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Spotlight on Boston United Football Club

THE PILGRIMS

Match reports archive 2005-2006

SEASON COMPLETE
Saturday May 6, 2006 (League Two)
Torquay United	0	Boston United	0
Despite being unable to hit the goal trail, Boston United were more than deserving of a final day share of the spoils away to relegation-haunted Torquay. But a share of the spoils was still enough for the Pilgrims to hit the 61-point mark (their best ever total as a League Two club) and cement a finishing position of 11^th on the table (equal ling their best achievement). Pilgrims: (4-5-1): Logan; Canoville (Silk 67), Ellender, White, McCann; Maylett (P Till 61), Clarke, Holland, Greaves, Thomas (Dudfield 82); Joachim. Subs (not used): Melton, R Chinn.
Saturday April 29, 2006 (League Two)
Boston United	2	Rushden & Diamonds	0
Dudfield 89 Thomas 90
Boston United signed off their home programme to the 2005-2006 season with a two-goal victory that consigned opponents Rushden and Diamonds to an immediate future back in the Conference. The Pilgrims found it tough going against a side battling hard to preserve their League Two status. But in the end, last-gasp goals from Lawrie Dudfield and Danny Thomas sealed the spoils. In a first half of few openings, the best moments saw Julian Joachim and Thomas shoot straight at Scott Tynan (22 and 45 minutes) when seemingly well placed to have done better. After the break, Rushden were on top with Wayne Hatswell heading wide and then later blazing too high with the goal at his mercy while Phil Gulliver also went close with a header. Boston managed to hold on and plundered maximum spoils when Dudfield fired past Tynan on 89 minutes after Joachim had flicked on a Conrad Logan clearance. Then in stoppage time, following a neat build-up down the left, Thomas drilled in with an angled 18-yard drive. The victory took United a record points tally of 60 as a League Two club. Pilgrims (4-3-3): Logan; Canoville, White, Ellender, McCann; Clarke (Maylett 66), Holland, Galbraith (Melton 22); Till (Dudfield 33), Joachim, Thomas. Subs (not used): Silk, Chinn.
Saturday April 22, 2006 (League Two)
Bristol Rovers	3	Boston United	1
Disley 27 Walker 73 (pen) Agogo 77		Joachim 60
This was effectively the day that Boston United’s outside hopes of reaching the League Two play-offs finally died. Defeat away to Bristol Rovers left the Pilgrims to contemplate another — but arguably still creditable — mid-table finish as a member of the “elite 92” in the Football League. However, it was a day when so much more could easily have run in favour of Steve Evans’ men. Exchanges in the first half were generally quite even. But on 27 minutes home striker junior Agogo broke clear and squared invitingly for Craig Disley to fire Rovers ahead. Either side of the interval, United went close to getting on level terms, notably with Julian Joachim twice missing out when decent openings presented themselves. But Boston’s top marksman made amends in the 60^th minute when finishing off a good move. Jamie Clarke fed Chris Holland out wide. Brad Maylett headed his centre back across goal and Joachim forced the ball in from close range. Shortly afterwards, Joachim found Danny Thomas with a clear opening. But from eight yards out, he miscued a volley and the chance was lost. Boston fell behind in the 73^rd minute when Austin McCann needlessly tugged back Lewis Haldane and from the resulting penalty, Richard Walker fired past United keeper Conrad Logan — back on loan from Leicester City and fully in form with a clutch of excellent saves during this particular 90 minutes. With United pressing for a second equaliser, Rovers were able to exploit gaps and in the 77^th minute Agogo put the issue beyond doubt with the sort of clinical finish that had been missing at the opposite end of the park. Pilgrims (4-3-3): Logan; Canoville, White, Ellender, McCann; Holland, Clarke, Greaves (Maylett 46); Dudfield (Till 46), Joachim (Galbraith 90), Thomas. Subs (not used): Melton, Silk.
