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Boston United 2006-2007 season pre-season fixtures
PRE-SEASON FIXTURES
Reports
Date	Opponents	Venue	Utd team	Result	Scorers
Aug 02	Blackstones	Away	Res/yth	0-1	—
Boston United’s youth team had another match on their pre-season schedule away to United Counties League outfit Blackstones. But, they slipped to a 1-0 loss via a 38^th minute goal from Danny Pepper. The Pilgrims’ youngsters were joined by senior pros Stewart Talbot and David Farrell, who both appeared for the first half to sharpen up their match fitness ahead of the first team’s Saturday League Two opener away to Grimsby Town. Of the chances that came United’s way, Adam Rowntree was twice out of luck before the interval while a Ben Joyce shot flew inches wide. After falling behind, United tried to get back into contention. But the home keeper punched away a Richard Chinn effort while Rowntree fired a 12-yarder too high in the dying throes. Pilgrims (4-4-2): Doughty; Davies (Wood 60, Stevens 62), Chinn, Moon, Mitchell; Joyce (Millson 60), Talbot (Beeson 46), Cook, Farrell (Martin 46); Rowntree, Kinch (Forbes 66).
July 31	Birmingham C	Home	First XI	1-3	Joachim 73
Boston United’s pre-season build-up campaign came to a conclusion with a positive display, despite going down to defeat, against a strong Birmingham City side featuring six first team squad members. For long spells the Pilgrims did well to match their high-profile visitors and in the first half, an early header by Paul Ellender flew wide while later on Mark Greaves saw a shot blocked and Anthony Elding fired off-target after a neat one-two with Julian Joachim. Birmingham had chances of their own, notably close calls from D J Campbell and Stephen Clemence. City went ahead on 38 minutes when Campbell slid the ball under Andy Marriott after being put clear down the middle by Neil Kilkenny. Before the break, Julian Gray headed wide from a cross by ex-Pilgrims loanee Peter Till and then Marriott scrambled across his goal to hold a quickly-taken free-kick by Clemence. The visitors advantage was doubled on 59 minutes when a neat break down the left led to Julian Gray sliding the ball inside for Clemence to deliver an exquisite lobbed 20-yard finish over Marriott. Boston hit back with a 73^rd minute goal from Joachim, the striker crashing in a left-footed drive after his initial shot from a David Farrell pass had been blocked by keeper Craig Doyle. Later on, Ellender saw a firm header from a Jamie Clarke corner diverted away from goal by Clemence before the blues wrapped things up on 89 minutes when Gray crossed for Ollie Allen to tap in from six yards. Pilgrims (4-4-2): Marriott; Canoville, Albrighton, Ellender, T Ryan; Green, Greaves (Talbot 82), Clarke, Galbraith (Farrell 67); Joachim (Forbes 87), Elding. Subs (not used): Stevens, Chinn, Kirby (gk).
July 28	Grantham	Away	Res/yth	0-1	—
A young Boston United side went down to a 1-0 loss away to Northern Premier League side Grantham thanks to an 89^th minute decider by veteran home centre back Adrian Speed. He was on target with a firm header from a free-kick at a stage when United looked poised to attain a creditable draw. Apart from the goal, clear-cut chances had been at a premium at both ends. Best openings for Boston saw Nathan Forbes drill too high in the first half while there were untaken opportunities during the second 45 minutes from the likes of Mensah Omari Kinch, Lee Beeson and Ben Joyce. Grantham’s other best chance came in the early exchanges when James Doughty saved well from a John Douglas effort. Pilgrims (4-4-2): Doughty; Harper (Nunn 75), Chinn, Stevens, Mitchell (Talbot 65); Kinch, Cook (Millson 69), Davies (Joyce 62), Brooks; Rowntree (Martin 73), Forbes (Beeson 56).
