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THE POACHERS
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News round-up for Boston Town’s Eagle Bitter
United Counties League 2006-2007 campaign Click here to return to Boston Buzz HOME PAGE |
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FOR EARLIER WEEK TO WEEK SUMMARIES, SEE NEWS ARCHIVE SECTION
******************* APRIL NEWS Sunday April 29: Striker Gary Bull was the
toast of Tattershall Road when he swept the board in the club’s end-of-season
honours hand-out. After netting two goals in the Poachers’ 3-2 win over
Raunds that took his personal total to 57 for the season, Bull was on hand to
pocket three accolades. He was voted players’ player of the year, supporters’
player of the year and also accepted a sporting achievement award from the
Boston Standard newspaper in recognition of his goalscoring exploits during
the season. And before kick-off against Raunds, Bull also accepted an
inscribed silver salver to mark his record-breaking goal-grabbing campaign.
The award, supplied by club officials, was handed over by former Town striker
Carl Smaller who had previously set an individual scoring record for Boston of
48 goals in a season in 1994-95. Saturday April 28: Two more goals from prolific
front man Gary Bull took his personal total to 57 for the campaign and helped
Boston Town to sign off the season with an 11th straight UCL
victory and 13th in all competitions during an all-conquering
run-in to the conclusion of the campaign. His double feat went a long way
towards ensuring that the Poachers ended up — somewhat frustratingly — with
an all-time club record UCL points tally of 95 but still two adrift of
champions Deeping (1-0 losers at Newport Pagnell). On a positive note, Town’s
remarkable unblemished record over the final few weeks will almost certainly
yield another manager of the month accolade for Town’s long-serving boss Bob
Don-Duncan. Friday April 27: The UCL Premier Division campaign draws to a conclusion tomorrow (Saturday) for Boston Town when they play host to Raunds (kick-off 3pm). Although the result won’t have any effect on the Poachers’ claim to runners-up spot, manager Bob Don-Duncan still wants to see his side pocket maximum spoils. He said: “We have had a terrific run over the past few weeks with wins in each of our last 12 games, including a cup final. It would be brilliant if we can round things off with another victory and possibly make things look even closer at the top of the table.” The Poachers will be without the services of long-term injury victims Liam Parker and Matt Price and the likes of Micky Nuttell, Jamie Smith and Leigh Taylor all look like missing out after picking up knocks and strains. However, keeper Bart Griemink and midfielder James Brader are back in the fold. After the match, Poachers’ officials will host their annual end-of-season awards presentations. Saturday April 21: Boston Town completed their away fixtures in the UCL Premier Division with a hard-fought 3-2 win away to Stotfold, striker Gary Bull netting his 55th goal of the season in the process. It was a result that maintained the Poachers’ hugely impressive results statistics over the past few weeks — now 12 wins in succession (including the penalty shoot-out win over Potton in the League Cup final). Bob Don-Duncan’s men are guaranteed of runners-up spot in the table despite accumulating their biggest-ever points tally. In the end, the relentless form of Deeping Rangers (apart from a 3-0 loss today at Desborough) has been the deciding factor in the title race. Friday April 20: Boston Town will be striving to achieve a remarkable 12th straight success when their final away day of the UCL Premier Division unfolds tomorrow (Saturday). Including their penalties success in the final of the UCL Cup on Wednesday, the Poachers have been on a remarkable run of late and will endeavour to further consolidate their grip on second spot in the table when they travel to face lowly Stotfold. The Poachers expect to have most of their senior squad available for an encounter in which Town will be looking to complete a league double, having already defeated Stotfold 4-1 at Tattershall Road earlier in the month. Thursday April 19: Boston Town officials have expressed anger at on-going issues that could see them evicted from their ground, seemingly without any consultation with them. The Poachers’ Tattershall Road base is at the centre of development proposals that, in theory, could generate financial salvation for cash-strapped League Two neighbours Boston United. Town’s landlords, Sportsfunds Ltd, have — it is understood — entered into an agreement with United for the purchase/development of the site for housing which should generate more than £2m profit, finance that is earmarked to help return the Pilgrims (currently £3m in debt) into solvency. These plans have been outlined in documents being distributed to United shareholders with a view to voting on April 25 on entering a company voluntary agreement that would see creditors offered 47p for each pound owed. But Town vice-chairman John Rose says he and his board of directors are furious at a lack of communication. He said: “It is beyond belief and totally disrespectful that people are discussing taking away the ground we have occupied for 40 years without any discussions with us. We have tried to speak to Boston United, Sportsfunds and the Standing Alone company we understand will be taking over at United. But no-one has had the decency to answer our inquiries. It really is scandalous the way we are being treated, particularly as we have been good tenants and run a successful semi-professional non-league club. It looks like Boston