You can put away your snow shovel... We're back!

York City vs Boston United

Welcome to York.

Sunny North Londonshire.

It was hardly a classic, neither the trip or the match.  I left a sunny and warm North Londonshire (yes that's right) fairly early and arrived into a decidedly more chilly York with plenty of time to spare.  Time for some good pub food and a couple of beers as well.  There was reportedly nothing around the ground and I'd had several pubs recommended to me.  So having met up with a mate we walked into the city centre.  It was rammed!  Tiny, narrow streets packed with Christmas shoppers all walking incredibly slowly and stopping randomly.  This made it almost impossible to find our targeted pubs and any pubs or restaurants we did find were queued out of the door!  Eventually, after about an hour, we found a chippy and plumped for take-away.  Drakes fish and chips are the self-proclaimed best in York.  If those're the best in York I'd be surprised!  Unable to find a pub in which it was possible to get to the bar we decided to make our way out to the ground.

The icy road to Wembley (maybe).

Bootham Crescent is a little way outside the centre and there isn't very much around it.  I was advised against the supporters club and the only other pub in the area is the Burton Stone Inn.  That said it's a nice enough place to have a pre-game drink.  It wasn't overly busy before the match and was only a short walk from the away end.  The away end is pretty spartan, there was no roof and half of the terrace closed due to the blanket of snow that still covered it.  At least there was running water in the presumably original Roman toilets.

Both teams had recently had games called off due to the weather with Boston having had an extended break due to postponements.  York were in great form going into this game; unbeaten in seven games in the BSB Premier and cup competitions, conceding only once in the process.  It was looking like a tough ask for the Pilgrims to get anything from this match.  Boston made a couple of changes with McKeown coming back in and Pearson replacing an injured Murphy.  This meant that Boston started with Newsham and Weir-Daley up front again!  Brilliant!

The Boston support before kick-off.

York dominated the early stages of the first half but didn't really create anything from their possession until the 20th minute, when Canoville put in a superb block to keep Robbie Weir out.  Boston, when in possession, were playing some really nice football; cheered on by 150 very vocal Pilgrims.  York didn't get into United or close down as much as the teams in BSB North do.  Conversely York didn't like the way Boston got into them and Rankine in particular spent a lot of the time on the floor or moaning to the officials.  Boston tend to do well against teams who let them play and this started to show with York being the team under pressure for the remainder of the half.  The pressure told in the 30th minute when Weir-Daley headed home at the back stick after a Jamie Yates corner went all the way through a crowded box.  York had no answer and only managed one further chance which curled over the bar before the break.

Thanks to the York City fans for making a good job of clearing the pitch.

York clearly got a rollicking during half-time and they were sent back out onto the pitch early.  It obviously worked as they were the dominant side by far, in terms of possession and chances, during the second period.  United's defence was magnificent, throwing blocks and tackles at everything York could produce.  City, in spite of their dominance, had limited chances and couldn't take advantage of their dominance with Rankine spurning three good opportunities.  Presumably he was concentrating on moaning at the officials rather than striking the ball.  The Pilgrims were playing on the break and struggling to get out of their own half.  There was one occurrence of note in the 60th minute: the first bit of noise from the 1150 York City supporters that wasn't a claim for handball.  The repeated handball claims may have actually hindered York as when it came to a penalty claim for a real handball the referee waved it away.  York would've drawn level with 10 minutes left were it not for an absolutely brilliant save from McKeown as he acrobatically stopped an Andre Boucard 20 yarder.  York couldn't really create anything else, even with the assistance of an extra five minutes and the clearly tiring Pilgrims held on for a fantastic result to progress through to the second round proper of the FA Trophy.

Like I said, by no means a classic but a fantastic win none the less!  I'm just pleased to get back to watching the football after an enforced weather break.  The Boston players and supporters were awesome, even if I do say so myself and the only sour note came from the police accusing one of our number of racism for the stick he gave Rankine.  Calling Rankine a w**ker has nothing to do with the colour of his skin and everything to do with the fact that he is a w**ker.  Yet again the police over-react and spoil things.  The second round draw will be carried out on Monday lunchtime and details can be found on the FA website.

Next up: Hyde F.C. at York St in the BSB North, dependant on the weather of course!

Brrr...