July 25	Alfreton	Away	Res/yth	3-1	Forbes 31, Kinch 57, Stevens 78
A young Boston United side secured an impressive friendly win away to UniBond League side Alfreton. After weathering some early pressure, the Pilgrims went on to produce a fine display. Keeper James Doughty was a 28^th minute hero when saving a spot-kick from Alfie Nynenge after a handball offence by Miles Mitchell. Three minutes later Boston went ahead via Nathan Forbes’ third pre-season goal when he fired in from 15 yards after being put clear by a Dane Harper through ball. Twelve minutes into the second half Boston, with senior pro Stewart Talbot a good influence in midfield, doubled their lead when Mensah Omari Kinch accepted a pass from Forbes and drilled in from 25 yards. In the 78^th minute Kinch crossed from the left to provide centre back Jamie Stevens with a close range tap-in. Alfreton pulled one back when Andy Tiday converted a Damien Magee cross. Pilgrims (4-4-2): Doughty; Harper, Chinn, Stevens, Mitchell; Nunn (Beeson 68), Talbot, Cook (Joyce 46), Brooks (Martin 58); Forbes (Davies 85), Kinch. Subs (not used): Millson, Wood, Thorpe.
July 24	Kings Lynn	Away	First XI	0-0	—
A mixture of youth and experience combined to give Boston United a draw in their latest pre-season encounter. The Pilgrims battled out a goalless draw away to non-league neighbours King’s Lynn on Monday evening. But, given the fact they finished with nine teenagers on the park, it was a hugely creditable display by United against a Lynn side who featured former Pilgrims Dean West and Matt O’Halloran in their ranks. And the latter was a key figure as Lynn threatened first, his early free-kick flashing off target. In reply, Jamie Steven drilled too high following a Richie Ryan free-kick. Boston almost took an 18^th minute lead when the home keeper did well to block and Anthony Elding header from a Julian Joachim cross. Further chances were exchanged before the break when a Mark Albrighton header was cleared off the home line while, in reply, Ben Kirby did well to save from a Jack Defty header. After the break, O’Halloran and Michael Frew (for Lynn) and Anthony Elding (twice) went close at either end but were unable to break the deadlock. Later on, Ashley Nicholls was denied by Ben Kirby with a fierce free-kick. However, a Boston side — complete with seven young changes at the break — merited their draw. Pilgrims (4-4-2): Kirby; Harper, Albrighton (Chinn 46), Stevens, T Ryan (Mitchell 46); Hall (Martin 46, Joyce 88), R Ryan (Joyce 31, Talbot 46), Cook (Raynor 46), Galbraith (Brooks 46); Joachim (Forbes 46), Elding (Kinch 66). Sub (not used): Doughty (gk).
July 22	Bradford C	Home	First XI	4-1	Clarke 2, Joachim 6, Galbraith 16, Brooks 90
Some scintillating football propelled Boston United into a commanding early position in their home friendly against League One side Bradford City. And from a position of 3-0 ahead, they never looked back en route to a decisive 4-1 win. Midfielder Jamie Clarke set the ball rolling with a sweetly struck 22-yard free-kick over the wall and beyond keeper Russell Howarth after just two minutes after Paul Tait had been fouled by David Wetherall. Four minutes later, Julian Joachim accepted a threaded pass from Francis Green and rounded Howarth to double Boston’s lead. In the 16^th minute David Galbraith seized possession 25 yards out and let fly with a drive that dipped into the bottom corner. Bradford were shell-shocked and a pocket of their disgruntled fans directed their anger at visiting boss Colin Todd. The visitors, though, performed better after the break and pulled a goal back when Steven Schumacher skipped through to steer a shot past Andy Marriott on 55 minutes. Boston, though, kept up a decent tempo and might have added to their lead first when Joachim crossed for Anthony Elding to head wide and then when sub keeper Donovan Ricketts made a great save to keep out team-mate Wetherall’s miscue when trying to clear a cross from Green. Experienced striker Dean Windass added a touch of unsavoury drama in the 78^th minute when he delivered a savage lunging foul on Lee Canoville, thankfully the United defender emerging unscathed. And Boston exacted due revenge in the dying seconds when Lee Brooks drilled in right footed via the underside of the bar after Ricketts had only half-punched clear a cross by Nathan Forbes. Pilgrims (4-4-2): Marriott; Canoville, Albrighton, Ellender, T Ryan; Green (Harper 85), Clarke, Greaves, Galbraith (Brooks 81); Tait (Elding 68), Joachim (Forbes 83). Subs (not used): Kirby (gk), R Ryan, Talbot.
