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.

Contrasts

Solihull Moors vs Boston United

Welcome to
Solihull Moors ski-lodge.

What a contrast this game provided to the one last week, mainly in that the game was just plain dull.  Solihull's ski-lodge-esque bar provided a pleasant location for a pre-match beer for the Pilgrims' support who seemed to outnumber the locals.  There were quite a few travelling fans, including one couple who had paid £144 for  trains and taxis from south Lincolnshire and gate money; madness!  The older Pilgrims were incensed over a lack of concession rates on the gate but sadly this was as contentious as the game got.

The only change saw Alan White find his way into the starting 11 against United's bogey team following his suspension.  One other change of note was the man in the middle.  Instead of the tinpot rubbish this league is usually exposed to, the referee for this game was Mr Toma Masaaki of the Japanese J-League and a FIFA official.  So for once a Conf. North game was officiated by someone who knows what they're doing!  Mr Masaaki needed to know what he was doing too when Austin seemed to take out a Solihull player in the box early on - corner given.  Bastock was on his toes to tip a fine shot out as Moors looked to take the advantage.  Solihull were being marginally outplayed in midfield but both sides were struggling to carve out decent chances.

United finally started to make progress through Semple but the options in the middle weren't working so Semps was forced to cut in from the left and let fly.  As the first half progressed Semple's efforts ranged from narrowly wide to worrying Birmingham International's flight path.  Burrow failed to make the most of a poor back pass as he let the ball go out of play while Milnes barely tested the superb Jasbir Singh.  One of Semple's best efforts, United's second and as far as I can remember last shot on target, was tipped magnificently onto the post and out for a corner.

No running, bombing or heavy petting.

Nothing happened in a drab second-half until just past the hour mark when an increasingly bold Solihull took the lead.  A ball into the box was allowed to bounce - no, we still haven't sorted that out - and Morris took full advantage to punish the Pilgrims.  United were toothless going forward and failed to put Moors under any real pressure, the home team's defence blocking and tackling well.  Solihull could've increased their lead while Boston were down to 10; Jelleyman receiving several minutes of treatment for a head wound.  That's several minutes of treatment for a head wound off the pitch while the game was continuing.  Jelleyman wasn't even allowed to have his clean new shirt brought to him on the pitch.  Those sort of luxuries are reserved only for a certain bunch of cheats from north Wales.  The game was swiftly brought to a close and the disappointed Pilgrims began the journey home having failed to beat Solihull yet again.

Next up: Hyde at York St.

Colwyn cheats, a rubbish referee and a deserved comeback

Boston United vs Colwyn Bay

Colwyn Bay are the first welsh team to face United since the last day of the Fat Cheat's Boston career, away at Wrexham, which in hindsight is appropriate.  Boston were coming off the back of a good two game response following some poor form.  Utility man, Armstrong, had left the club for pastures new and was therefore amongst the four changes; Hall, Milnes, Austin and Burrow coming in to replace Newsham, the departed Armstrong, Wilkinson and Mulready.

The teams shake hands in front of the 16 Colwyn fans.

Boston got off to a flier and took the first real chance.  Semple, who'd already caused the Bay back-line problems, arrowed in a superb cross for Lee to power home a header with ten minutes on the clock.  Bay tried to get back into the game but Lloyd-McGoldrick was off target before being denied by Bastock minutes later.  Bay had further chances but couldn't convert before Boston were denied a stone-wall penalty by a seemingly blind ref who's performance was, astoundingly, shaping up to be nearly as bad as the joker from last week!  Semple was turning on the skill and made the full-back look even sillier than a snapshot of their ill-advised, unprofessional and what may be considered borderline racist tweets could do!  The combination of Semple, Hall and Burrow set-up Sleath for a sighter before Semple set himself up for a well-struck 20 yard drive which the Bay 'keeper dealt with neatly.