Monday April 17, 2006 (League Two)
Boston United	1	Oxford United	0
White 7
A goal from Alan White as early as the seventh minute proved enough for Boston United to defeat Oxford. White showed good awareness to pounce on a loose ball and stab in from eight yards after Us’ keeper Billy Turley had spilled an Austin McCann free-kick hoisted into the area. In a match dominated by a strong downfield breeze, the Pilgrims enjoyed first half ascendancy with further efforts from White (header) and shots by Brad Maylett and David Galbraith going close to extending their advantage. After the break, though, Oxford gained the upper hand. But they missed two amazing chances to equalise. First on 54 minutes Tcham N’Toya’s 20-yard free-kick rattled down off the home bar (via a slight touch from Michel Kuipers) with Boston scrambling the ball clear. Then nine minutes from time, Andy Burgess fired the ball into the danger area and Leo Roget somehow tumbled over the ball and bundled a shot wide when an equaliser looked certain. The match also marked a return to York Street of former Boston boss Jim Smith who began his managerial career with the Pilgrims in 1969. He received warm and rapturous applause from all sides when he emerged from the tunnel before the match got under way. The result left Boston still in with an outside chance of reaching the final play-off slot but Oxford are sitting uneasily at the wrong end of the table. Pilgrims (4-4-2): Kuipers; Canoville (Silk 18), White, Ellender, McCann; Maylett, Clarke (Holland 69), Greaves, Galbraith (Joachim 84); Dudfield, Thomas. Subs (not used): Melton, Chinn.
Saturday April 15, 2006 (League Two)
Peterborough United	0	Boston United	1
		Clarke 69
Midfielder Jamie Clarke was Boston United’s derby day match-winner as the Pilgrims chalked up their fourth away League Two triumph of the season — and completed a home and away double over their neighbours from London Road. The match was always tightly contested with neither attack really given much scope to flourish. Boston might have taken the lead in the first half but an opportunity escaped Lawrie Dudfield. The closest Posh came to scoring came through two efforts by Danny Crow. The first drew a good stop from Michel Kuipers while the second saw the home forward slice off target. In the 64^th minute Dudfield flicked a pass to Julian Joachim. But Mark Tyler superbly saved the latter’s stinging drive. However, Boston harvested maximum spoils when a pass inside from the left by Dudfield was partially blocked by Tim Ryan. The ball looped up off Danny Thomas and Clarke swivelled superbly to fire a tremendous 16-yard volley shot past Tyler in the 69^th minute. After that the Pilgrims held firm steadfastly, especially with Alan White and Paul Ellender in commanding form and Kuipers was never directly tested again by a home side whose play-off hopes took a knock on the back of this result. Pilgrims (4-3-3): Kuipers; Canoville, White, Ellender, McCann; Rusk (Clarke 48), Greaves, Holland (Galbraith 90); Dudfield, Joachim (Maylett 87), Thomas. Subs (not used): Melton, Chinn.
Monday April 10, 2006 (Lincolnshire Senior Cup final)
Boston United	2	Scunthorpe United	1
Thomas 5 Till 22		Ryan 33
Boston United lifted the Lincolnshire Senior Cup thanks to a 2-1 victory over Scunthorpe at York Street on a night when both sides fielded a mixture of first teamers, reserves and youth team players. Crisply-taken first half goals from Danny Thomas (five minutes) and Peter Till (22) — both shots from close to the edge of the box — put the Pilgrims in control. However, Scunthorpe halved the deficit on 33 minutes when Ritchie Ryan steered the ball in from a Joe Wilcox cross. And although the visitors arguably had the better of exchanges in the second half, they were unable to pierce the Boston back line again as the Pilgrims hung on to lift the silverware — even though they lost Stewart Talbot (recurrence of ankle injury) and Peter Till (calf) during the second period. Pilgrims (4-4-2): Wright; Edkins, Silk, Clarke, Brooks; Melton, Chinn, Talbot (Norris 48), Galbraith; Till (Harper 83), Thomas. Subs (not used): Stevens, Cook, Doughty (gk).
