saw United have the best of the play but Hyde defended well, limiting Boston to shooting from distance; Newsham and Hall's efforts dealt with easily by the 'keeper.

Hyde were being pressed back but did have a penalty shout turned down by the referee.  Bastock claimed the ball before taking the man, thankfully the ref was pretty decent (two in two weeks?!) and competent enough to see the touch.  So the pen was turned down despite the appeals of the Hyde support.  Next it was the Hyde 'keepers turn to cut it a bit fine, sidestepping Newsham with the ball at his feet.  United were ending the half the better, the 'keeper denying Newsham a couple more times before the break.  Hall also had a flying finish to the first period, booked for a nothing foul on Payne who made the most he could of it.  He then went on a stunning run from deep inside the United half but couldn't pick out anyone in support.

Payne showing what he can do when he isn't falling over!

United's failure to take advantage was to cost them as the Payne showed he was capable of more than just falling over by out-foxing White superbly to gain space from which he placed the ball past Bastock.  United came back brilliantly and thought they were level when Newsham placed a sublime finish into the back of a net, however, he was adjudged to be offside when Lee's flick on came in.  Payne was in the thick of it again as Bastock committed himself.  Payne, seemingly through on goal, saw his shot kept out by Canoville, the gaffer back covering for his over-committed 'keeper.

It wasn't long before Hyde were two up.  A cross was thrown in to the United area and Hyde's Hall was able to knock down to Broadbent - both completely unmarked - who smashed the second home.  Boston heads dropped and the pressing had taken it's toll on the Pilgrims' stamina.  Hyde hit the woodwork twice in stoppage time but if losing by two was a little unfair on the Pilgrims, any more would have been a travesty!  So, not quite the flying start needed for the tough games ahead but a performance like that at Gainsborough away will surely bring a win.

Next up: Gainsborough Trinity away.

Cullingworth's had a shocker.

Boston United vs Hyde FC

First off, to be fair, this debacle wasn't entirely Cullingworth's fault.  Cullingworth was in the team, along with Newsham and débutant Stef Frost, for this clash as third top met third bottom at York St.  Pearson missed out through injury whilst Ryan Semple and Lawrie Dudfield were ill.  With recent form taken into account this game seemed to be a home banker.  A view backed up six minutes in when Canoville, wearing the seemingly magic number five shirt, powered home a header following a Yates cross.  Very Pearson-esque.

It looked like Boston would assert themselves and collect a big win but before the twenty minute mark Hyde were level.  Cullingworth, not for the first time, found himself out of position and wasn't able to stop Kevin Holsgrove making him look more than a little silly.  Holsgrove cut inside with ease and his effort deflected off Canoville and over a stranded Bastock.  Cullingworth was lacking support from the alleged right-winger, Frost, who seemed to want to play as a striker.  This left the befuddled right-back exposed time and again to the excellent Hyde wing play particularly from the superb Holsgrove.  Canoville was doing his best to cover but just didn't have the pace.  Hyde were on the front foot but nearly found themselves behind as Newsham went close to converting a top class volley as the ball dropped over his shoulder.

Callum Byrne walks.

Boston were lucky not to go down to ten men just before the half hour.  Kevin 'Keith' Austin threw in a rash challenge in the box and the Hyde striker went down.  Surely a nailed on penalty and a red card as the last man?  No.  The ref gave nothing.  Amazed that Boston had got away with that, things got even more bizarre as the play moved to the other end.  Some brilliant build-up play saw Yates through and this time it was the Boston man who went down in the box.  Red card, penalty.  Church duly did the honours to put United back in front.

Church converts the penalty.

Boston had chances to go further in front before half-time.  My man of the match, Jelleyman, was playing an absolute blinder from left-back and was unlucky that the front men couldn't capitalize on his good build-up work.  Sleath was also playing well in the build-up, showing some wonderful "forty-yard, cross-field passes" even if his effort near to half-time was tame.  The break saw the reserve team parade the Lincolnshire League trophy, won comfortably with a couple of games to spare.  Well done, lads!

Pilgrims on the attack.

The second half started fairly evenly and it was difficult to know which team was down to ten.  Both 'keepers had to be awake early in the second period to deny good dipping chances.  Bastock keeping out a header while Church was denied a great free-kick.  Frost was still lending no support to Cullingworth and so swapped wings with Yates.  This didn't alter Jamie Cullingworth's performance much.  This was evidenced by the class moment of him closing a striker down but instead of tackling, he stopped, looked across the line at the linesman and just let the striker run into space to receive the pass.  Well done Jamie, well done.  There were flashes of class from Frost but not enough to warrant a start for me.  Frost was replaced by Boyes and Newsham slipped out to the wing, let's just hope it's a lack of match fitness from Frost.