It was looking like United were going to go in 1-0 up as the clock ticked over 45 minutes but there was late drama in first half stoppage time.  United gifted McEvilly too much space on the edge of the box, which is a miracle in its own right, allowing him to scuff a shot home for the equaliser.  A minute later and Stainfield completed the Pilgrims' implosion, taking out Noon and giving McEvilly the chance to put home his second from the spot.

The second half should have seen Boston's second penalty of the game but this time not only did the ref not see it but he contrived to book Milnes for "simulation" when the midfielder was through on goal.  Bay tried to extend their lead but could only manage to belt the ball across an empty box.  The already tense atmosphere soured further when a Bay centre-back cut his head and required treatment, 5 minutes of treatment in-fact.  What's wrong with that, you may ask?  It was the fact that they carried out the treatment entirely on the pitch, wasting time and slowing the pace of the game.  The game was then restarted with a drop ball despite the stoppage being instigated due to a foul on a Boston player.  How cynical can you get?

Hall attacks down the left.

Newsham and Ben Fairclough were brought on to replace Hall and Lee as Boston went on the offensive.  Newsham was soon involved when he broke through and unselfishly set-up Sleath; for once the midfielder somehow managed to bang over when it was easier to score.  The second half also saw the poor-penalty-decisions tally increase, Boston saw yet another appeal for handball turned down while a Bay striker fell over theatrically seeing nothing given.  Surely there should be some consistency, either it was a pen. or another booking for simulation?

The Bay 'keeper kept them in the game, making a fantastic save as United searched for an equaliser.  The search was made significantly easier when, in what can only be described as a disgraceful bout of petulance, the Bay captain was sent off for swearing and hurling abuse at children sat in the main stand.  The horrendous excuse for a person then took as much time as possible walking slowly across the pitch.  It was this, along with the rest of Colwyn's time wasting which was to cost them.  Boston were knocking at the door and, with Bay down to nine as the still bleeding centre-back was forced off yet again, Milnes struck a beauty into the top corner.  The thousand plus Boston supporters were universally delighted with a point even though the Pilgrims clearly deserved all three.

The drama for the day didn't end there though.  The disgraced Bay captain thought it would be a wonderful idea to improve his reputation further by camping out in the referee's room to remonstrate with the, admittedly poor, official.  There were also reliable reports of the Bay party being quickly ushered out of the Pilgrim Lounge after the game by stewards and police.  The colossally unprofessional comments from both the official Colwyn Bay twitter account, who wasn't even there, and the comments of their players previously noted all go some way to making this astonishing story believable.  With all these things considered Colwyn Bay must go down as one of the least professional clubs I have ever seen, especially at this level.

Next up: Solihull Moors away.

Wef-a-wee!

Boston United vs Workington

OK, OK... I know I should be used to it by now, I mean there is a contentious issue every week, but this guy was something else.  One of the worst referees I have ever seen, and that is saying something!  Workington were the second team to meet United twice in the league this season and they brought a surprisingly large following, well into double figures, especially considering the distance and the fact that their team are rubbish at best.  Since losing to Boston in the last minute in the first fixture of the season Workington have only notched up two wins and two draws; finding themselves sitting firmly in the relegation spots.  United surely couldn't fail to lose, especially after losing at home to lowly Solihull Moors.  Lightning surely can't strike twice.

A disappointed Boston kick-off after conceding first.

Only one change was forced on the United team following the neat performance at Histon; Alan White dropping out for personal reasons to be replaced by Ben Wilkinson as Canoville shifted inside.  Workington didn't look like one of the worst teams in the league but then United do have a tendency to make their opposition look good.  Add to that the referee giving some horrendously inexplicable free-kicks and it all amounted to Workington being on top of things as United struggled to find any rhythm.  Workington were doing all the pressing and were soon in front.  Arnison was allowed to run the length of the pitch, brushing aside weak challenges from Lee, Wilkinson and Canoville before slotting past Bastock.