Saturday April 8, 2006 (League Two)
Leyton Orient	2	Boston United	0
Lockwood 51 (pen) Connor 89
Boston United’s lack of away goal power was again evident as they slipped totally out of the play-offs picture with defeat at the hands of promotion-chasing Leyton Orient. The Os’ match-winning goals came via a 51^st minute penalty netted by Matt Lockwood after Alan White had fouled Paul Connor and then a minute from full-time when Lockwood crossed from the left and Connor fired low past Michael Kuipers from 10 yards. Arguably, though, that double blow was tough on the Pilgrims who had enjoyed plenty of pressure in the first half with Lawrie Dudfield twice firing wide and Connor having to clear a dangerous corner by Brad Maylett—these moments coming after Lee Canoville had fired a ninth minute shot against the home bar. In reply, Orient also rattled the goal frame via a Gary Alexander 30^th minute effort. Another Alexander shot and an effort by Michael Simpson tested Kuipers. After falling behind early in the second half, United rallied well but had cause to curse poor finishing from Julian Joachim (shot) and White (header) at times when an equaliser looked probable. But the issue was settled when the Os grabbed their second goal in the dying moments, leaving the Pilgrims with another away-day blank to their names in a season that has yielded just 14 league goals on their League Two travels. Pilgrims (4-4-2): Kuipers; Canoville, Ellender, White, McCann; Maylett (Till 76), Rusk, Greaves, Holland (Thomas 76); Joachim, Dudfield. Subs (not used) Hall, Clarke, Silk.
Saturday April 1, 2006 (League Two)
Boston United	2	Barnet	1
Dudfield 16 Greaves 35		Roache 73
Boston United ended a run of three straight losses to edge above the 50 points total for the season, thanks to a hard-fought victory over Barnet at York Street. On a day blighted by a early downpour and a significant end-to-end wind, the Pilgrims were the dominant force in the first half. With the elements in their favour, United went ahead on 16 minutes when Alan White turned an Austin McCann free-kick back across goal for Lawrie Dudfield to volley in. The 35^th minute brought another goal when Brad Maylett’s hoisted free-kick from the left evaded keeper Ross Flitney and enabled Mark Greaves to head unchallenged into the net. Long spells of the second half were spent with neither side really threatening further inroads, although Dudfield was thwarted by a brave save from Flitney. Barnet, though, lifted their game with the 70^th minute introduction of substitute Lee Roache. And he put more life into the visitors’ play when creating space on the edge of the home area before angling a low shot past Michel Kuipers to make it 2-1. Barnet threw men forward in search of a late equaliser. But United — nervously at times — successfully held on. Pilgrims (4-4-2): Kuipers; Canoville, White, Ellender, McCann; Maylett (Hall 90), Rusk, Greaves, Holland; Dudfield (Thomas 81), Joachim (Clarke 90). Subs (not used): Galbraith, Silk.