July 21	St Neots	Away	Res/yth	1-1	Forbes 75
Sixteen-year-old Nathan Forbes grabbed the goal which earned a young Boston United side a 1-1 draw away to St Neots of the United Counties League. The Pilgrims fielded just three recognised senior pros in Anthony Elding, Stewart Talbot and keeper Ben Kirby with manager Steve Evans running the rule over United’s emerging talent. And Forbes made his scoring impact on 75 minutes when heading a ben Joyce free-kick beyond keeper Steve Young who had earlier denied the scorer on three occasions with excellent saves. Boston’s goal answered a 33^rd minute opener from St Neots front man Steve Kuhne. Late in the game, Boston lost the services of substitute Ryan Moon with a gashed head and suspected broken nose after an accident aerial collision with a home player. Pilgrims (4-4-2): Kirby (Doughty 72); Harper, Chinn, Stevens (Moon 76, Mitchell 82), Mitchell (Martin 80); Kinch (Nunn 80), Talbot, Cook (Joyce 67), Brooks; Elding, Forbes.
July 19	Barnsley	Home	First XI	1-1	Clarke 65
Boston United fought out a 1-1 pre-season draw against Championship new boys Barnsley. The first half saw both sides play neat football but without really suggesting a breakthrough would arrive. Best moments for Barnsley saw Michael McIndoe test keeper Andy Marriott with a 20-yard eighth minute free-kick while Brian Howard fired too high after a 40^th minute shot on the run. Boston’s best first half moment saw Mark Greaves head just wide from a Clarke corner. After the break, and with eight changes, Barnsley looked a more purposeful unit. Robbie Williams blasted a free-kick against the home bar and Marc Richards saw a shot held by Marriott. But the visitors went ahead on 59 minutes when a Williams cross from the left was headed in at the far post by Nicky Wroe. Boston hit back six minutes when Jamie Clarke let fly with a swerving 30-yarder that deceived sub keeper Kyle Letheren and flew in off the top of a post. The replacement visiting custodian, though, went on to make fine saves late on to deny Julian Joachim and Anthony Elding potential home match-winning strikes. Pilgrims (4-4-2): Marriott; Canoville (Stevens 78), Ellender, Greaves, T Ryan; Green (Elding 67), Clarke, R Ryan, Holland (Galbraith 46); Joachim, Tait (Forbes 84). Subs (not used): Kirby (gk), Talbot, Albrighton.
July 17	Scunthorpe	Home	First XI	1-2	Forbes 83
Boston United turned out a youthful line-up for their Lincolnshire Senior Cup tie against Scunthorpe and gained a fair amount of credit despite suffering a 2-1 reverse — the visitors winning through via a stoppage time strike. The Pilgrims’ side was made up totally of players aged under 20 and turned in a positive first half shift in which exchanges were even. Rob Norris, Nathan Forbes and Jamie Davies all went close, the latter being denied by a superb save from Iron keeper John Lillis. In response, Scunthorpe’s Ashley Allanson and Steve Torpey were thwarted by Jamie Stevens’ block and Ben Kirby’s save. Six minutes after the break Scunthorpe took the lead Neil Mackenzie converted from the spot after substitute Ryan Moon was harshly deemed guilty of fouling Ramon Calliste. Boston battled hard and equalised on 83 minutes when Nathan Forbes rounded off good build-up work by Norris and Mensah Omari Kinch with a tidy 12-yard finish. However, four minutes into stoppage time, Torpey fired in from close-range after Billy Dennehy’s cross was only partially cleared. Pilgrims (4-4-2): Kirby; Harper, Chinn, Stevens, Mitchell; Nunn (Moon 30, Kinch 60), Davies (Beeson 80), Cook, Brooks; Norris, Forbes. Sub (not used): Doughty (gk).