Confusion between Bastock and the excellent Stainfield nearly saw United trail by a greater margin.  Bazza threw all his experience from 651 starts in a Pilgrims shirt out of the window in one fell rush of blood, came flying out of goal and left Arnison clean through to put away his second.  Except, he didn't.  Don't ask me how he contrived to hit the post but the collective sigh of relief around York St was tangible.  Had he put the chance away the ref may have failed to make it off the pitch alive at half time, having got yet another decision badly wrong in the build up.  The linesman decided he wanted a part of the fun and got involved by giving a free-kick for a dive Luis Suarez would be proud of!

Workington giving it a good go.

Boston started to play in spite of the ref and Mulready had the Pilgrims first real chance of the half.  Jason Lee, having contrived to get himself booked for nothing, got his revenge by smashing home a delightful Semple cross with his head.  Workington heads dropped and United could've been in front; Jelleyman, Lee and Newsham combining well to put Mulready through.

Once again, Boston were brighter in the second half.  Sleath had an early effort but United huffed and puffed  at Workington without much success.  It was Workington who had the chances, Bastock getting himself into trouble with Austin bailing him out with a goal line clearance.  United were playing the better football and passing it around neatly against the 14 men.  It seemed to be just a matter of time until United were in front, five minutes before the whistle in fact.  Wilkinson and Semple getting together to arrow the ball back across the goal for the winner via Burrow's head .

Jason Whitely, Phil Booker and Tom Bramall: Take a bow.
The worst refereeing team I've ever seen!

There was a fantastic chance for Boston to put the game well and truly out of reach, a break leaving them through 3 on 2 against the Workington defence.  Semple shot against the outstretched arms of the 'keeper when squaring might have been the better option.  United proceeded to shamefully waste the last few minutes of the game and would have been punished if Anison could've hit the proverbial barn door.

The solid United performance, amazingly, put Boston just outside the play-offs on goal difference.  If the team really hit their stride a promotion challenge could still be on because as bad as Boston are it seems a lot of other teams in the league are worse!

Next up: Colwyn Bay visit York St.

Six. Five. Oh.

Histon vs Boston United

This weekend saw a rare trip south for the Pilgrims.  These trips are usually characterised by expensive beer and irritating saven accents commenting about "weird people asking for gravy on their chips", anyone would think that people from the little village of Histon had never been north of Watford Gap.  I've never really liked trips south, which considering I've lived there for several years is a bit odd, but this one had something a little bit special to make up for the £3.50 beers.  This match saw the cementing of a legend in the history books as Paul Bastock made his 650th appearance for Boston United in his two spells since originally signing in 1992.  The man surely qualifies for the accolade of Pilgrims' cult hero.  Hopefully he'd have a better chance to celebrate than he did last week when his heroics limited Altrincham to only six goals!

The travelling fans make some noise.

Boston bolstered the shaky defence of the last match by the addition of Canoville and White in place of Fairclough and Austin.  The lacklustre attack was also spruced up by the addition of Lee for Burrow up front and Newsham, Sleath and Semple were started in the middle of the park in place of the other Fairclough, Hall and Wilkinson.  The team looked to have a much better balance than the previous week but this didn't stop normal service being resumed as United conceded on eight minutes.  Sparkes running clean past White and putting the ball past United's legendary 'keeper.  Here we go again...

There's a steward in the sticks...

... Or not.  The Pilgrims looked much better than last week and were level a further eight minutes later when 'tap-in' Newsham converted a harshly given penalty for handball in the box.  The game struggled to get going with both sides having the odd chance.  Newsham, unlucky not to score a second as the ball bounced off him and flew narrowly wide leaving the teams going into the break level-pegging.

The second-half saw a much more dominant performance from the Pilgrims.  Mulready smashed one over and Newsham failed to convert another quality cross from a much improved Semple.  Semple was a huge threat from the Boston wing, his crosses and free-kicks supplying the ammunition to Armstrong and Newsham but it was Jelleyman supplying Sleath which put Boston ahead.  The warning signs were there for Histon as Jelleyman put the ball onto Gaffer Lee's head, who nodded down for Sleath hammer wide; minutes later Jelleyman put Sleath through directly and he finished neatly.