15 minutes from full-time and an Austin hospital ball dropped Bazza right in it.  The Boston 'keeper made a hash of controlling it and completely flattened the otherwise through-on-goal striker in the process.  How Bastock stayed on the pitch, I do not know.  It was at this point that Hyde striker, Matty Barlow, decided to make a tit of himself by goading the Town End.  Smart, however, managed to keep his composure and nailed home the equalizer from the spot.

The Town End sees it's second penalty of the day.

Hyde had a great chance to go in front with minutes left but the lucky Bastock saved well.  United threw everything at their lowly placed visitors but some really tame efforts never even tested the Hyde 'keeper.  The seven or so Hyde fans went home the happier out of the 1346 in attendance with the draw.  The Hyde players received a well deserved round of applause from the United fans as they left the pitch.  Fair play to them and I hope they stay up, preferably at the expense of 'Tinpot' Trinity.

Next up:  A double bill as Boston host Stamford AFC in the Lincs. Senior Shield final and the Reserves host Louth Town Reserves in the Lincs. League.

A good Hyde-ing... (sorry)

Hyde F.C. vs Boston United

Last time Boston made the trip to Hyde things we're a bit different.  The ground was red not blue for starters; there weren't Manchester City badges plastered everywhere either and Hyde were called Hyde United as well.  Last time there was a wonderful lines-woman who hadn't a clue and disallowed four goals, three for us and one for them, all for offside and mostly incorrectly; we lost 2-1.  Boston now have a team that actually give a crap which is a huge change from last time.  One thing that hasn't changed is the lack of chips at Ewen Fields.

Then...

Now.

Is this the way to Ewen Fields...

I didn't get the opportunity to sample the offerings of the clubhouse as my first choice train was cancelled due to the driver being held up by a bull on the line at Stalybridge, bloody public transport.  This meant that I had to get the next train and fight through the undergrowth to arrive a quarter of an hour before kick-off.  The vocal Pilgrims took station behind one of the goals near the 'scratter shed' as it was dubbed on our previous visit.  Hurst and Scott moved Newsham to the wing and started Spencer Weir-Daley instead of the displaced Jamie Yates.  Fears of a Vauxhall Motors repeat were quickly vanquished as the bowling green like surface played into the Pilgrims hands.  Boston started well and worked some good shooting positions resulting in a few tame shots which the Hyde keeper dealt with easily.  The pressure started to mount and the ball was in the back of the net before long.  It was offside, surprise surprise.  40 minutes in and Newsham broke the deadlock, "tapping home" a Weir-Daley through ball from ten yards.  It was the breakthrough that Boston's football deserved.  Hyde came back at United and searched for the equaliser but Boston went in at the break 1-0 up.

The 'scratter shed'.

The toilet break at half-time was harrowing at best; dark, dingy and an unidentified brown substance smeared over the wall.  Non-league, it's not for the feint hearted!  Putting that horrific experience out of my mind I went to get some food.  Hyde may not serve chips but their burgers are superb, I have to say I haven't had many better at a football ground and it's a vast improvement on the uncooked hot-dog from Vauxhall.  Relocating to the other end for the second half (a benefit of no segregation) emphasised how good Hyde's ground actually is.  Nicely covered terraces at either end and down one side with a large seated stand on the opposite side surround a well laid pitch.

This is how it feels to be City...

Hyde continued to come at Boston in the second half and McKeown made a fantastic save to keep them out.  The Pilgrims were still playing some beautiful stuff, prompting cries of 'ole' at every completed pass.  This was rewarded when Sleath carved through the stricken home defence leaving overweight, fridge-freezer resembling, defenders in his wake to play Weir-Daley in for a tap in.  Boston had a few more chances and managed to make it three in injury time as Sleath got a well deserved goal to cap a brilliant performance from both him and United as a whole.

Well done to the lads, as we keep up the pressure on Alfreton at the top of the table.  One other, worthy of note, was the referee and his linesmen.  I, like others, am quick to criticise but this guy was brilliant throughout.  Well done, Mr A. Holmes.  This game was a massive bonus in that it showed we can play nice football with a big man up top and Jason Lee had another cracking game.  Overall the lads were solid at the back, dominating in midfield, showed some great wide play and have got back into the habit of finishing.  Fantastic.

Next up: England continue their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign in group G against Montenegro at Wembley.