TLG Stat-Pack – Boston United form

Saturday 2nd October 2004 - Coca-Cola League Two

Boston United 2 Scunthorpe United 1

Paul Gascoigne was involved in a Boston squad for the last time against the Iron

Goals: Pitt 68, O’Halloran 90

Bookings: Lee 30, Noble 76, Bennett 86

Sent Off: none

Attendance: 3640

Match Report (from www.bostonutd-mad.co.uk):

“A last minute wonder-strike from substitute Matt O'Halloran secured three points for The Pilgrims and they now sit just 4 points off top spot in League 2.

Scunthorpe United took the lead in the first half through young striker Paul Hayes as he turned in a cross from Cleveland Taylor on the right, past Nathan Abbey in the home goal.

Boston were unlucky not to have pulled level as Andy Kirk rounded keeper Paul Musselwhite before being thwarted on the line by an Iron defender and the same player also flicked a header onto the bar from a David Noble free kick.

In the same half, Jason Lee directed a free header past Musselwhite but another Iron defender cleared off the line!

The second half was all Boston as they searched for that elusive equaliser... a through ball from Tom Bennett made Scunthorpe appeal for offside - but as Pitt is so quick, he had run through the defence and neatly chipped the onrushing keeper.

Then, just after the fourth official had signalled three minutes of stoppage time to be played at the end, a flick on from Lee found O'Halloran unmarked, where after taking a touch, he sweetly stuck the ball into Musselwhite's top left hand corner of his goal.

994 fans from North Lincolnshire were in despair but the remainder of the 3600 crowd were in elation, and a good performance from The Pilgrims ensured the win stayed in Boston.”

Weds 29th September 2004 – LDV Vans Trophy first round

Boston United 0 Cambridge United 1

Lee Thompson made a somewhat rare start against the U's

Goals: none

Booked: none

Sent Off: none

Attendance: 1489

Match Report (from www.bostonutd-mad.co.uk):

“The Pilgrims crash out of the LDV Vans Trophy at the first hurdle as The U's take their place in the second round.

Jermaine Easter struck in the 66th minute at York Street, with a powerful effort past Nathan Abbey in the home side's goal.

The U's were up for the game more than Boston, and it showed with Steve Evans's team selection.

Fringe players like David Staff and Ryan Clarke were given starting roles, with Clarke putting in a solid performance.

Senior players such as Tom Bennett did themselves no favours in trying to regain places on the league teamsheet, by putting in inept displays.

Andy Kirk came on as a late substitute to further increase his match fitness, but even he couldn't get past the U's backline.”

Saturday 25th September 2004 – Coca-Cola League Two

Leyton Orient 0 Boston United 0

Paul Ellender has been a regular at the back

Goals: none

Booked: Noble 61, Pitt 66, McManus 90

Sent Off: none

Attendance: 4753

Match Report (from www.bostonutd-mad.co.uk):

“Stalemate at building site-like Brisbane Road as United take a point home from London.

It was Orient that started the match brighter in their in-development stadium. They currently only have two stands open as chairman Barry Hearn is constructing blocks of flats in each corner of the ground.

Nathan Abbey was in fine form to bounce back from a disappointing display on Wednesday against Premiership side Fulham.

After 30 minutes, United finally started to get a foot into the game and were producing some decent build up play, but again, no clear-cut chances were created.

The second half produced a much-improved display where United were again lacking that final killer instinct.

Although Abbey made a fantastic save from a Gary Alexander header, but United continued to press on at the Orient goal.

In the final moments, it was Orient that ended the match the stronger, although in stoppage time they were reduced to 10 men when a fight broke out between Tam McManus and Alan White led to the United man receiving a booking and the home defender a straight red in front of a 4,700 attendance.”

Weds 22nd September 2004 – Carling Cup second round

Boston United 1 Fulham 4

Lee Beevers scored a rare goal in the defeat to Fulham

Goal: Beevers 56

Booked: Kirk 66

Sent Off: none

Attendance: 5373

Match Report (from www.bostonutd-mad.co.uk):

“The Premiership big-boys proved too strong for United on Wednesday night in the second round of the League Cup.

Tomasz Radzinski scored a brace as Fulham's superior finishing concluded the match in the first half.

After just nine minutes, Radzinski - a £1.5 million pound arrival from Everton - broke clear to fire past Nathan Abbey.