Damn frost!  The game against Redditch was postponed this weekend due to the ground being harder than Chuck Norris.  It looks doubtful for the Hinckley game on Tuesday as well.  Hopefully the weather will pick up in time for Worcester away or York City in the Trophy at the very latest.  Fingers crossed.

The only action of note was Telford moving above Boston into third by winning the only game of the day that wasn't called off 1-0 against Guiseley.

Just a Little joke.

Boston United vs Gainsborough Trinity

Gainsborough hate Boston. I mean they really hate us, that much is clear from their forum.  This relationship is, though, much like that of Australia and New Zealand or England and Wales in that one party is filled with zealous, burning hatred and the other really couldn't care less.  Boston are like the successful younger sibling coming back from the big city with exciting tales to tell.  Gainsborough on the other hand are like the ginger step-child who has never left the village before.  With this in mind it was difficult to bring myself to actually hate Tinpot Trinity rather than just see them as a bit of a joke really.  Their manager is a joke, he and his team of elbows actually criticised our style of play when we last met in pre-season.  Their fans are a bit of a joke, bringing twenty-six fans, fifty-five miles across Lincolnshire for a Boxing day derby is a bit laughable you have to admit.  Their catering last time we were there was a joke as they completely underestimated our travelling support.  The colossal amount of money they have spent of players and wages for very little gain is a joke.  The list goes on...

The Stump through the fog before the Townenders arrive.

Boston have made a couple of signings since Droylsden, mostly as cover for injuries.  Gary Montgomery has signed, the ex-Coventry, Rotherham and Grimsby 'keeper has been signed as cover for the slightly injured McKeown instead of entrusting ourselves to Butcher's butterfingers.  18 year old defender John Williams took time out from directing the London Symphony Orchestra to sign on loan for us from Scunthorpe and 23 year old Shane Clarke who used to play in midfield for Lincoln is also now on the Pilgrims books.  Two of these signings began the match in place of McKeown and Sleath with only Williams missing out on a start.  The Boston line-up also included changes up front as the managers finally played Newsham and Weir-Daley together while Yates and Semple ran the wings.

My man of the match, Jamie Yates.

The changes worked a treat as the lack of a big man meant that United actually had to play football.  The midfield pressed up and there was bundles of creativity coming from all over the park.  Boston were rampant on a foggy York St pitch and should have been in front inside the first five minutes as Newsham nearly broke the post following a great ball in from Jelleyman.  This was a sign of things to come and the Tinpot 'keeper must have eaten a massive slice of luck that morning to stop the Pilgrims taking the lead.  S**tborough on the other had decided shooting from distance was the best policy, it nearly paid off as well when ex-Linscum Paul Mayo rattled the post from a long way out.  Boston went back to dominating and had several shots blocked, cleared or just wide.  The Pilgrims were also denied a penalty when one of the Tinpot players committed an obvious handball in  the box, obvious to everyone but the referee that is.  Boston finished the half counting themselves very unlucky not to be in front.

The second half was a much tighter affair as Tinpot came back into the game.  Shane Clarke, who had done so well in the first half, now looked a little lightweight in the midfield.  Several times he needed to put a boot in but pulled out at the last moment.  It was looking like being one of those days where United hit everything but the back of the net and then get done 1-0 on the break.  Luckily it wasn't as ten minutes into the second period the referee awarded a penalty for a less obvious handball than the one in the first half, not that I'm going to complain.  Marc Newsham had the honour of banging home the Pilgrims first penalty of the season.  This settled Boston and they promptly took control of the game again.  United's attacking play resulted in a second goal as Nathan Peat made contact with an in-swinging corner, knocking it into his own net.  Trinity came back into it with fifteen minutes left, Gavin Cowen heading past Montgomery to make it an uncomfortable finish for the vast majority of the 1136.  Tinpot couldn't find an equalizer and Boston go through to the first round proper of the FA Trophy.  The draw is on Monday; someone easy at home or someone big like York or Grimsby away, please!

Newsham slams the penalty home.

The new signings looked pretty good.  Montgomery had a few early moments but soon played himself into the game.  Clarke looked good on the ball technically and very composed in possession but he doesn't seem to like tracking back if he loses it or putting in a tackle when it's needed.  Williams only got on for a few minutes and promptly got booked for kicking the ball away, a little harsh but it's difficult to tell about him as a player from that.  The side looked much more balanced playing 4-4-2 and the midfield really supported the two smaller strikers well.  The team was much the better on the day and definitely much improved on last Saturday's offering with Yates, Newsham, Cullingworth and Canoville all having brilliant games.  Keep it going, lads!

