Burton Albion 3-2 Pilgrims

FA Cup

by Barbara Singleton

Boston United's excursion into FA Cup pastures is over almost as soon as it began. Last night the Pilgrims tumbled from the competition in the fourth qualifying round at the hands of Dr Martens League title chasers Burton Albion, whose success means they are still unbeaten in 19. Boston succumbed by the odd goal in five in a see-saw replay encounter which had seen them lead at the interval, only to have the advantage snatched away by a disputed penalty before slipping to defeat on a night when midfielder Paul Wilson also got his marching orders late on. The Pilgrims took the lead when Ken CHARLERY fired home on 17 minutes, netting tidily after Duke had parried a low shot from Wilson. Then Duke made a terrific save to tip away Wilson's curling free-kick. In the 42nd minute Charlery almost doubled Boston's lead when heading over from a Tim Wooding free-kick.

Just after the break Mark Rawle also narrowly missed out. But the second half was 12 minutes old when Wooding was adjudged to have fouled Anderson to concede a penalty. Despite United protests, Phil STARBUCK stepped up and netted despite a valiant effort to save by Bastock. A dozen minutes later the tie had turned around when STARBUCK stabbed in again after Neil Glasser had driven the ball goalwards. Boston tried to respond and Charlery had a shot cleared by Tim Henshaw. But then in the 78th minute ANDERSON sprinted clear to put Burton 3-1 in front. United substitute Paul Fewings went close to reducing the deficit before STANHOPE fleetingly lifted spirits when heading in on 87 minutes after Charlery had flicked on a Wilson corner. In the final few minutes Boston had four strikers on the park, but hopes of forcing extra time finally foundered when Wilson received a second yellow card for a foul on Nigel Clough.

United team: 1. Bastock, 2. Wooding, 3. Lucas (Nuttell 90), 4. Hoyle, 5. Gowshall, 6. Wilson, 7. French (Stanhope 70), 8. Charlery, 9. Raynor (Fewings 90), 10. Rawle (Fewings 72), 11. Dick. Subs (not used): Curtis, Martin (gk).