Wednesday March 29, 2006 (League Two)
Boston United	1	Chester City	3
Rusk 88		Asamoah 43, 51, 61
Arguably, this was Boston United’s poorest showing of a season that is rapidly spiralling into a nosedive conclusion. The Pilgrims were woeful from start to finish in virtually all departments and lacked any real style or cohesion as they slipped tamely to defeat against a Chester side with even worse current statistics than Premiership whipping boys Sunderland. They came to York Street having crashed to the bottom of the League Two table on the back of just one win, one draw and 15 defeats from their last 17 league outings. But the Pilgrims allowed their opponents to look world-beaters. And a fourth loss in five games buried totally all Boston talk of play-off aspirations. Up to Simon Rusk’s 88^th minute consolation goal, all that United had to show for their aimless efforts was a 12^th minute off-target drive by Austin McCann. In between Chester ran the show with a David Artell header and Jake Edwards shot forcing home keeper Michel Kuipers into good saving action. But Kuipers turned villain on 43 minutes when, in a total mix-up with team-mate Lee Canoville, the pair let Derek Asamoah stroll through to walk the ball into an empty net. The same player added Chester’s second goal six minutes after the break, firing in after Artell had headed down Ben Davies’ corner. And Asamoah completed his hat-trick in the 61^st minute when skipping through a brittle home back line. Boston were shattered and had little to offer in response. Rusk did his bit to score after a neat shuffle round Chris Mackenzie in the dying throes. And moments later Lawrie Dudfield was thwarted by the Chester keeper’s legs when clean through. But nothing could mask over a dreadful home show in front of York Street’s lowest ever League Two attendance of just 1,651. Pilgrims (4-4-2): Kuipers; Silk, Canoville, Greaves, McCann; Maylett (Till 46), Rusk, Clarke, Holland (Thomas 46); Joachim, Dudfield. Subs (not used): White, Hall, Melton.
Saturday March 25, 2006 (League Two)
Carlisle United	4	Boston United	2
Lumsden 2 Hawley 20 Hackney 75, 90		Billy 63 (og) Rusk 84
Boston United’s play-off hopes suffered another damaging blow with defeat away to table-topping Carlisle who, in the process, completed a league double over the Pilgrims. It was a reverse Steve Evans’ men could scarcely afford. And despite rallying well after the break, early defensive lapses ultimately proved a decisive factor in their eighth away League Two loss of the season. Boston fell behind in the second minute when Paul Arnison crossed from the left. The ball eluded Alan White and Michael Bridges headed back into the danger area where Chris Lumsdon fired high into the net. The Pilgrims were visibly shaken and fell 2-0 behind on 20 minutes when, from a corner on the left by Lumsdon, the ball dropped invitingly for an unmarked Karl Hawley to back-heel in from close range. Boston halved the deficit in the 63^rd minute when a Jamie Clarke corner and subsequent attempted cross by Austin McCann were both cleared before the former whipped over a low, driven centre which Chris Billy diverted into his own net. The Pilgrims lifted their game and for a while had Carlisle struggling to hang on—with Lawrie Dudfield (shot) and Chris Holland (cross) both going close to providing an equaliser. However, the home side hit back and went 3-1 up when Simon Hackney showed good pace and power to break through the Boston rearguard before firing past Michel Kuipers. Boston, though, kept themselves in contention and ensured a rip-roaring finish when Simon Rusk smashed the ball in on 84 minutes from six yards amid a scramble created by another decent spell of pressure. The home side had to withstand some further uneasy moments in the dying stages — including a stoppage time free-kick when Boston piled every player (plus Kuipers) into the home area. The ball was cleared and, with the visitors having no-one back, Hackney helped himself to a last-kick fourth Carlisle goal by rolling the ball in from 25 yards. Pilgrims (4-4-2): Kuipers; Silk (Till 86), White, Canoville, McCann; Rusk, Hall (Maylett 46), Clarke, Holland (Thomas 85); Joachim, Dudfield. Subs (not used): Greaves, Melton.
