Nationwide Conference :
Yeovil Town 0 – 1 Boston United

Att: 5,061

Line up : (3-5-2)


Chris Weale

Tom White
Terry Skiverton
Colin Pluck

Nick Crittenden
Lee Johnson
Roy O’Brien
Olivier Brassart
Anthony Tonkin

Chris Giles
Adam Stansfield

Subs used: Darren Way (64, for O’Brien), Kim Grant (64, for Brassart), Carl Alford (64, for Giles)

Boston:
Bastock, Clifford, Warburton, Rodwell, Gould, Brown, Ellender, Rusk, Angel, Costello, Clare.

Sub used: Murphy (78,for Costello)

Scorers: Clare (4, 0-1)

This report courtesy of Fe7:

On a night when Yeovil needed to be at their best Boston displayed all the attributes to which Yeovil must aspire. Boston were strong, well drilled, incisive and, at the first opportunity, clinical.

On a night when Yeovil needed to play like gods to earn victory they were shown to be human. Perhaps overawed by the importance of the occasion Yeovil failed to reproduce the kind of performance that we know they are capable, the first twenty minutes of the Forest Green Rovers home match perhaps being my yardstick.

On a night when everything needed to go to plan, Yeovils plans were on the rocks in the opening minutes. Despite early pressure Yeovil conceded their first corner on the left in the third minute. The ensuing cross seemed to ricochet endlessly, Chris Weale making one fine right handed save, but the ball almost inevitably fell to Daryl Clare who, with space aplenty, did not hesitate to bury the ball into the roof of the Yeovil goal. Given this seasons struggles in breaking down stubborn defences, the writing was on the wall at an early stage.

Bostons performance was only marred by Paul Bastocks flapping which gave Yeovil hope for the future. He over-committed himself to a deep cross and Nick Crittenden was able to return the ball back to the danger area. Fortune was however on Bastocks side and his defence came to his rescue and cleared any danger before a Yeovil forward could capitalise.

Ten minutes later it was Crittenden again creating trouble, sending in a strong, low right wing cross. Bastock was again beaten and it seemed that Tonkin, steaming in on the left of the six-yard box, would hit the back of the Boston goal, but Bastocks defence again came to his rescue and Tonkins shot was well blocked.

Moments later loud appeals for a penalty were ignored by Mr. Williamson as Stansfield was tackled well as he broke into the Boston box. By this time the Yeovil crowd were becoming frustrated and began venting their anger on the men in black. Apart from the usual number of questionably pedantic decisions, to be fair much criticism was generated by emotion rather than sound judgement. At the end of the day both teams probably suffered equally, that seems to be par for the course.

Half Time Score: Yeovil 0 Boston 0.

The second half started where the first had left off, Boston apparently comfortable on their 1-0 lead, until Stansfield broke behind the Boston defence on 55 minutes. Holding the ball up till the last minute his cross appeared to be heading for goal via a defenders head and, as with Bostons goal, the ball ricocheted around the goal area. But, this time, it was the Boston defence who came out on top and danger was cleared.

Way, Grant and Alford replaced Brassart, Giles and OBrien as Yeovil switched to an attacking 3-4-1-2, with Grant playing behind the front two, but without any greater success. Boston defended deeper and continued to run the clock down at any dead-ball situations. Mr Williamson seemed powerless to speed the game up to a level demanded of the home fans. Irony did strike later in the 92 minute when Mr Williamson found his notebook and cards and booked an inconspicuous Boston player for: time wasting. What good that did is only hypothetical.

Yeovil did get the ball in the back of Bostons net courtesy of Adam Stansfield but celebrations were short-lived. A defensive clearance had rebounded off Kim Grant into Stansfields path and he was duly deemed off side, and the goal was disallowed.

Skiverton, White and Pluck were relatively untroubled by the Boston attack in the second half. It was somewhat amusing to see the Boston attack almost reluctant to take a well-earned corner, fearing it would commit too many men forward. The finally taken corner drifted out at the back post and the few Boston players who had ventured forward were keen to scuttle back to take up their defensive duties. That was a mark of how much this meant to Boston, and their commitment to this result, that sentiment was reiterated by the happy band of jubilant Boston supporters who were vociferous from the third minute, and who duly celebrated on the final whistle.

Despite such freedom the Yeovil defence too often resorted to the long ball up to Alford and Stansfield. The Boston defence, relatively untroubled, easily cleared any threat back downfield. The game wore on and Yeovil failed to trouble Bastock again. Boston defended capably on their eighteen yard line without displaying any of the incisive breaks of the first half Yeovil began to run out of ideas and

Final Score: Yeovil 0 Boston 0.

The game reminded me of the SPC match against Street, whom I criticised for such time-wasting antics. I have kept my vow never to watch Street again. But, I saw enough of Boston to tempt me back to watch them again. It is a pity I did not see more of their undoubted ability tonight.

fe7