Cloud cuckoo land!!


Boston United suffered their fourth successive home defeat, but it wasn’t for the lack of trying as they ran league leaders Hartlepool United all the way on Saturday. Ritchie Humphreys’ excellent, long-range free-kick hit the crossbar and entered the net off the back of Andy Marriott’s head to settle an otherwise keenly-contested clash at the Staffsmart Stadium.

Boston gave everything for the cause and despite not creating too many clear-cut chances, the visitors defended heroically at times and centre-halves Ben Clark and Michael Nelson produced numerous blocks to deny the plucky Pilgrims. Going into the match, Boston were able to name an unchanged starting line-up, although Mark Greaves, Francis Green and Trevor Benjamin were back on the bench after unavailability for the midweek clash at Peterborough United.

The game’s first real opportunity saw Humphreys curl a 25-yard free-kick well wide of Marriott’s right-hand upright, as Boston weathered a dangerous moment. The Pilgrims then came within a whisker of taking the lead when Albert Jarrett drilled an effort across goal and just wide, via the outside of the post, after David Farrell’s knock-on had freed Nathan Joynes to cross from the left. Moments later, the Pilgrims were presented another excellent opportunity, but Jarrett poked a 20-yard free-kick woefully wide. Jarrett made amends when he sprayed an excellent crossfield pass out to the left wing and Farrell’s eventual delivery was volleyed high over the bar by Ellender.

Jarrett surges throughBoston continued their bright start when Stephen Vaughan’s deep cross was nodded wide by Joynes. The 20th minute saw Vaughan afforded more space on the edge of the Hartlepool box and his dipping volley was punched away by Dimitrios Konstantopoulos, under pressure from Ellender. Boston received a huge let-off when Richie Barker planted a free header over Marriott’s bar, following Humphreys’ excellent left-wing cross.

Towards the interval, Colin Cryan’s deep free-kick into the Hartlepool area caused real problems and Mickey Barron flung himself in the way of Ellender’s shot-on-the-turn to concede the first corner of the game. Boston were forced into a change at the break when injury victim Vaughan was replaced by Brad Maylett. Vaughan had fallen awkwardly on the stroke of half-time and was unable to continue.

Drewe Broughton saw himself afforded space in the Hartlepool box, but his effort lacked power and was easily gathered by Konstantopoulos. Hartlepool took the lead in the 63rd minute when Humphreys’ driven 30-yard free-kick cannoned off the bar and nestled into the net via the back of Marriott’s head. The visitors were buoyed by their breakthrough and James Brown drilled just wide from 20 yards as Hartlepool sensed a second goal.

Thomas gets tightJarrett’s corner in the 72nd minute almost led to a Boston equaliser, but an almighty scramble saw Clark, Nelson and Humphreys deny Boston as the shots flew in on the visiting goal. Moments later, Barron was well-placed to block another goalbound effort from Jarrett, after Greaves had teed him up to shoot.

Boston laid siege to Hartlepool goal in the final few minutes, but more resolute defending from the visitors kept them at bay. Ellender led by example throughout the game and twice came close to snatching an equaliser. Farrell’s deep free-kick found Ellender and his goalbound drive was deflected over the bar by a heroic Nelson before the resulting Farrell corner was volleyed inches too high by Ellender. United arguably deserved something from the game, but the harsh realities were laid bare at the final whistle, with 11 fixtures now remaining to save themselves from possible relegation.

Boston (3-4-1-2): Marriott; Stevens, Cryan, Thomas; Vaughan (Maylett 46), Ellender, Cooksey (Greaves 69), Farrell; Jarrett; Broughton (Benjamin 69), Joynes. Subs (not used): Green, Clarke.

Hartlepool (4-4-2): Konstantopoulos; Barron, Nelson, Clark, Humphreys; Brown (Tinkler 90), Sweeney, Liddle, Monkhouse; Barker, E Williams (Bullock 87). Subs (not used): Gibb, Foley, Provett (gk).


Attendance: 2120
Referee: Danny McDermid
Linesmen: Mark Hutchinson
Martin Naylor

4th Official: Alan Parker

radio borer - the growing on me mr nash - said despite scramblesin box not 1 single save was made by the greek.

who is he ivan ash
ivan nash
ivor nash?

either way - i like

What's all this about Evanss saying they were denied a stone-wall penalty?

Have a read of this pile of old tosh They're all at it;

http://www.rivals.net/default.asp?sid=1 ... id=8439674

Steve Evans interview on the way home was totally laughable

I think that was when Nelse was playing Crab Football in there box, Loada tosh really

Nelse has got some power in his hips like, being able to clear a ball with a pelvic thrust!

His lass must be one lucky lady!

At the risk of offending Mr ECG, I don't think the report is that distorted,
you've got to expect a home bias.
In the first half, I thought we were very casual and allowed them to come at us. We didn't look like conceding, mainly because of there inability to make the possession count, and yes we should have scored with Barkers header.
Where the report is grossly inaccurate is the 25 - 30 minutes we tore them apart in the second half, but even in that spell we didn't really test their keeper. We had a lot of shots off target, but if you don't score you don't win and Ritchies free kick apart we had little on target.
I'm not sure what happened in the last 10 minutes or so, did we sit back or did they push us back. There were a couple of goalmouth melee's which last season and earlier this season would probably have ended up in the back of the net. I don't know why he made the changes he did, Ali G did nothing (nothing new there), and if you take Eifion off, surely Foley needs to come and run at them, Bullock up front was a strange option.
At the risk of really upsetting some people I think we are getting a lot of lucky breaks (off the bar and hitting defenders, twice), the goalmouth melee's I mentioned. As I said, last season and earlier this season when our luck was out, things could have gone differently.
I'm not being negative, I hope I'm being realistic. Long may our luck hold, we are long overdue it.
Who was it who said the more you practice the luckier you get.

I'm not from the Midlands, I'm from Hartlepool and proud of it

and I can spell, so you can stick that comparison

"Nice edit, well saved "

Crap typing, John
Might have looked better if I'd left it

Gary Player said "The harder you work, the luckier you get"

That fits, this team then