Next up: A much improved Redditch pay a visit to York St having been beaten by United 9-0 earlier this season.

There's a donkey on the pitch...

England vs France

Well France have improved in the last four or five months, haven't they?  England, sadly, have not.  Gareth Barry could still be legitimately supplanted by a trusty inanimate carbon rod.  It wouldn't move, the ball would bounce off it in random directions and it would needlessly trip opposing players, giving away fouls in the midfield; see, just like Barry.  Phil Jagielka is quite clearly not a right back, especially considering he spent the majority of the game at centre back.  I'm not quite sure what Capello was trying in this game.  I am sure it didn't work.

The formation at varying points in the game appeared to include three centre backs, one left back, two defensive midfielders - Gerrard being one of them - three wingers and one striker.  Unsurprisingly France bossed the game from the start.  Gourcuff was excellent in the French midfield and ensured that our shower barely got a touch before Benzema walked through the 'defence' with a simple one two and then beat Foster at his near post.  France were rampant and could have had two or three before the break as England looked like a star-struck non-league team away at a 'big club' in the FA Cup.  Gerrard had the only real England chance of the first half as, off balance, he shanked a shot over the bar.

England defend a corner.

The Mexican waves, penalties on the pitch and general entertainment during half-time are essentially football's equivalent of the X-Factor and did little to detract from the overall drizzle soaked misery which the majority of the eighty-six (ish) thousand people in the ground were feeling.  The second half didn't improve things much.  Débutante Andy Carroll did as well as possible up front; as I've noted  not to long ago running onto his own knock downs must be tough.  The players need to learn to have patience and movement, not just stand still and punt the ball up the pitch when there are no options on.  Capello took the donkey off the pitch along with a few others at half time, this sparked England into action for the ten minutes preceding Valbuena banging in France's second goal.  That was about it for England until Crouch came on for the injured Gerrard with six minutes left and promptly scored with his first touch.  It had been coming but England deserved no more than the consolation and 2-1 was about right.

Next up: Gainsborough at York St in the Trophy.

Well, it's been coming.

Droylsden vs Boston United

The Butchers Arms ground.

You go ten games without conceding a goal and then four come along at once.  It was always going to happen at some point and the important thing is how the team reacts.  My first inkling that it wasn't going to be the best of days came as I fell up the bus steps at 8 o'clock in the morning, stubbing my toe in the process.  Then due to a broken down train it took me an hour and a half to travel between Sheffield and Manchester.  Wonderful, I thought, at least I'll get all the bad luck out of the way early.  Following repeated questioning from City fans and pub bouncers alike about who we were it was time to get to the Butchers Arms ground, home of Droylsden F.C.  The ground is fairly tidy and could be really nice with the addition of covered terracing behind one of the goals.

The core Boston away support, good noise lads!

Droylsden have a reputation of playing some very nice football and being really comfortable in possession. It was always going to be difficult for the Pilgrims but confidence was high coming into this game following a run of ten games without conceding and being unbeaten away from home this season.  Boston made three changes for the game against the Bloods with injuries to Canoville and Davidson handing starts to Cullingworth and Suarez, whilst Josh Burge made a debut for United in place of Newsham.  This brought a change in formation as the Pilgrims appeared to play 4-5-1; I say 'appeared' because there seemed to be confusion amongst players and fans alike over where the lads should be playing.  One other notable appearance was the lineswoman who ran the line in one previous Pilgrims match at Hyde; she chalked off three goals for Boston that day as United lost 2-1.  Hopefully she'd do better today.

Droylsden's equivalent of the Lazio eagle?

It was fairly even early-on with both teams having chances and only some good goal keeping pegging the score at 0-0.  The Bloods had a goal chalked off for offside as the lineswomen got one right for once.  Parity didn't last long though as Conners hit an absolute peach from thirty yards; no defence against that one and a fitting way to lose a 957 minute clean sheet record.  Spencer Weir-Daley almost nailed a thirty yarder of his own but it was tipped over by the excellent Droylsden 'keeper to end the half.

Damn 'keeper, saved everything!