Wednesday March 22, 2006 (League Two)
Boston United	0	Northampton Town	1
		Johnson 79
A goal 11 minutes from time dealt a jolt to Boston United’s play-off ambitions while at the same time fuelling the automatic elevation hopes of York Street visitors Northampton. The outcome, though, was tough on the Pilgrims who had held the upper hand for lengthy phases of play — albeit without the required killer touch in front of the target. United had calls for a second minute penalty waved away by referee Neil Swarbrick after Julian Joachim tumbled under a challenge from Luke Chambers. Joachim went close to giving Boston the lead on 26 minutes, but his left-foot shot after a 40-yard run was held by Lee Harper. It took Northampton until the 37^th minute to produce a worthwhile attack. But then Michel Kuipers had to block well in quick succession from snap-shots by Jason Crowe and Martin Smith. United went close twice more around the hour mark. First Simon Rusk got on the end of a great chipped pass by Jamie Clarke and then Peter Till fired in a drive from Austin McCann’s left wing cross. But each time Harper produced good saves. The visitors never really exerted any sustained pressure, but found a breakthrough in the 79^th minute when Smith crossed from the left flank and former Boston man Gavin Johnson appeared to get the final touch after the ball ricocheted off a couple of players. United tried to hit back, but once again were unable to pierce a resolute Town rearguard. Pilgrims (4-4-2): Kuipers; Silk (Maylett 81), White, Canoville, McCann; Till (Melton 89), Rusk, Clarke, Holland; Joachim, Dudfield (Thomas 75). Subs (not used): Hall, Greaves.
Saturday March 18, 2006 (League Two)
Boston United	2	Lincoln City	1
Joachim 26 Dudfield 90		M Robinson 65
County bragging rights firmly belong to Boston United fans after a dramatic stoppage time victory over arch rivals Lincoln City. The Pilgrims conquered derby opponents Lincoln City courtesy of goals from strike duo Julian Joachim and Lawrie Dudfield, victory taking United’s haul of points against the Imps to four out of a possible six this term. And this York Street result also smashed Lincoln’s unbeaten run of 12 matches. Boston were the dominant force in the first half but only had Joachim’s 26^th minute goal to show for their efforts. He stabbed in after Dudfield’s close range shot bounced off the underside of the bar after Chris Holland had headed firmly across goal from a free-kick on the right by Jamie Clarke. Two other noteworthy shots from Peter Till were well saved by City keeper Alan Marriott. After the interval, however, Lincoln camped in United’s half for long periods. But it wasn’t until the 65^th minute that substitute Marvin Robinson (just on for the injured Simon Yeo) swivelled to hit a spectacular equaliser. After that it seemed a draw was the most likely outcome. However, United rallied late on. Danny Thomas and Joachim both saw shots pushed away by Marriott. And then from a Clarke corner deep in added time, Alan White headed down and Dudfield jubilantly lashed the ball into the roof of the net from eight yards. Pilgrims: (4-4-2): Kuipers; Silk, White, Canoville, McCann; Till, Talbot, Clarke, Holland (Thomas 87); Joachim, Dudfield (Hall 90). Subs (not used): Maylett, McSporran, Melton.
Saturday March 11, 2006 (League Two)
Mansfield Town	5	Boston United	0
Barker 43 Greaves (og) 47 Reet 51 Uhlenbeek 63 Brown (pen) 83
Boston United suffered their worst away-day drubbing in four seasons as a Football League club. The Pilgrims were simply never at the races and seldom imposed themselves as a threatening force at Field Mill. They went behind to a goal just before the break and then simply fell apart in the second half and leaked goal alarmingly to suffer their first-ever League Two away loss by more than a three-goal margin. In the process they tumbled to a reverse that equalled their poorest result over the past four campaigns (a 5-0 home drubbing by Carlisle in January). It was all a hugely forgettable day for the faithful fans who had travelled in hope but who sat and suffered in anguish as events unfolded. Richie Barker put Mansfield in front moments before the interval. And any hopes of a Boston recovery were demolished soon after the break when first Mark Greaves stabbed a Gus Uhlenbeek cross into his own net quickly followed by a third home goal when Danny Reet skipped through to score. In the 63^rd minute Uhlenbeek got on the scoresheet with a neat far post finish from a cross on the right. Boston conceded a fifth in the 83^rd minute when David Galbraith tripped Simon Brown in the area and the Stags man picked himself up to drill home from the resultant penalty. It might have been even worse for Boston but for a Laurence Wilson shot rebounding away off a post. Throughout the whole 90 minutes, United never really showed themselves as an attacking force and veteran home keeper Kevin Pressman was seldom given any anxious moments. United were left in 15^th place in the table, treading water nine points adrift of the last play-off slot and nine points above the two relegation places. Pilgrims: (4-4-2): Kuipers; Silk (Melton 56), Greaves, White, Canoville; Rusk, Hall, Talbot (Galbraith 56), Till; Dudfield (McSporran 79), Joachim. Subs (not used): McCann, Clarke.