Just under 20 minutes later, Steed Malbranque - making his first appearance of the season due to injury - blasted through Abbey's fingers after a neat one-two on the edge of the box and put into the net with a 20-yard strike.

Before half-time Chris Coleman's men made it 3, and declared the tie over when USA World Cup star Brian McBride - another former Everton striker - turned into space and superbly found the net just inside the near post.

Steve Evans must have said something not very quietly at the break as United came out a lot stringer and certainly matched their opponents in the second half.

They got their just rewards when excellent work on the wing by captain Paul Ellender, and his cross found Lee Beevers - playing at centre-back for the first time this term - who rose majestically to head the ball right into the top corner of ex-Forest keeper Mark Crossley’s net.

But it was Fulham who were to have the last word when a long diagonal ball found Radzinski who simply screwed the ball past Abbey, and in front 5,300 at York Street, Fulham progressed to face Birmingham City - ironically Lincoln City's conqueror's the previous night - in the 3rd round.

Although Liam Rosenior was sent off in stoppage time for two bookings - the second a blatant dive outside of United's penalty area.”

Saturday 18th August 2004 – Coca-Cola League Two

Boston United 2 Shrewsbury Town 2

Ex-Shrimper Jason Lee's last goal came against the Salop

Goals: Lee 31, Kirk 42

Booked: none

Sent Off: none

Attendance: 2593

Match Report (from www.bostonutd-mad.co.uk):

“United suffer disappointing draw against the Shrews with an old flame coming back to haunt the York Street side.

It was former Pilgrim Richard Logan that opened the scoring with a 20 yard effort that took a deflection off a United defender, which therefore left Pilgrims goalkeeper Nathan Abbey wrong footed as the ball rolled into the net.

Jason Lee has been a revelation up front for United this season, having scored in each of his previous four outings for Boston. He made it five in five when he headed in a Courtney Pitt left wing cross at the far post.

Shrewsbury were in the lead for only 6 minutes, but then 3 minutes later it was the Shrews who retook the lead.

Ben Smith somehow had a gaping net in front of him after riding a lunge from Abbey as he stormed out of goal in the 34th minute.

But United were back on level terms before the half time break when debutant Andy Kirk lived up to his promise by tapping in a right wing cross which gave Shrews' keeper Scott Howie absolutely no chance at all.

United fans will be disappointed that in the second half, the team didn't go on to beat an average Shrewsbury side, although Jason Lee did have an effort ruled out for offside - which would have given him his 7th of the season - and his only one not with his head.”

Summary – the Shrimpers vs. the Pilgrims

(Last Five Matches)

Southend United

L0-4 (away; Darlington; League Two)

W1-0 (home; Kidderminster Harriers; League Two; Mark Gower)

W2-1 (away; Notts County; League Two, Adam Barrett 2)

L1-2 (home; League Two; Wycombe Wanderers; Mark Bentley)

W4-1 (away; Rushden & Diamonds; League Two; Lawrie Dudfield 2 [1p], Tesfaye Bramble, David Bell [o.g.])

(Won 3, Drawn 0, Lost 2, Scored 7, Conceded 8)

Boston United

W2-1 (home; Scunthorpe United; League Two; Courtney Pitt, Matt O’Halloran)

L0-1 (home; Cambridge United; LDV Vans Trophy)

D0-0 (away; Leyton Orient; League Two)

L1-4 (home; Fulham; Carling Cup; Lee Beevers)

D2-2 (home; Shrewsbury Town; League Two; Jason Lee, Andy Kirk)

(Won 1, Drawn 2, Lost 2, Scored 5, Conceded 8)

Summary – the Shrimpers vs. the Pilgrims

(Blues at home and United away)

Southend United home

W1-0 (League Two; Kidderminster Harriers; Mark Gower)

L1-2 (League Two; Wycombe Wanderers; Mark Bentley)

W2-1 (League Two; Macclesfield Town; Adam Barrett 2)

D0-0 (League Two; Cambridge United)

L0-2 (League Two; Cheltenham Town)

(Won 2, Drawn 1, Lost 2, Scored 4, Conceded 5)

Boston United away

D0-0 (League Two; Leyton Orient)

D2-2 (League Two; Lincoln City; Courtney Pitt [pen], Jason Lee)

L0-1 (League Two; Cheltenham Town)

L0-2 (League Two; Yeovil Town)

D1-1 (League Two; Grimsby Town; Steve Melton)

(Won 0, Drawn 3, Lost 2, Scored 3, Conceded 6)