We don't really care. No really, we don't.

Boston United vs Stamford AFC

So, the Lincolnshire Senior Shield final.  Yep exciting, eh?  Or not.  This blog was going to be a double bill of LSS and reserve team action.  Sadly though the excitement of the final proved to be too much and I was overcome with a colossal apathy about the second of the two matches.  That isn't to say the LSS final wasn't a good game but at the end of the day, who really cares?  Not the Lincolnshire FA who couldn't be bothered to print any programmes and certainly not the United managers.

View from the Fantasy Island Stand; note "STAND".

The team the Pilgrims fielded was a heady mix of the odd first teamer, bench warmer or otherwise; several reserves and James Cullingworth.  I'd love to tell you who was playing but I don't actually know half of them.  What I do know is that our esteemed manager Jason Lee picked himself in the back four, just in front of Ricky Drury and alongside wonder captain for the night, Cullingworth.  Dudfield found himself in midfield with a recovered Ryan Semple on one wing and Stef Frost on the other.  Mickey Stones and an electric-blue-booted Danny Davidson started up front.  Bizarrely Stamford seemed to have almost as many Boston players as the United did with five ex-Pilgrims on the pitch.

From the vehemently policed all-seater Fantasy Island Stand (heaven forbid anyone should actually stand in the stand) it was clear to see not only why they all seem so grumpy over there in a normal game but also that Boston were bossing the opening stages.  Ryan Semple is clearly several steps of the football pyramid better than any of Stamford's players.  This showed as he consistently destroyed their full-backs and managed to get crosses into telling positions.  One of these crosses resulted in a penalty for United 14 minutes in for handball.  Sadly the Pilgrims hadn't brought their shooting boots with them as Stones messed up the spot kick.

Captain fantastic, James Cullingworth.

Semple continued to impress, providing opportunities for Davidson and Stones.  Frost actually did something for once, just a shame it was rubbish as his shot was spanked wide.  Davidson missed another opportunity following a good cross from Cullingworth (yes, you just read that right).  It wasn't all one way though and ex-Pilgrim Dan Cotton caused a few nervous moments for Ricky Drury.  Half-time brought an opportunity for fans of all persuasions to stand up without being shouted at by a jobs-worth loser of a steward.

He never used to weight that much!

The second half saw the Pilgrims spurn more chances in a bout of profligacy scarce witnessed before.  Davidson couldn't cap his excellent build up play with a goal and Stones hardly looked likely to score.  I don't think he'll be near the first team soon on this performance.  Dudfield had a belter of a shot just wide but there didn't seem to be any chance of United bothering a now podgy, ex-United Chris Wright.  Stamford again responded through Cotton, hitting the woodwork and requiring a good save from Drury to deny him.

Boston had the best chances to win the game in the closing stages.  The ball dropped to Jason Lee well within the penalty area.  The first shot was hit tamely at Chris Wright who clumsily spilt it back to Lee.  The player-manager's second effort pinged over the open goal mouth.  Thankfully, with levels of excitement as they were, there was no extra-time and the game went to penalties.  This is the first time I've seen Boston in a penalty shoot-out in... well, in ever!  Things were going well until Cullingworth, with all the predictability of an express train crushing an egg, fired the second penalty high over the bar.  Stamford converted all of their four penalties and ultimately it was a tame effort from Stef Frost which cost United the Shield.

Never mind.

Next up: A win against Blyth Spartans at York St will confirm the Pilgrim's Conference North play-off place.

Only Two Weeks? Are You Sure?!

For various reasons it's been almost two weeks since my last blog update, but what a two weeks!  The Pilgrims have played four, won four and are in the most successful run of form since the sixties.  These four victories have seen United slot home ten goals with only one conceded, defeat promotion rivals, reach the final of one competition and win another. Hectic is not the word!  After a bit of time to reflect I think now is a good time to sum up these events...

Retford Away

The topic of the last post was the away trip to Durham City AFC.  The Durham game on the Saturday was followed by a trip to fellow promotion chasers Retford United FC on a Tuesday night.  There are several ties between the clubs with ex-Boston players Peter Duffield (now Retford's manager), Lee Thompson and Paul Ellender all being involved in the Retford set-up.  The sides previous meeting at York St in September was, by all accounts, a fractious affair which resulted in a 1-0 defeat for the Boston and a touchline brawl.  With this in mind the trip to Cannon Park was looking a bit tasty to say the least.

The BUSA bus left Boston with around twenty five hardy supporters, as most had made other travel arrangements.  We made it almost all the way to Sleaford before technical issues with the lights slowed progress.  A replacement coach was sorted and with the remainder of the journey largely uneventful we arrived at Retford's ground.  Apparently bewildered by the large following from Lincolnshire and with a lengthy queue already forming at the turnstile, the stewards struggled to find room to park the bus in an already brimmed car park.  Upon entering the ground it became apparent just how many Boston had travelled.  In fact there was such a following that Retford's league attendance record was broken as 664 people poured into the ground through the one block of turnstiles.  The programmes sold out shortly after our arrival and the grease-packed offerings of the snack bar were depleted by half-time.  It was beginning to feel like one of those nights.

