The former Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Lazio and Glasgow Rangers had been widely tipped to take on the player-manager role expected to be vacated by Steve Evans, who appears likely to resign after his teenage daughter fell seriously ill. The whole football world wishes Evans and his family all the best, even though he was suspended from the game after their promotion two-and-a-half years ago for financial irregularities.
It was in March 2004 that Evans returned to the Pilgrims after his enforced eighteen-month break from the game, and he immediately replaced Neil Thompson as Boston struggled to stave off relegation. His first match back was against the Shrimpers, and goals from Mark Bentley and Neil Jenkins ensured that it was not a jolly occasion. Eventually he guided the Lincolnshire outfit to eleventh place, and their first top half finish in the basement division of the Football League.
This season started with a win over perennial underachievers Oxford United, and after a run of four League matches without a win, the Pilgrims are now unbeaten in six League Two fixtures, although they crashed out of the Carling Cup at the second round stage and the LDV Vans Trophy at the first attempt to Cambridge United.
Three of those last six games have resulted in victories, all of which have come at York Street. Boston are still to win away from home, with three draws and two defeats pointing to a tendency not to enjoy travelling. Jason Lee, a former hot marksman for Blues, is top goalscorer thus far with five goals in his thirteen appearances to date, with ex-Chelsea youngster Courtney Pitt trailing by just one. He is likely to be the man on the spot should the Pilgrims be awarded a penalty.
Coca-Cola League Two |
07/08/04: Oxford United (h) W1-0 (Thompson) 10/08/04: Grimsby Town (a) D1-1 (Melton) 14/08/04: Yeovil Town (a) L0-2 21/08/04: Macclesfield Town (h) D1-1 (Lee) 28/08/04: Cheltenham Town (a) L0-1 30/08/04: Chester City (h) W3-1 (Thomas, Abbey, Pitt [pen]) 04/09/04: Cambridge United (h) W2-1 (Lee, McCann) 11/09/04: Lincoln City (a) D2-2 (Pitt [pen], Lee) 18/09/04: Shrewsbury Town (h) D2-2 (Lee, Kirk) 25/09/04: Leyton Orient (a) D0-0 02/10/04: Scunthorpe United (h) W2-1 (Pitt, O’Halloran)
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FA Cup |
First Round draw yet to take place |
Carling Cup |
07/09/04: R1 – Luton Town (h) W4-3 [aet] (Pitt, Lee, Thompson 2) 22/09/04: R2 – Fulham (h) L1-4 (Beevers)
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LDV Vans Trophy |
29/10/03: R1 – Cambridge United (h) L0-1 |
2004/5 Records |
Matches Played: 14 (9 home, 5 away) Matches Won: 5 (5 home, 0 away) Matches Drawn: 5 (2 home, 3 away) Matches Lost: 4 (2 home, 2 away) Goals Scored: 19 (16 home, 3 away) Goals Conceded: 20 (14 home, 6 away)
Lee Beevers, Nathan Abbey –14 Tom Bennett, Jason Lee, Austin McCann - 13 Jason Lee – 5 Courtney Pitt – 4 (2 pens) Lee Thompson – 3 Lee Beevers, Andy Kirk, Steve Melton, Matt O’Halloran, Danny Thomas, Zema Abbey – 1 |
Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com