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Dover Athletic 3-2 Pilgrims

Nationwide Conference

by Barbara Singleton

A goal deep into stoppage time condemned Nationwide Conference leaders Boston United to defeat at basement club Dover last night. Tommy Tyne hit a dramatic winner five minutes into time added-on after Boston had come back from going a goal down early on in a see-saw clash. Keith Scott had given Dover the lead from the penalty spot in the first half before Ken Charlery equalised for Boston on the stroke of half-time and then in the second period Chris Dorrian scored an own goal to put Boston in front. Scott grabbed his second to equalise for the home side before Tyne's dramatic late winner. Clear-cut early chances were few and far between, although Simon Weatherstone and Peter Costello both went close for Boston. In the 23rd minute, Dover were awarded a penalty by referee Melin when Paul Ellender was penalised and booked for a handball offence after the ball had skipped up off the greasy surface. Ex-Pilgrims striker SCOTT converted the spot-kick, high and wide of Paul Bastock's dive. Nine minutes later Daryl Clare headed just over from Costello's cross as United sought a quick reply. Charlery saw a snap-shot held by Paul Hyde on 38 minutes before Mickey Brown received a yellow card for a lunge at Tyne. United had a let-off moments later when Tyne's shot was well parried by Bastock before being hacked away by Mark Monington.

On the stroke of half-time, Boston drew level. Good inter-change play between Brown and Mark Clifford found Clare who in turn fed CHARLERY. He ran on, beat two Dover defenders and fired low past Hyde from 12 yards. Then in stoppage time, Clare set Clifford clear but his shot was blocked by the home defence. In the second half Bastock, Ellender and Monington were all forced to block goal attempts to deny the lively partnership of Tyne and Scott. On 70 minutes, Boston went ahead when DORRIAN diverted the ball into his own net after Costello's through ball had found Brown whose cross created the opening. SCOTT equalised for Dover five minutes later with his second of the night, rising highest to head home unmarked from a Jimmy Strouts corner. Both sides gambled for the win with Boston throwing on Gez Murphy, while Dover introduced striker Matt Carruthers. Substitute Jamie Cook almost stole the points for Boston in stoppage time but his shot cannoned back off a post after he had rounded keeper Hyde following Simon Weatherstone's through pass. Murphy threatened again for Boston but Hyde beat him to the ball. The keeper's long kick downfield was immediately headed on by Jamie Day into the path of TYNE who ran on and fired past the stranded Bastock for the last-gasp winner.

Boston team: 1. Bastock, 2. Clifford (R Weatherstone 84), 3. Lodge, 4. Brown (Murphy 79), 5. Monington, 6. Ellender, 7. S Weatherstone, 8. Charlery, 9. Clare, 10. Costello, 11. Gould (Cook 64). Subs (not used): Town, Conroy (gk).


This report originally appeared in the Lincolnshire Echo.