Boston came out in search of a way to get back into the game, testing the Bloods 'keeper once again.  It was all in vein though as a rare example of poor goalkeeping from James McKeown enabled Byron to head home at the back stick.  It was looking a long way back for Boston now and Hunter and Davidson were brought on to replace Sleath and Suarez.  Davidson, sadly, isn't half as good as Suarez at holding the ball up and bringing people into the game.  Not that Suarez had much of a chance this game as there was often no support within twenty yards of him and he was forced to try and win his own knock downs.

The system still wasn't working and Boston seemed to have changed to a half 4-4-2, half 4-5-1; don't know how that works?  I'm not sure the players do either.  Boston were ploughing forward trying to find a way back in but it was just one of those days, Droylsden players were throwing bodies in the way and their 'keeper was making some great saves.  Yates replaced Semple and Boston were really knocking at the door.  All the pressing left United short at the back and Droylsden took advantage twice in the last ten minutes with McNiven and Kilheeney both putting the ball in the net.

The great Droylsden plastic tree.

One of those days really, Cullingworth had a bit of a mare and Semple proved that he plays much better on the right than the left.  Other than that no-one was terrible but equally no-one was on top of their game.  No complaints, not from me anyway.  Apparently a couple of O.A.P.s tried to tell the dugout how to run the team in the strongest possible terms, they had to be removed by the stewards.  This understandably upset Rob Scott who has already had a pop at the home fans earlier in the week.  There have always been moaners at Boston, there always will be, but personally I had more fun losing 4-0 yesterday than I did drawing 0-0 at Blyth at last week.  Hopefully with the long run of clean sheets gone now the midfielders can push on and start creating again instead of defending, starting next weekend.

Next-up: Gainsborough Trinity at York St in the F.A. Trophy third qualifying round.

When Scotland came to York St.

Boston United vs Corby Town


Corby Town are Boston's closest rivals in this league, geographically speaking at least.  It's not surprising then that seventy to eighty noisy Scotsmen in varying stages of inebriation, made their way to join around 1200 Bostonians in a very cold and decidedly damp south-east Lincolnshire.  A United win over the Steelmen would send us back to the top of the league, at least until Alfreton play their next game.  Spencer Weir-Daley came back into the starting line-up as Yates dropped to the bench and Newsham was pushed out wide.  The previous meeting between the clubs finished as a hard fought 0-0 at the Rockingham Triangle.

Boston on the defensive in front of the Town End.

The inclusion of Weir-Daley nearly paid-off immediately when the Corby 'keeper had to be on his toes to block a fine shot on target inside forty seconds and Davidson's shot from the rebound was deflected wide; a lucky escape for Town.  Boston were on top and pressed forward looking for that elusive goal.  Chances were few and far between though, with the only real threat to the away goal coming from some excellent Ryan Semple crosses to the back post.  That said, Corby were looking even less likely to score having only one real effort on goal from a free kick which McKeown saved with ease.

Half-time saw the usual parading of a United legend, this time out was 31 year old Mark Rawle who made 65 appearances for the Pilgrims scoring a total of 33 goals in the process before being transferred to Southend in 2001 for a then record £60,000.  I know for a fact that this guy was responsible for getting a lot of people my age interested in watching United.  LEGEND.

Corby flew out of the blocks in the second half and only some good defending and bodies thrown in the way preserved Boston's chances of extending the amazing run of clean sheets to ten games.  Danny Davidson had been replaced by Mikel Suarez at half time and Suarez was doing a fantastic job of holding the ball up and bringing others into the game, nice to see Mikel fit and back in contention.  The real change for Boston came when Newsham was sacrificed for Miles Hunter.  Weir-Daley slotted back onto the wing and Semple switched sides as Hunter went to play off Suarez.

York St under floodlights: awesome.

The change in personnel immediately gave the team a balance which was previously missing and it allowed Church and Sleath to push up in the middle of the park giving the Pilgrims some much needed creativity.  This change paid off as minutes later Hunter used his blistering pace to get on the end of a Jelleyman cross and loop a header home over the Town 'keeper.  Boston were rampant and could have added one or two more in the last quarter of an hour with Suarez, Weir-Daley and Semple all going close.  As it was it ended 1-0, Boston are top and haven't conceded a goal in 918 minutes of football having played nine away games to only six at home.  Not bad, not bad at all...

Next up: Boston travel to Droylsden in the B.S.B. Conference North.

Back to it then.

