Hyde United 2-1 Pilgrims

Conference North

It was a Groundhog Away Day again. For the fourth time on their travels this season Boston United took the lead only to eventually end up on the wrong side of a 2-1 scoreline. The Pilgrims began the game missing three influential players. Top scorer Jon Froggatt was still out with a back injury. David Galbraith had departed to Kettering in the January transfer window. Midfield play maker Ashley Nicholls was missing due to a family bereavement. A strong, cold wind blew from end to end throughout the game. For the first half Hyde had the wind at their backs, but it was Boston who were creating the best chances. Boston took the lead just after the half hour when a great through ball from Jon Rowan set Kieran LEABON free down the right and his accurate shot crept just inside the back post. Deep into first half injury time Hyde won a series of corners and from the final one Hyde levelled the scores when Mark INNES slotted home after the Boston defence failed to clear.

Playing into the wind in the second half Hyde had trouble getting out their own half. Three times Boston got the ball into the Hyde net only for each effort to be ruled out. Early in the half Lee Thompson came on for Matt O'Halloran and was soon opening up the Hyde defence with some clever play. One such move created space for Leabon, but his effort ballooned high over the bar and out of the ground. With three minutes remaining Hyde took an undeserved lead. A rare Hyde attack down the right wing ended with a deflected cross that found its way though to Nicky CLEE Whose powerful shot was almost kept out by Simon Rayner but eventually nestled into the bottom right corner of the net. Boston threw everything forward in their attempts to find an equaliser, but the match ended with Hyde gaining their first league victory of the year and Boston's unbeaten run coming to an end after five games.

Boston United: Simon Rayner, Tom Matthews, Simon Weaver, Matt Bloomer, Paul Ellender, Tony Crane, Matt O'Halloran (Lee Thompson 54), Sam Gaughran, Kieran Leabon (Paul Alexander 81), Jon Rowan, Liam Green. Subs not used: Lee Beeson, Michael Wood.