Post by hatter_in_macc on Dec 20, 2015 1:07:55 GMT
Not, as you might imagine, the most pleasurable read... or write, come to that! Hopefully, with that in mind, the title-pun will be forgiven... 
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BOSTON UNITED v COUNTY: MATCH REPORT (19/12/2015)
By Hatter in Macc
Bitter Pill, Grim Score - As Boston Strangle Us
After recording their best win of the season to date, with a four-goal salvo, at Corby seven days previously, the Hatters once again headed over a hundred miles eastwards - on this occasion, to Boston - hoping for a repeat scoreline.
Which only goes to illustrate the old adage about being careful what you wish for...
County did indeed come away with a 4-0 result - albeit in reverse, as the club suffered its heaviest defeat of the campaign. And its first by four goals in a League match since that fateful late afternoon at Kidderminster in April 2013, on which relegation from the Conference Premier was confirmed.
Neil Young had decided, on this unseasonably balmy last match-day before Christmas, to keep faith with the 4-1-3-2 formation that had worked so effectively a week earlier. And just one change of playing-personnel was necessary - with Wade Joyce replacing Glenn Rule, who had limped off against Corby with an achilles injury.
The County bench underwent somewhat more of a shake-up. Ian Ormson and Abs Baggie were brought back in place of, respectively, Kieran O’Hara and Mo Cham - the latter of whom had now returned to Blackburn following the completion of his loan-spell in SK3. And Youth Team Captain, Eddie Fulwood, also earned what was his first call-up to the senior squad.
Taking to a field of rather long-looking grass for the time of year, the Hatters, donning their turquoise shirts, started proceedings as the far livelier side. Kay Odejayi set a promising early tone by threading a pass through to Jonny Margetts in the home area, but the latter’s eventual shot lacked pace and trickled wide.
A Lewis Montrose shot from distance was then deflected wide of the left upright to give County the contest’s first corner. And Zak Mills had to be at his best in blocking another foray by Margetts into the box. At this stage, the Pilgrims of Boston, who had returned to play at their spiritual home for the first time in five weeks, gave the appearance of still having minds on journeys of faith elsewhere.
All that was to change, however, as Boston launched a counter-attack with just under twenty minutes on the clock. Dayle Southwell picked out Kaine Felix with a through-ball - and Felix was quick to pounce, advancing towards goal with stealth before firing home from twelve yards out.
Southwell was integral to the next moment of note, five minutes ahead of the break. First, his shot from the left of goal was deflected behind by Andreas Arestidou for a corner. Then, directly from the corner, he was presented with an opportunity to double his side’s lead, when former Hatter, Carl Piergianni, met the delivery with a header that struck the hand of Odejayi, and Referee, Amy Fearn, pointed to the penalty-spot.
With fourteen League goals already to his name, Southwell aimed to make it fifteen by firing his penalty straight, although this tactic reckoned without Arestidou. County’s loan-goalkeeper stood firm to save with his legs - thereby, it appeared, emulating Ormson, who, two seasons earlier, had kept out Marc Newsham’s spot-kick at the self-same end of York Street.
Unfortunately, such County rejoicing as there was lasted mere nanoseconds before Ms Fearn directed that the kick be re-taken on account of encroachment into the box. A relieved Southwell opted to send the second attempt successfully to Arestidou’s right - and the Pilgrims were two goals to the good.
Added time ahead of the interval saw the Hatters force some pressure in the Boston area, courtesy of two corners and a couple of long throws by Danny Morton - but, with Mills and Piergianni commanding in central defence, all proved to be without avail on County’s part.
HALF-TIME: Boston 2 (Felix, 19; Southwell (penalty), 40), County 0.
Corners at either end were the order of the second half’s opening stages, as each side used its first dead-ball delivery after the break as the basis for a scoring chance. County’s kick found Montrose, whose ensuing cross from the right narrowly evaded Odejayi at the far post. And, from Boston’s, Jordan Richards connected with a header that Arestidou dived to catch.