Saturday March 4, 2006 (League Two)
Boston United	v	Northampton Town
MATCH POSTPONED part-frozen pitch
Saturday February 25, 2006 (League Two)
Stockport County	0	Boston United	1
		Joachim 67
Julian Joachim’s 14^th goal of the season earned Boston United their third away triumph of the campaign at the expense of what was an in-form Stockport side making progress from the basement area of the League Two table. But their recovery hit a setback against the Pilgrims who dominated for long spells and merited victory by much more than a one-goal margin. However, the three points netted helped United climb back into the top half of the table and sit within seven points of the play-off (with a match in hand). In the first half Boston created a plentiful supply of chances. Early on Simon Rusk saw a header saved by Jamie Spencer while shots from Asa Hall and Stuart Talbot flew too high. Towards the interval further efforts from Joachim and 27^th minute substitute Jermaine McSporran flashed inches wide. Stockport never troubled keeper Michel Kuipers and the pattern continued after the break, notably when Lawrie Dudfield drilled a fraction off target. County had their first moment of pressure in the 63^rd minute, but Alan White denied Le Fondre with a fine tackle. And four minutes later Boston went ahead. Dudfield did well to win and retain possession before feeding Rusk out wide and his centre fell invitingly for Joachim to flick home a header at the far post. Stockport finally managed to get a toehold on proceedings and exerted a measure of late attacking work. But Mark Greaves kept the United rearguard well marshalled while Kuipers also produced a couple of important punches clear. Right at the death the home side went close to levelling in a goalmouth scramble. But Boston held on for a well-deserved maximum points haul. Pilgrims: (4-4-2): Kuipers; Silk, Greaves, White, Canoville (McSporran27), Rusk, Hall, Talbot (Thomas 79), Holland Dudfield, Joachim (Clarke 87). Subs (not used): Till, Maylett.
Saturday February 18, 2006 (League Two)
Boston United	1	Wycombe Wanderers	1
Joachim 56		Betsy 71
Arguably a share of the spoils was the banker bet before kick-off as two of League Two’s draw specialists met at York Street. And so it turned out. A point apiece merely enabled both sides to consolidate their respective positions in the table. And from a Boston perspective, there was perhaps a touch of disappointment on losing ground in the race for play-off spots. In the early stages, returning home keeper Michel Kuipers made a good save from an Ian Stonebridge shot. Boston replied and Julian Joachim fluffed a good chance with only Frank Talia to beat. But Wycombe carried plenty of threat, notably with Tommy Mooney crashing a shot against the home bar and then Sergio Torres almost squeezing a weak shot under Kuipers — the ball bouncing back to the custodian after bobbling off a post. In the second half Kuipers made a much more confident save from Torres and on 56 minutes the Pilgrims went ahead when Lawrie Dudfield cut the ball back for Joachim to score unmarked from 10 yards. Wycombe, though, equalised on 71 minutes when Dean Bowditch fed the ball in from the right and Kevin Betsy wriggled past two challenges before firing high into the net. After that, Kuipers made two more good saves but then United forced their way back into the reckoning with a late flourish which culminated with Joachim flicking the ball for a clean through Dudfield. But he was left frustrated when Talia pulled off an amazing blocking save to keep the scores level. Pilgrims: (4-4-2): Kuipers; Silk, Canoville, Greaves, McCann: Till (Maylett 46), Clarke, Talbot (Hall 64), Holland (Thomas 78); Dudfield, Joachim. Subs (not used): White, Rusk.