July 15	Boston Town	Away	First XI	2-0	Ellender 59, Tait 78
Headed second half goals by Paul Ellender and Paul Tait enabled Boston United to get the better of non-league neighbours in their now annual pre-season meeting at Tattershall Road. Ellender was on target when glancing in a 59^th minute corner by Tim Ryan. And 12 minutes from time Tait applied a clinical 10-yard finish to a cross delivered by Francis Green. The goals cemented a tidy win for United against opponents who provided dogged resistance — albeit without ever troubling Pilgrims’ custodian Andy Marriott. Elsewhere, it was a tale of United generally the dominant force with closest first half calls seeing Anthony Elding miss out with a shot and header plus Town keeper Mick Hurst saving well from Ellender and David Galbraith. After the break United pressed home their advantage with several team changes and plenty of attacking work, capped by the double breakthrough. Pilgrims (4-4-2): Marriott; Parslow (T Ryan 46), Albrighton, Ellender, Canoville; Farrell, Clarke (Holland 46), Greaves (Talbot 46), Galbraith (Joachim 46); Elding (Tait 46), Green (Forbes 85). Sub (not used): Kirby (gk).
July 14	Fakenham	Away	Res/yth	3-1	Norris 28, 61, 67 (pen)
Rob Norris was the hat-trick hero for a youthful Boston United side that still carried enough strength to conquer Norfolk-based non-leaguers Fakenham. The 18-year-old struck first on 28 minutes when latching on to a Kyle Moran through ball before rounding the home keeper and slotting in. Two minutes before the break, though, the Pilgrims conceded an equaliser when Danny McCall fired beyond Ben Kirby. But Norris tipped the scales Boston’s way again after the break — first on 61 minutes when converting a cross from Adam Rowntree and then six minutes later via converting a twice taken penalty after the lively Rowntree had been fouled. Pilgrims (4-4-2): Kirby (Doughty 71); Harper, Chinn (Moon 61), Stevens, Mitchell; Nunn (Wadieh 46), Cook (Joyce 61), Moran (Davies 61), Brooks; Forbes (Rowntree 46), Norris (Kinch 68).
July 12	Leicester C	Home	First XI	1-4	Elding 24
Two late Leicester goals gave something of an imbalanced look to the final scoreline of Boston United’s second pre-season friendly. The Pilgrims generally acquitted themselves quite well against their Championship rivals, although a couple of defensive lapses also contributed to their downfall. Leicester went ahead on 14 minutes when Elvis Hammond cashed in on some “out-of-area wandering” by keeper Andy Marriott before crossing for Chris O’Grady to slot in. The same scorer was on the mark again three minutes later when nipping in to tap home. Boston, though, pulled a goal back on 24 minutes when Francis Green chipped a pass into the path of Anthony Elding who fired a rising left-foot 18-yarder in off the underside of the City bar via the fingertips of keeper Paul Henderson. And that’s the way things stayed for most of an evenly balanced second half — until the 87^th minute when Iain Hume netted with a 30-yard swerver. And 60 seconds from time, a home back line mix-up let in Levi Porter who crossed for Josh Low to net with ease from five yards. Pilgrims (4-4-2): Marriott (Kirby 70); Parslow, Albrighton (Canoville 46), Greaves (Chinn 80), T Ryan (Norris 85); Green (Moran 70), Holland (Clarke 46), Talbot (Ellender 46), Galbraith; Elding (Tait 46), Joachim (Farrell 46). Sub (not used): Wall.
July 08	Ipswich T	Home	First XI	1-1	Elding 90
Anthony Elding celebrated the start of his second spell in Boston United colours with the last-gasp equaliser that earned a pre-season 1-1 friendly draw against an Ipswich Town side who used their complete first team squad with separate XIs appearing in each half. The visitors led by a 43^rd minute Nicky Forster penalty at the interval after he had been impeded by Paul Ellender. But the Pilgrims continued in an upbeat fashion after the break and levelled matters in the dying seconds when Elding was put through by a long clearance and fired beyond keeper Supple. Boston gave outings to their entire senior squad (apart from sidelined duo Simon Rusk and Brad Maylett). And there were also appearances for trialists Ben Kirby (keeper), Stuart Wall, Daniel Parslow and Kyle Moran. Pilgrims (4-4-2): Marriott (Kirby 80); Canoville, Albrighton (Wall 80), Ellender, T Ryan (Parslow 46); Farrell (Moran 65), Greaves (Talbot 46), Clarke (Holland 46), Galbraith (Joachim 46); Tait (Elding 46), Green (Norris 83). Sub (not used): Chinn.