Well We Were Never Going To Win That!

Stalybridge Celtic vs Boston United

A miserable day in Cheshire.

Historically the Pilgrims do not travel well to Bower Fold with four losses out of four trips and, with Stalybridge on good form, this trip didn't promise to be any better; on the up side, the Buffet Bar on Stalybridge station is a superb pub and makes the trip worth it, even if the football is rubbish!

As it turned out the football wasn't rubbish at all.  United nearly went ahead early on, Sleath setting Newsham up to draw a fantastic save from the Stalybridge 'keeper.  Boston were playing well, seemingly having regained some of the purpose from the Hyde and Gainsborough matches, and it was Jason Lee who put the next effort well over the crossbar.  Boston were defending well too; Fairclough, White, Austin and Jelleyman performing well as a unit.  Stalybridge were limited to the odd chance from set pieces but had the ball in the back of the net anyway, the goal ruled out for a push in the build up.  Any opportunities the home strikers did get were well mopped up by Bazza.

Stalybridge: the best team United have faced this season.

Boston were still creating and Jason Lee was in the thick of it.  Inadvertently blocking a shot on goal before heading on target from a Semple cross.  Stalybridge then exploited the only weakness in the otherwise strong United back-line; pace.  One quick break, one pull back and one neat finish saw Bazza picking the ball out of his net.  Gnahoua with the finish to make it 1-0 at half-time.

United continued to put in a good performance after the break.  The Pilgrims were searching for the equaliser and as the half wore on the formation became more and more attacking.  Hall, the other Fairclough and the reserves top scorer, Tony Edwards, were all introduced.  Stalybridge were looking to exploit the gaps left by the Pilgrims and the introduction of Craig Hobson was causing the pace-less centre-backs trouble.  Hobson having put one into the side-netting already, was taken clean out by White.  The resulting free-kick was put well over.

The Pilgrims fail to hit the target, repeatedly.

With ten minutes left, Boston failed to clear their lines following a corner.  The ball was arrowed in at pace and bounced off the leg of Hobson into the net.  Boston were soon back on the attack, a gorgeous ball into the box from Tony Edwards flew across the face of the net.  A touch, anything, on it and Boston would've been back in the game.  Unfortunately for United neither Hall or Newsham could get there in time.  Austin was denied by the 'keeper following a Milnes free-kick as the Boston chances racked up.

Semple, following Edwards lead, swang a great ball in for Newsham but the 'keeper was on hand to tip the ball out.  Stalybridge broke from the resulting corner.  Marsh outpaced the defenders and crossed to Hobson who finished the Pilgrims off in injury time.  So another good performance from United went unrewarded.  The defence is looking much stronger but the Pilgrims still don't seem to be able to put the ball away with any regularity.

Next up: Boston United Youth host Burnley in the third round proper of the FA Youth Cup.

The Sherpa-Van, Tampax entertainment league: Non-league 1, Internationals 0.

Boston United vs Stalybridge Celtic

Well, how entertaining was that?!  Mind you, compared to last weeks torrid England performance anything would have been better.  This game was genuinely exciting; full-time Stalybridge started the afternoon in 11th place in the league 9 places below 2nd spot Boston.  Boston made one change, bringing in Jamie Yates in a straight swap for Ryan Semple.

Stalybridge started well and looked to be pushing United back.  There were good chances for both sides but neither were able to convert as the defences remained strong.  Stalybridge had a good chance from a corner but this only seemed to stir United into action.  Following a sluggish start the Pilgrims began to match their opponents and forced the Celtic 'keeper, Jan Budtz, in to making one or two shaky saves.  The keeper was looking a little nervous and cost his team a goal five minutes before half-time when he ran out of his area, towards the corner to collect a long-ball from Shaun Pearson.  Jamie Yates closed down well and dispossessed the under pressure 'keeper leaving him free to run unopposed into the box and slot home from close range.  The half came to a close on a sour note when the increasingly random referee booked Newsham for making a challenge in which he won all of the ball and took none of the man.  This was an especially harsh yellow when the behaviour of the Stalybridge number eight is taken into account.  The bad tackles and back-chat from this lad should have seen him walk in the first half.

United defend early pressure from Celtic.

The Celtic 'keepers nightmare continued after the break with misplaced clearances, dodgy kicks and spilled crosses all adding to his shocking performance.  Unfortunately the Pilgrims couldn't take advantage of these chances despite being completely dominant for large spells.  Ryan Semple replaced Yates.  Lee, Pearson and Church all failed to convert good chances from the massive amount of corners which Semple was tasked with delivering.  United should have had at least two penalties during the course of the second period but it seems like we couldn't buy a spot-kick this season having not had one compared to Celtic's five converted so far!  

It looked like United were going to pay for all these misses when Celtic dragged a shot wide, only for it to be turned onto the back post by a sliding Stalybridge player.  This signalled a change in the flow of the game as Stalybridge dominated possession in the closing stages.  The United defence was strong with Murphy and Pearson both playing fantastically well to shut Celtic out.  The referee had one last chance to embarrass himself in front of 1,602 people when he gave Newsham a second yellow card for "time-wasting" whilst taking a throw in.  I get tired of saying this every other week but: Alexander Harvey you are a complete joke, NEVER REF AGAIN!

Stalybridge fans: vocal throughout.

There was no-way through for Stalybridge during stoppage time, even with an extra player and Boston held on for a 1-0 win.  Alfreton could only draw at AFC Telford meaning the Pilgrims will be top of the league for at least two weeks.  Let's keep it like that; eh, lads?!  There was one last sour note for Stalybridge.  One jobs-worth police officer decided to "talk to" one of their fans while he was leaving the ground and then arrested him, apparently for use of foul language during the game, much to the surprise of other fans and stewards alike.  This lack of common sense is appalling and I really hope no further action is taken against him.  People get a little over the top at football sometimes but it's no reason to arrest them!  It's a shame when police officers single people out because they're bored and just want something to do, it spoils both the game and the reputation of the club.

That's it for Boston United this October.  Due to being out of the FA Cup and Ilkeston having been wound up the next United game is Blyth Spartans away on the 6th of November; the next game at York St for the Pilgrims first team is on Tuesday the 9th of November against Scotland Corby.

Next up: Cranfield United at home to Hoddesdon Town in the Molten Spartan South Midlands Football League Division One.