Wednesday February 15, 2006 (League Two)
Boston United	v	Chester City
MATCH POSTPONED waterlogged pitch
Saturday February 11, 2006 (League Two)
Grimsby Town	1	Boston United	0
Reddy 72
It was hard to work out exactly how Boston United failed to leave Blundell Park with no reward from an afternoon in which they outplayed a promotion-chasing Grimsby side — the result even propelling the Mariners into top spot in the League Two table. For long spells, the Pilgrims held the upper hand but all too often missed good chances at critical times. In the first half Jamie Clarke forced keeper Steve Mildenhall into a good save with a long distance effort. And then James Keene (on his farewell appearance before heading to Sweden) might have done better than shoot off target when clean through with only the keeper to beat. And just before the break, substitute Simon Rusk (on for the injured Stewart Talbot) glanced a header wide. In the 54^th minute Keene broke clear again only to have his effort blocked by the advancing Mildenhall who appeared to handle outside the area. But no free-kick was given, much to the dismay of United boss Steve Evans who found himself escorted from the stadium by a police officer after the intervention of a senior steward, allegedly over abusive language used from the Boston dugout. Evans was forced to spend the remainder of the match outside the confines of the ground on the United team coach. In his absence, Paul Raynor and Steve Welsh oversaw the Boston performance that continued to yield chances. But the likes of Julian Joachim, Asa Hall and Keene again all missed out. It was from a rare moment of home attacking pressure that the game was decided. And Andy Parkinson cross diverted upwards off Lee Canoville and fell to Michael Reddy whose return drive took a slight deflection en route past a helpless Conrad Logan. Right at the death, United rescued a point, but Joachim again lacked accuracy in front of target. Pilgrims: (4-4-2): Logan; Silk, Canoville, Greaves (Hall 46), McCann (Thomas 77); Till, Clarke, Talbot (Rusk 29), Holland; Keene, Joachim. Subs (not used): Dudfield, Maylett.
Saturday February 4, 2006 (League Two)
Boston United	0	Darlington	0
For the second time this season Boston United and Darlington battled out a 0-0 League Two draw. But this encounter at York Street still packed plenty of decent football from both sides. Overall, the Pilgrims arguably had the better of exchanges — particularly in the first half — and possibly merited more than a share of the spoils for their efforts. In the opening exchanges Boston looked purposeful and went close with two James Keene shots, a drive by Chris Holland following a mazy run by Peter Till who also fired in an effort which flew too high. Throughout the first period Darlington never seriously threatened keeper Conrad Logan. For a while after the break the visitors stepped up their game but had few clear opportunities, their best moment coming from a shot from distance by Joe Kendrick which flashed inches wide in the 68^th minute. Boston rallied in the later stages and went close when Julian Joachim saw one angled drive blocked, Austin McCann forced keeper Sam Russell to save with a long-range effort and Lee Canoville headed over from a corner. Substitute Brad Maylett also had penalty claims waved aside when tumbling under a challenge from Matt Clarke. But nothing ran favourably for United for whom an all-square outcome represented their 14^th League Two draw of the campaign. Pilgrims: (4-4-2): Logan; Silk, Canoville, Greaves, McCann; Till (Maylett 55), Clarke (Rusk 82), Talbot, Holland; Keene (Dudfield 82), Joachim. Subs (not used): Ellender, Hall.