The Hatters were beginning to look more purposeful, and threatened the Boston goal on two further occasions. A shot across the six-yard box by Margetts was deflected beyond the right post for a corner. And Karl Ledsham, having been fed by Joyce, hit the side-netting with a dipping shot from thirty yards.
Ledsham, as it happened, was subsequently to go even closer, when his header from a Micah Evans cross was tipped behind by Henrich Ravas. But, by that time, the Pilgrims had scored a third, following an impressive run by substitute, Mark Jones, who weaved his way forward in the face of three challenges, before unleashing a rocket of a shot into the top-right corner of the net.
And, within another five minutes, Boston had added a fourth - once again, courtesy of a counter-attack. This time, Lewis Hilliard, who had only come off the bench for his debut following Jones‘ goal, applied the finishing touch with a volley from close range after Felix had crossed from the right.
The hosts’ third substitute, John Sands, sought to make it a hat-trick of goals by the replacements - but his efforts to become the third scoring sub culminated in a shot that was blasted into the upper reaches of the Jakemans Stand.
With the game now well beyond the Hatters, Margetts and Joe Garvin tried their luck from, respectively, the left of goal and just inside Boston’s box - but any hope of a consolation was gone as both efforts cleared the home crossbar.
Not what we were hoping for from Santa, to be brutally frank. But, knowing how busy this time of year of year is for him, we shall still be checking under our trees for a belated set of three points on Boxing Day, when Harrogate come a-visiting. And, in the meantime...
A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO HATTERS EVERYWHERE.
FULL-TIME: Boston 4 (Felix, 19; Southwell (penalty), 40; Jones, 68; Hilliard, 73), County 0.
Team: Arestidou, Morton, Garvin, Smalley. O’Hanlon, Joyce (Baggie, 84), Tonge (Evans, 55), Montrose, Odejayi (Roberts, 76), Margetts, Ledsham.
Unused Subs: Ormson, Fulwood.
Booked: Smalley, Garvin.
Attendance: 1,316 (121 representing The Twelfth Man).
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BOSTON UNITED v COUNTY: MATCH REPORT (19/12/2015)
By Hatter in Macc
Bitter Pill, Grim Score - As Boston Strangle Us
After recording their best win of the season to date, with a four-goal salvo, at Corby seven days previously, the Hatters once again headed over a hundred miles eastwards - on this occasion, to Boston - hoping for a repeat scoreline.
Which only goes to illustrate the old adage about being careful what you wish for...
County did indeed come away with a 4-0 result - albeit in reverse, as the club suffered its heaviest defeat of the campaign. And its first by four goals in a League match since that fateful late afternoon at Kidderminster in April 2013, on which relegation from the Conference Premier was confirmed.
Neil Young had decided, on this unseasonably balmy last match-day before Christmas, to keep faith with the 4-1-3-2 formation that had worked so effectively a week earlier. And just one change of playing-personnel was necessary - with Wade Joyce replacing Glenn Rule, who had limped off against Corby with an achilles injury.
The County bench underwent somewhat more of a shake-up. Ian Ormson and Abs Baggie were brought back in place of, respectively, Kieran O’Hara and Mo Cham - the latter of whom had now returned to Blackburn following the completion of his loan-spell in SK3. And Youth Team Captain, Eddie Fulwood, also earned what was his first call-up to the senior squad.
Taking to a field of rather long-looking grass for the time of year, the Hatters, donning their turquoise shirts, started proceedings as the far livelier side. Kay Odejayi set a promising early tone by threading a pass through to Jonny Margetts in the home area, but the latter’s eventual shot lacked pace and trickled wide.
A Lewis Montrose shot from distance was then deflected wide of the left upright to give County the contest’s first corner. And Zak Mills had to be at his best in blocking another foray by Margetts into the box. At this stage, the Pilgrims of Boston, who had returned to play at their spiritual home for the first time in five weeks, gave the appearance of still having minds on journeys of faith elsewhere.