Blyth Spartans vs Boston United

Boston United returned to league action last Tuesday drawing away at a semi-flooded Guiseley.  Unfortunately I couldn't find my rain coat so I missed that game and made my return to league spectator action on the long trip away to Croft Park where the Pilgrims take on the mightily named Blyth Spartans.  A 9a.m. departure saw the supporters coach make the lengthy trip up the A1, meeting bus loads of Gateshead fans going the opposite way for their Cup tie against Notts. County at the service station stop.  With encouragement from already tipsy Gateshead fans ringing in our ears we continued to arrive at Croft Park about an hour before kick-off.  The club house is relatively tidy and has some cracking beer on tap in the form of Spartan ale.  Unsurprisingly our luckiest supporter, Jacko, won the clubhouse raffle first prize: a bottle of whiskey.  What is the point of giving out a prize, pre-game, which you can't take through the turnstiles?  No, I didn't see any either.

Welcome to Blyth.

Moving into the ground we were all hoping Jacko's luck would hold and we'd gather a much needed three points to set us back on track after the lengthy period without a game.  A lot had happened in the two and a half weeks between Stalybridge at home and Guiseley away; not least our new, old hope, Jason Lee, announcing his retirement for personal reasons.  Best of luck to you big Jase!  The ground is really tidy and one of the better ones at this level.  There is a large seated stand about the half-way line on one side and some nice terracing on the remaining three sides.  Whilst the esteemed author of 'More in Hope than Expectation' became the proud owner of a burger which was 99% bap and 1% actual burger meat we were busy talking to a Geordie, AFC Bournemouth fan.  He wanted to know why we weren't in the southern league; we wanted to know what the hell he was doing supporting Bournemouth.  Apparently he lives there or something, I couldn't really understand what he was saying.  In honesty the reason the pre-amble is so long this week is that there isn't really that much to talk about game wise so I had to fill the blog with something...

Those are some fancy boots for a right back.

The travelling Pilgrims support took up station behind the goal which United were attacking as the game got underway.  Newsham was brought into the starting line-up in an attempt to sharpen the Pilgrims edge up front.  Boston had the best of the scarce chances with Semple doing well to charge down the keeper but unable to score from a difficult angle.  There was only one other real chance in the first half as United had to contend with some resolute defending and a referee who didn't mind the Spartans centre-backs assaulting Danny Davidson every time he received the ball; it was a bit like watching '300'.  Canners and Churchy combined well to put Yates through on goal but the Spartans 'keeper made a decent save.  Boston were having some really nice spells of good football but just couldn't break Blyth down.  The vocal Blyth support did have something to cheer about as they went through a few spells of forcing Boston back but they, again, couldn't break through.

The half-time break saw a change of ends and an opportunity to mock the Blyth 'keeper during his warm-up with cries of his most used words: "squeeze" and what we thought was "f*** off" which actually turned out to be "no cross" in some daft northern accent.  He was from Carlisle we discovered.  Brilliant, bring on the sheep jokes!  In fairness to the lad he took it all in good humour and clapped the travelling support at the end of the game.

Ryan Semple takes on Mr Fancy-Dan boots.

The second half didn't produce much more memorable football for the 558 in attendance either.  Weir-Daley came on with half an hour to go and perked the Pilgrims attack up with a couple of good efforts but nothing too testing for the Spartans 'keeper.  Despite finishing the game with four strikers on the pitch Boston were never going to score.  Blyth had no real chances of note to challenge Boston's 828 minutes without conceding a goal and the game ran out as a bore-draw.  So things learnt from the game: we are still defending brilliantly and there are no complaints with that.  However, we do look a bit rusty up front and I think we need to knock a few past someone to get back to the flying form we were in before the enforced two and a half week break.  Oh and Geordie stewards have difficulty pronouncing 'refrain'.

The Blyth massive: they're there, honest!

200 miles each way is a long trip for a 0-0 and it was difficult to see the positives of a point as we piled onto the bus home.  We called in at the same services as on the way there and who should we meet but the Gateshead fans from earlier, now much more the worse for wear.  We hopped off the coach to songs of "We hate Spartans and we love Boston" brightening up an otherwise long trip home.

Next up: not long until the next fixture as Tuesday sees the Pilgrims play host to Corby Town who have just forced a replay from billy big-time Luton Town in the FA Cup.