Home Results News Table Squad Statistics

Tamworth two trail Matt

Tamworth 4-2 Pilgrims

Dr Martens League

Boston started this game with the same line-up that had been so successful in midweek. They were still missing Richard Mason, who injured his back in the warm up before last Saturday's game. It didn't seem to matter though as after just three minutes Paul WATTS put United in the lead with a long-range shot. From then on it was virtually downhill all the way, both metaphorically and literally on the Lamb Ground's sloping pitch. Tamworth equalised on ten minutes. They hit United on the break down the right wing and Brian Horseman did well to only concede a corner. From the resulting kick Jon HOWARD looped his header over Paul Bastock into the corner of the net. The Lambs went into the lead just before the half hour. This time they broke down the left wing and when the inevitable cross came in it found Warren HAUGHTON unmarked in the middle to sidefoot the ball in the net. Both sides came close to scoring towards the end of the half. Steve Charles hit a free kick just wide after Stanhope had been brought down on the edge of the area. Then Tamworth had lots of chances in a period when the Pilgrims just could not seem to clear the ball out of their own half. United started the second half strongly. Stanhope was causing his usual mayhem down the right wing and Stringfellow and Hardy were coming forward with purpose.

But it wasn't until the sixty-fifth minute that they managed to get back on level terms. Paul WATTS beat the offside trap and calmly rounded the keeper before slotting the ball in the net. With twenty minutes left Tamworth made two substitutions to bring on some fresh legs and this paid immediate dividends. They regained the lead when a fierce shot from defender Darren SHAW was deflected past Paul Bastock. Five minutes later they put the result beyond doubt. It was a replay of last week's goal by Worksop. A shot beat Paul Bastock but was cleared off the line, only to fall into the path of Gary SMITH to tap back in. So Steve Evans' unbeaten run has finally come to an end. There is no doubt however that he has turned the team around from possible relegation candidates into a side that will probably be challenging for promotion by the end of the season. The Pilgrims just need to get a couple of players back from injury and I am sure they will then get back to their winning ways again.

United team: 1. Paul Bastock, 2. Joby Gowshall, 3. Len Curtis, 4. Ian Stringfellow, 5. Martin Hardy, 6. Steve Charles, 7. Andrew Stanhope, 8. Brian Horseman, 9. Matt Carmichael, 10. Darren Clyde, 11. Paul Watts, 12. Darren Munton, 14. Leigh Taylor, 15. Ross Nicholls