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Rowan battles for the ball

Pilgrims 2-1 Hyde United

Conference North

A perfect day. The sun shone. An emotional pre-match announcement by Chairman David Newton revealed that the problems dogging the settlement of the CVA had in principle been resolved so the club would continue to exist for another season. Then the players capped off the day with a sparkling performance to come from behind for a well deserved win. Injury hit Mickey Nuttell was the only notable absence from the starting line-up, but Rob Wesley and youth team striker Mensah Kinch made appearances on the subs' bench. Boston started brightly. Hyde 'keeper Craig Dootson did well to push Paul Ellender's back post header away from the target following a corner. Then Jon Froggatt headed just wide when he got on the end of a cross from Kieran Leabon. Leabon himself had a great chance when gifted an opening following a great run by Stewart Talbot, but his shot was much too high. Hyde took the lead in the 37th minute when Hyde won a free kick just outside the area. Matthew TIPTON curled the kick round the wall and into the top left corner. In stoppage time at the end of the half Jon Rowan received the ball from Liam Green turned and shot, but just over. Right back Tom Matthews came off at half time to be replaced by striker Jon Stevenson.

So Lee Thompson dropped back to provide defensive cover. Soon after the start of the half Boston had a good penalty appeal when a powerful shot by Thompson was clearly blocked by the hands of Hyde defender Nicky Clee, but the referee didn't give it. Stevenson put in a superb cross to Talbot, but Dootson made a spectacular save. Boston levelled the scores in the 70th minute when Simon WEAVER headed home from a corner. Ten minutes later Boston went in front when Jon FROGGATT became top scorer for the season with his eleventh goal - firing home from a tight angle after Hyde failed to clear the ball from a throw in. Right at the end Stevenson was very unlucky not to score when his beautiful curler struck the bar. After the match Tommy Taylor said: "The Chairman's dead right. You can only spend at a football club what comes through the gate. We're quite lucky because we've got great supporters here who want to come through the gate. Every time they come through the gate they are paying for the players to play. So I always say to the players give the punters here value for their money they've paid out."

Boston United: Chris Wright, Tom Matthews (Jon Stevenson 46), Liam Green, Paul Ellender, Matt Bloomer, Simon Weaver, Kieran Leabon (Rob Wesley 85), Stewart Talbot, Jon Froggatt, Lee Thompson, Jon Rowan (Ashley Nicholls 62). Subs not used: Tony Crane, Mensah Kinch.


Match report and photograph copyright © Ken Fox 2008.