The game was out of Histon's reach five minutes later.  Lee headed the first cross from Semple wide but made no mistake with the second moments later as he knocked the ball home, just, to put the game out of reach.  Lee had two more chances to convert with his head before subbing himself off and Semple missed the chance to top off a superb attacking performance with a 25 yarder just over.

The new kit get's its first outing.

As Boston made changes, Histon managed their only chance of the half but couldn't test Bazza on what was a quiet 650th appearance; Holman making a right hash of his shot.  I thought Stainfield had put away Boston's fourth, the official site says it was Burrow but in the end it was neither as the referee ruled it out for some imaginary foul as far as I can tell.  White took the final chance of a dominant Pilgrims outing, heading wide.

Much better from United, not that it was possible to be much worse!  Hopefully the better balance can be maintained and built on throughout the remainder of the season.

Next-up: Hopefully a struggling Workington side at York St.

No football today...

Altrincham vs Boston United 

... Not from Boston United at least!  Worst United performance since the mighty Captain Clean was at the club.  Worst defeat I can remember since Grimsby won 6-0 at York St and everyone and their mum walked out before the end.  To coin a phrase: What a load of rubbish!  Boston's week got off to a flyer by losing at Kidsgrove and going out of the FA Cup at the first available opportunity, AGAIN!  That has happened far, far too many times in the last few years and is costing the club money and supporters.

TWO teams come out at Moss Lane, although you'd never have known it!

To recover from this shocking defeat and, from what I heard, equally shocking performance; United did the obvious thing and made several changes including dumping our best midfielder out of the squad at a cold and rainy Moss Lane.  Perfect.  Both Faircloughs played on the same side, either that or I'd had one too many beers and was seeing double.  They are, after all, exactly the same player.  "Utility" player ("utility", I have learned, is code for s***), Armstrong, played alongside Wilkinson in the midfield.  I say midfield but they very, very rarely spent any time in the middle of the park, in fact the only players that made it into the centre circle were the Altrincham midfield passing it about with impunity and the Boston strikers kicking-off after conceding yet another goal.

Some rare quality possession for United.

The defence was, erm, not very good.  That's pretty diplomatic actually, there are a lot worse things that could be said of them.  I learned at primary school that the ball should never be allowed to bounce by a defender; seemingly that isn't something that the United defenders are aware of.  The defence hadn't exactly covered itself in glory by the time the first Alty goal arrived on 15 mins; it was entirely Austin's fault as the ball arrowed in across the front of him and he just stood there and watched it go past, followed by Reeves going past him, followed by the ball in the net.  15 mins later and Alty were two up as Lawrie, made best use of the several acres of space gifted to him, to put the ball past Bazza.

The goals were arriving at regular intervals, the next one coming just after half-time.  Lawrie, searching for his second, saw his shot rebound off Bastock only to be headed in by Reeves.  That might sound like Bazza's fault but when Alty can have strikers lining up to put chances away with no one marking them it's not surprising he struggled.  You know it's bad when there are opposition players stood on the corner of the penalty area following a set piece and the goalkeeper is the closest defender...

Alty waste yet another free header in the United box.

The goals maintained the regular flow of one every 15-20 minutes except this time it was Boston who put one away.  One sub set up another with Semple putting in an excellent cross for gaffer Lee to head home at the back stick.  The reason this was the only United chance I have mentioned is that, as far as I remember, it's the only one that we had.  Mulready, the new lad from Grimsby, didn't play badly but it's difficult to create chances when you never get the ball.

