Pilgrims 4-4 Sheffield United

Avon Insurance League Cup

by Craig Singleton

A contender for goal of the season from David Town was not enough to clinch victory for Boston United Reserves on Wednesday evening in the Avon Insurance League group stage. Town's fantastically struck 35-yard effort was the highlight of the 4-4 draw against a very strong Sheffield United Reserves side in a highly entertaining match, ruined somewhat towards the end by some awful officiating. Boston goalkeeper Nick Conroy was dismissed in extremely controversial circumstances with five minutes remaining. He was shown a double yellow card for time-wasting and allegedly swearing at referee Mike Harris, although he maintains he said nothing. Conroy said: "I don't think I was time wasting and I certainly didn't swear at the referee. I was gutted to be sent off because I knew I didn't do anything wrong." It was hard on Conroy particularly after he had seen Blades' substitute keeper, Ben Scott stay on the field when it was apparent he should have walked for a demolition-style professional foul on Anthony Elding. He came rushing out of his area and completely flattened the United striker, although referee Harris deemed it to be only a bookable offence. Scott was on the pitch after Sheffield's first-choice keeper Wilko De Vogt was substituted at half-time after a nightmare first half in which he presented the Pilgrims with a brief lead and then got booked for blasting the ball into the Finnforest stand in a fit of temper. Boston had received an early setback when Paul Ellender limped off with knee trouble, an injury that was later diagnosed as medial ligament damage which will sideline the defender for six weeks. The Blades had opened well with Conroy making a good save to deny the lively Ryan Mallon. And then Grant Smith saw a 25-yard piledriver cannon back off both posts and bounce to safety. Sheffield had also lost the services of Ben Doane after just seven minutes, the left-back suffered a damaged leg after a high challenge from Boston's trialist Craig Smith. Boston sought to gain the advantage with assistant manager Neil Redfearn going close with a 20-yard shot. And the Pilgrims went ahead on 20 minutes when Jamie COOK prodded home from close range after Brian Hardie had supplied a telling left-wing cross after initial good build-up play by Elding. De Vogt then fumbled a swerving Cook shot wide of the post as Boston looked to increase their lead. Jean-Phillippe Javary dragged a low six-yard effort wide moments before the Blades drew level with MALLON firing in from close-range after Conroy's good save to deny Laurens Ten Heuvel had led to a corner. Boston restored their lead on 37 minutes when Ross Weatherstone floated a free-kick into the visitors' box. De Vogt let the ball drop over him and there was HARDIE to tuck the ball home from four yards.

De Vogt's misery was compounded when he was booked for his over-zealous tantrums! The teams went in level at the break though, when Grant SMITH fired home from the spot after Conroy had felled Ten Heuvel. Mark Clifford was subsequently yellow-carded for dissent. e Vogt was withdrawn at half-time in favour of Scott but the Blades' reserve keeper was powerless to stop Boston regaining the lead five minutes into the half. A ball out of defence found TOWN wide out on the right wing, and after spotting Scott well off his line, the Boston striker executed a brilliant first-time 35-yard lob over the back-peddling keeper, which dropped in via the underside of the bar. The lead was soon increased to 4-2 on 53 minutes when COOK fired low past Scott after the keeper had made a fine save to deny a fierce drive from Redfearn. Scott was lucky to stay on the pitch on the hour after charging out of his goal and body-checking an otherwise clean-through Elding. Referee Harris bizarrely opted for the yellow card, when the red one seemed his only option. Scott was then called upon to make good saves to deny Town and Elding while at the other end, Conroy saved well from Dutchman Ten Heuvel. But TEN HEUVEL made amends on 70 minutes when he poked home from close-range after Clifford had switched off, allowing the frontman to get in ahead of him to connect with a Tyrone Thompson cross. Ten Heuvel was denied on a further two occasions by Conroy while Scott thwarted Elding. The big talking point of the game arrived on 85 minutes after Rob Kozluk had blazed a 20-yard shot just wide. Conroy prepared to take the subsequent goal-kick but was sensationally red-carded after being accused by referee Harris of time-wasting and swearing. Weatherstone deputised between the sticks and immediately pulled off a great save to deny Javary. But he was powerless to stop the Blades' equaliser, scored by Grant SMITH on 88 minutes, the Sheffield wingman lobbing Weatherstone from 20 yards. Boston still had chances to win the game, with substitute Paul Hart and Redfearn both seeing shots fall just wide in stoppage time. Boston boss Neil Thompson, who came on as a late substitute, was once again left disappointed with the refereeing decisions. He said: "It was a cracking match for the spectators but once again we were left frustrated by a couple of major decisions from the referee. He chose to send our goalkeeper off for some strange reason but let theirs stay on, although he virtually assaulted Anthony Elding. But we are dictated to by referees and must abide by their decisions. It was a good workout for us. There were several players who got 90 minutes under their belts which is important. But it's a shame for Paul Ellender who injured his knee ligaments and could well be out for six weeks."

United team: 1. Conroy, 2. Clifford, 3. Gould, 4. Costello, 5. Ellender (Town 14), 6. R Weatherstone, 7. C Smith, 8. Redfearn, 9. Cook (N Thompson 86), 10. Elding, 11. Hardie (Hart 75).