All that was to change, however, as Boston launched a counter-attack with just under twenty minutes on the clock. Dayle Southwell picked out Kaine Felix with a through-ball - and Felix was quick to pounce, advancing towards goal with stealth before firing home from twelve yards out.
Southwell was integral to the next moment of note, five minutes ahead of the break. First, his shot from the left of goal was deflected behind by Andreas Arestidou for a corner. Then, directly from the corner, he was presented with an opportunity to double his side’s lead, when former Hatter, Carl Piergianni, met the delivery with a header that struck the hand of Odejayi, and Referee, Amy Fearn, pointed to the penalty-spot.
With fourteen League goals already to his name, Southwell aimed to make it fifteen by firing his penalty straight, although this tactic reckoned without Arestidou. County’s loan-goalkeeper stood firm to save with his legs - thereby, it appeared, emulating Ormson, who, two seasons earlier, had kept out Marc Newsham’s spot-kick at the self-same end of York Street.
Unfortunately, such County rejoicing as there was lasted mere nanoseconds before Ms Fearn directed that the kick be re-taken on account of encroachment into the box. A relieved Southwell opted to send the second attempt successfully to Arestidou’s right - and the Pilgrims were two goals to the good.
Added time ahead of the interval saw the Hatters force some pressure in the Boston area, courtesy of two corners and a couple of long throws by Danny Morton - but, with Mills and Piergianni commanding in central defence, all proved to be without avail on County’s part.
HALF-TIME: Boston 2 (Felix, 19; Southwell (penalty), 40), County 0.
Corners at either end were the order of the second half’s opening stages, as each side used its first dead-ball delivery after the break as the basis for a scoring chance. County’s kick found Montrose, whose ensuing cross from the right narrowly evaded Odejayi at the far post. And, from Boston’s, Jordan Richards connected with a header that Arestidou dived to catch.
The Hatters were beginning to look more purposeful, and threatened the Boston goal on two further occasions. A shot across the six-yard box by Margetts was deflected beyond the right post for a corner. And Karl Ledsham, having been fed by Joyce, hit the side-netting with a dipping shot from thirty yards.
Ledsham, as it happened, was subsequently to go even closer, when his header from a Micah Evans cross was tipped behind by Henrich Ravas. But, by that time, the Pilgrims had scored a third, following an impressive run by substitute, Mark Jones, who weaved his way forward in the face of three challenges, before unleashing a rocket of a shot into the top-right corner of the net.
And, within another five minutes, Boston had added a fourth - once again, courtesy of a counter-attack. This time, Lewis Hilliard, who had only come off the bench for his debut following Jones‘ goal, applied the finishing touch with a volley from close range after Felix had crossed from the right.
The hosts’ third substitute, John Sands, sought to make it a hat-trick of goals by the replacements - but his efforts to become the third scoring sub culminated in a shot that was blasted into the upper reaches of the Jakemans Stand.
With the game now well beyond the Hatters, Margetts and Joe Garvin tried their luck from, respectively, the left of goal and just inside Boston’s box - but any hope of a consolation was gone as both efforts cleared the home crossbar.
Not what we were hoping for from Santa, to be brutally frank. But, knowing how busy this time of year of year is for him, we shall still be checking under our trees for a belated set of three points on Boxing Day, when Harrogate come a-visiting. And, in the meantime...
A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO HATTERS EVERYWHERE.
FULL-TIME: Boston 4 (Felix, 19; Southwell (penalty), 40; Jones, 68; Hilliard, 73), County 0.
Team: Arestidou, Morton, Garvin, Smalley. O’Hanlon, Joyce (Baggie, 84), Tonge (Evans, 55), Montrose, Odejayi (Roberts, 76), Margetts, Ledsham.
Unused Subs: Ormson, Fulwood.
Booked: Smalley, Garvin.
Attendance: 1,316 (121 representing The Twelfth Man).