Saturday January 28, 2006 (League Two)
Rochdale	1	Boston United	1
Griffiths 30		Keene 8
James Keene struck a milestone goal for Boston United when netting in the eighth minute of this League Two clash away to Rochdale. It was the Pilgrims’ first goal in four visits to Spotland. And although not enough to earn maximum spoils, it at least helped United to earn a share of the spoils and prise their first point from the Lancashire venue. Keene’s early strike came when burying the ball at the far post, converting a Mark Greaves cross-shot after Lee Canoville had flicked on a free-kick out on the right by Gary Silk. The home side, though, hit back with a 30^th minute equaliser when Gareth Griffiths headed in from a Ricky Lambert corner. Boston responded and Keene and Julian Joachim both saw home keeper Matt Gilks produce good saves to deny them the chance of restoring the Pilgrims’ lead. The second half was generally a much tighter affair with neither side able to create much in the way of genuinely dangerous moments. However, Lambert went close for Dale when latching onto a through pass and chipping over Conrad Logan. But the ball bounced wide of the United net off the outside of a post. Pilgrims: (4-4-2): Logan; Silk, Canoville, Greaves, McCann; Till (Maylett 90), Hall (Rusk 82), Talbot, Holland; Keene (Dudfield 87), Joachim. Subs (not used): Ellender, Galbraith.
Saturday January 21, 2006 (League Two)
Boston United	3	Bury	1
Joachim 27, 32 (pen) Till 60		Canoville 38 (og)
Julian Joachim ended his nine-match barren streak with two goals that helped fire Boston United to three valuable points. He was on target in the 27^th minute when stabbing the ball over the line after keeper Anthony Williams had dropped a corner by new recruit Jamie Clarke. Five minutes later Joachim took responsibility from the penalty spot and blasted in after Colin Woodthorpe upended Peter Till in the area. Before Joachim’s double strike, the Pilgrims had gone close on other occasions — the best seeing Till head wide from a cross by livewire James Keene who was later denied by Williams when trying to round the bury custodian. At 2-0 United were cruising, but probably bargained with a lucky goal getting the visitors back in the game when Allan Smart’s right wing cross hit Lee Canoville and diverted past Conrad Logan. But Boston creditably kept the upper hand and sealed the game in the 60^th minute when Joachim threaded a pass through for Till to do a neat shuffle and then plant home his first goal in United colours. At that stage the game was done and dusted and the subsequent half-hour yielded little in the way of close calls for either side. Pilgrims: (4-4-2): Logan; Silk, Greaves, Canoville, McCann; Till, Clarke (Hall 87), Talbot (Rusk 52), Holland; Joachim, Keene (Maylett 70). Subs (not used): Ellender, Thomas.
Wednesday January 18, 2006 (League Two)
Boston United	0	Carlisle United	5
		Hawley 5, 90 Bridges 57, 64, 80
Complete destruction! Boston United totally capitulated with a woeful second 45-minute display as Carlisle helped themselves to three League Two points that will boost their own promotion ambitions. The Pilgrims can have no complaints about the visitors’ success, but fans will probably be wondering just how Boston could cave in so hopelessly after turning in a good first half performance in which they enjoyed plenty of sustained pressure, despite falling behind to a fifth minute strike by the Cumbrians’ top scorer Karl Hawley. James Keene (three times), Simon Rusk, Austin McCann and Lee Canoville all missed the target by inches with firm shots while Stewart Talbot came close to sliding the ball in only to be denied by a last-gasp clearance from Danny Livesey. But after the break the Pilgrims were simply shambolic. Former Premiership star Michael Bridges squeezed a shot in off Conrad Logan’s hand in the 57^th minute and soon afterwards cracked an angled left-foot stunner in off the far post. A 20-yard free-kick saw him complete a hat-trick on 80 minutes and in the final moments Hawley threaded in a 12-yard shot to complete an embarrassing rout. It was Boston’s biggest home defeat since losing 6-0 at York Street to Runcorn in an October 1988 Conference match, their heaviest loss as a Football League club and biggest reverse of any kind since tumbling 8-0 at Bath with an injury-ravaged team towards the end of the 1997-98 Dr Martens League campaign. Pilgrims: (4-4-2): Logan; Canoville, White, Ellender, McCann; Till, Rusk (Holland 68), Talbot, Galbraith (Hall 64); Joachim, Keene (Dudfield 56). Subs (not used): Silk, Maylett.
Saturday January 14, 2006 (League Two)
Chester City	0	Boston United	1
		Rusk 82