Alty stepped up the pace following this "set-back" and put 3 more past a woeful United team in the last 15 minutes.  Reeves practically walked through Jelleyman to complete his hat-trick.  Then five minutes before full-time Mulholland set up Twiss before scoring his own goal to make it 6-1 and complete United's humiliation.  I've only written about the Altrincham goals because if I were to write about all the chances that they didn't convert I'd be here all week!  Suffice to say that Bastock was United's best player and Alty could have had double figures were it not for him.

Next weeks thrashing will be away at Histon.

United don't do cup competitions...

Boston United vs Kidsgrove Athletic

Boston fans of recent years have had a less than romantic experience of the FA Cup.  Since returning to non-league United have been unceremoniously dumped out of the world's premier cup competition in glamour-ties against the likes of Workington, Cambridge, Lowestoft and Worcester; in fact United have failed to go on a non-league cup run since the 1997-98 season.  Kidsgrove provided the second qualifying round opposition for the Pilgrims.  That's Kidsgrove who sit in 15th in a league two levels below United with 11 points from a possible 27; the same Kidsgrove that United knocked out of the FA Trophy three years ago, beating them 6-0 at York St.  United made one change from the mid-week home win against Droylsden with Burrow replacing a very slightly injured Lee.

A rare Kidsgrove effort in the first half.

Kidsgrove had the better of the opening exchanges and were passing it through the United midfield with virtual impunity.  An under-pressure United received another blow as Tom Ward was forced from the pitch with an ankle injury, he was replaced by Austin with five mins gone.  In truth there was very, very little to write about in the first half with the afternoon heat adding to the distinct pre-season feel of the day.  This feeling was reflected in the most inanimate 16 away fans I have ever seen in York St, the 801 home fans weren't exactly pulsating either.

Despite Kidsgrove playing some neat passing football it was the Pilgrims who enjoyed the scant first-half chances.  Semple and White both putting the ball high and wide.  Burrow failed to worry the Athletic 'keeper following a set-up from Newsham and Sleath.  It was Newsham himself who finished off the drab first-half on a high with a headed effort drawing a brilliant save from Kidsgrove's shot stopper.

Two-footed lunge, not a red card
apparently.

Kidsgrove actually had a shot in the first few minutes of the second period and this seemed to galvanise United who stepped up a gear.  United were much crisper in the pass and began to draw late challenges from the Athletic players.  The ref seemingly completely lost the plot, giving free-kicks and bookings for nothing challenges while giving nothing for leg-breakers, two-footed dives and elbows in the face.  Boston should have been in front but Burrow couldn't control a good ball into his feet while inside the area and the chance slipped away.  Burrow was again guilty of profligacy as he and Newsham failed to get on the end of a great ball across the face of goal from Semple.

A free-kick saw Semple fire over as the fouls started to pile up.  Kidsgrove's Dave Walker was lucky to escape a straight red for a two-footed, flying lunge on Bastock, the Athletic (not athletic) front man had further luck when he again took exception to Bastock and seemed to kick him in the chest!  Walker kept pushing his luck though and finally received his marching orders when he decided it would be a great idea to hack down Austin without reason.  What an idiot.

Lee and Fairclough were introduced in place of Burrow and Newsham in an attempt to freshen the attack up.  It worked, to an extent.  Boston were flying now with superb, patient build-up play piling pressure on the visitors.  Sleath was denied from close range by the 'keeper and then on the line by a defender within seconds as United looked to walk the ball into the net.  White headed just over the bar from a Milnes corner, then did it again a minute or so later.  The luck really wasn't with White who had his next shot blocked by defensive partner, Austin; the United centre-back could've shot from six inches out into an empty net and he'd still have missed!

Boston pile on the pressure in the closing stages.

The final chance of the afternoon went to player/manager Jason Lee who got up well to draw a fantastic tip over the bar from the Kidsgrove 'keeper as the ten men held on for the replay.  It was astutely pointed out that the game was reminiscent of the 2009/10 FA Trophy tie against Quorn; we lost that replay...

Next up: Altrincham away.