United are trying to bale themselves out at our expense. It’s totally unsatisfactory.” Previous moves by United in December to gain planning permission for housing at Tattershall Road as part of a complex four-site development met with refusal when presented to Boston Borough Council. Wednesday April 18: Strike ace Gary Bull and goalkeeper Bart Griemink were arguably the two main heroes of the night as Boston Town clinched silverware success in lifting the United Counties League Cup. The Poachers secured their moment of glory by conquering Premier Division rivals Potton United in a hard-fought final that needed a penalty shoot-out decider after the sides were locked at 1-1 after 90 minutes and 2-2 following extra time. Bull was Town’s two-goal hero in normal play when Boston twice led only to be legged back each time. He was also one of four successful spot-kick takers while Griemink made two splendid saves to cement a 4-2 success margin in the shoot-out. For full details see Reports 2006-2007 section. Tuesday April 17: Boston Town will tomorrow (Wednesday) have the chance to land a coveted piece of silverware. The Poachers hit the road to the neutral venue of Blackstones FC to contest the final of the United Counties League Cup against Potton United (kick-off 7.45pm). The match will also offer Boston the chance to bury the memories of their two Premier Division encounters this term, the Poachers losing away 2-0 and then suffering a 2-1 home reverse later in the campaign. Boston currently lie second in the table with Potton in fourth spot. Local bookmaker Lincs Racing is offering the following odds on tonight’s match: 90 minutes only, Boston to win 11/8, Potton 13/8; to win the cup outright, Boston 8/11, Potton 1/1. Saturday April 14: Boston Town netted three more precious UCL points with a fine 3-1 away success against sixth-placed Northampton Spencer. In the process, the Poachers made it 10 competitive wins on the trot and maintained a solid grip on second spot in the Premier Division table. The match was notable for striker Gary Bull grabbing two penalties to take his personal tally to the season to 52 goals while the Poachers achieved their success despite having Shaun Baker sent off early in the second half. The overall UCL scenario showed no change, though, with leaders Deeping Rangers and third placed Wellingborough also enjoying 3-1 wins in their respective fixtures. It all means that, despite gaining more points than in their previous best championship-winning campaigns, Town are almost certainly destined to settle for runners-up spot. Friday April 13: Boston Town will tomorrow (April 14) bid to make it 10 competitive wins in a row when they travel to face highly-placed Northampton Spencer in a United counties League fixture — the points at stake being vital to the Poachers’ ambitions of consolidating still further second place in the table while also keeping a degree of pressure on leaders Deeping Rangers who still look heavy odds-on certs to claim the title. Tomorrow’s match will also see striker Gary Bull hoping to add to his personal tally of 50 competitive goals this term while the Poachers will also be gunning to add to their prolific league tally of 101 goals so far — the best in the competition. Monday April 9: Midfielder Paul Goodhand
struck a hat-trick in the final 13 minutes of Boston Town’s Easter holiday
trip to face county rivals Holbeach. The triple blow helped the Poachers to
secure an impressive 4-1 away win. Their other scorer was John Rowan, with
all the goals arriving in the second half. Town duly remain entrenched in
second place in the UCL Premier Division still four points behind long-time
leaders Deeping (1-0 winners against Blackstones), but even further clear of
third placed Wellingborough (2-1 losers at Raunds). Saturday April 7: Striker Gary Bull hit
the 50-goal individual milestone as Boston Town bagged three more precious
UCL Premier Division points via a fightback 4-1 success over lowly Stotfold
at Tattershall Road. Bull’s landmark goal came courtesy of a late penalty
with the Poachers eventually running out decisive winners against opponents
who had two players red-carded. By virtue of their triumph, Boston bolstered
second place in the table, four points behind Deeping who won 3-0 away to
Ford Sports. Town’s next fixture is an Easter Monday (April 9) trip to face
county rivals Holbeach United (kick-off 3pm). The Poachers will be seeking
their third win this season against the Tigers, having won twice at home —
3-0 in the league and 3-1 in a UCL Cup encounter. Friday April 6: Boston Town will be gunning
for an eighth straight victory tomorrow (Saturday April 7) when they play
host to lowly Stotfold in a UCL Premier Division fixture. The Poachers, now
firmly entrenched in second place in the table also have an outside chance of
pressing Deeping Rangers for the title. And manager Bob Don-Duncan wants to
see his team keep up their recent buoyant form. He said: “All we can do is
try to win our games and then see if Deeping slip up anywhere. We know it’s
only an outside chance, but we certainly aren’t giving up all hope.” The
Poachers go into the clash hopeful of having most of their squad fit, notably
with Ross Don-Duncan (calf), Laszlo Lovas (groin), Bart Griemink (thigh),
Leigh Taylor (toe), Neal Spafford (foot) and Micky Nuttell (ankle) all
looking to shake off knocks of varying degrees of seriousness. Opponents
Stotfold lie third from bottom in the table but have recently shown improved
form with four wins and a draw from their last eight outings. And striker
Gary Bull will be looking to hit the target with one goal needed to take his
personal tally for the season to a remarkable figure of 50. |