The teams shake hands.

As the match got under-way a 'physical' Retford side started well penning Boston back.  Boston started to come into the game and after several headed opportunities for Pearson the break-through came.  A nice move culminated with Weir-Daley putting in a cross for Sleath to nod home.  This lead was quickly cancelled out courtesy of a cracking Bettney free kick leaving the teams level at half time.

Cannon Park under floodlight with some of the travelling fans behind the goal.

A few minutes into the second half Boston's lead was restored. A deserved header from Pearson given, despite the claims for a foul on the keeper.  A nervous 30 mins followed but the Pilgrims managed to hold on.  At the final whistle all hell broke loose with people on the pitch, benches clashing and punches being thrown as the stewards and officials struggled to regain control.  All in all an ugly end to a fantastic night which went a long way to proving Boston's promotion credentials against one of the better teams in the league.

Curzon Ashton Away

Kick off time approaches at the Tameside Stadium.

This trip in the Unibond League Challenge Cup provided a first visit to the Tameside Stadium for Boston supporters.  The Tameside made a pleasant contrast with Cannon park.  The ground was tidy, with a good set of stands on either side and a very nice sports bar.  The atmosphere during the game was that of a pre-season friendly with the Pilgrim supporters more interested in events down the road at Gigg Lane where Durham City were picking up their first points of the season by beating FC United of Manchester.  Talking to some Curzon fans at the Ashton game earlier in the season I was assured that they would 'play us off the park'.  They didn't.  In fairness the football on display from both teams wasn't the best and two second half finishes from Sleath and Weir-Daley gave Boston the victory and a place in the final.  The ground tick was probably the highlight of the day.

Grantham Town Away

Lee Canoville looks a little embarrassed lifting the Lincs. Senior Shield (photo courtesy of Scott Dalton, who's excellent coverage of Boston United can be followed on Twitter).

Grantham Town hosted Boston in this year's Lincolnshire Senior Shield final.  The quality of this competition can be summed up by highlighting the fact that the shield is made of wood.  Again the quality of football on show was poor.  This time there wasn't even a nice ground, or enough programmes, to rescue the situation for the 378 fans in attendance.  The running track around the pitch contrived to kill off any atmosphere and put the crowd so far from the action as to dampen any excitement that might have arisen had it been a better game.  A professional performance from the Pilgrims was capped by a second half winner from the head of Shaun Pearson.  A huge downside to the night was an injury suffered by Adam Millson who fractured his leg, again.  It wasn't the best to watch but at the end of the day silver wood-ware is wood-ware.  One positive, the chips and curry sauce in the club house was well worth the £1.50 (ish) and come highly recommended.

Nantwich Town at York St

Saturday rolls round and it's finally time for a home match as Nantwich and their eleven fans are the visitors to York St.  It seems like it's been a long time coming with so many away games this month.  The Boston boys have some unfinished business with Nantwich.  5-0 drubbings home and away, along with a broken leg for Adam Millson last season, have left a sour taste in the mouth.  Boston went some way to putting this right late last year, hammering Nantwich 4-0 at the Weaver Stadium in October.

Boston started slow and were lucky not to be behind, a brilliant goal line clearance by Shaun Pearson rescuing the situation.  Boston kicked on from there and it took 17 minutes for Marc 'tap-in' Newsham (a.k.a. Jesus) to put the Pilgrims ahead from what looked to be a massively offside position.  This wasn't the only bit of help Boston got from the Referee who seemed to be biased in our favour for once (not that I'm complaining).  Boston came out for the second half 1-0 up but were nearly punished for being half-asleep when a free header was missed by Michael Lennon.  Again the Pilgrims were spurred on by this near miss and it wasn't long before Davidson put us ahead.  Boston never looked back from here and further goals followed from Weir-Daley, Sleath and Suarez.  Whilst not the best team to visit York St this season, Nantwich certainly weren't the worst.  This is a big win for Boston on a day when table toppers Bradford Park Avenue had a game called off and promotion hopefuls Retford and Guiseley could only draw.

In my opinion the difference between this performance and the preceding abject cup performances can be summed up in two words... Anthony Church.  This guy can run the midfield with his eyes shut and seems to be able to get the best from Danny Sleath as well.  Class player, I just hope we can keep him fit and playing.


As I said at the start, all that in two weeks, are you sure?  Looking ahead the Boston have what could be a really tough away game at Whitby Town this Wednesday.  Whitby's form has been pretty good recently with wins coming against Retford and North Ferriby, a defeat to Durham last week was the only real hiccup in their recent run.  The month is rounded off with a trip to play-off hopefuls North Ferriby making it one home game and six away games in March.  The Unibond sure know how to pack the games in.