Big Ange & The Soft Pen

Boston United 1-1 Scunthorpe United (National League)

I've dropped the dog off at the mother-in-law's and am driving through Nottingham against traffic which is heading to the Forest and Chelsea game. Midday on a cool and cloudy October's Saturday, I'm heading again to Boston, but for a Lincolnshire derby against another side I know a bit about in Scunthorpe.

Last season they were a division apart, but they did play each other the season before when Boston in the end gained promotion ahead of a much fancied Scunny team then under Jimmy Dean, around the same time of year late October, the two teams played out a competitive 1-1 draw on a foggy Halloweens night at the Jakemans.

This season, Scunthorpe following their own promotion to the National League under Andy Butler, have gone well, with just one defeat so far, whilst Boston who survived relegation after their great escape during the last campaign, have continued their own good form, after a poor start they are unbeaten in four in the league and have begun to pull themselves away from the danger zone, as opposed to this time last year when they were in serious trouble at the foot of the division.

I'm at the Shell Garage at Bingham roundabout where I fill up and grab a meal deal before taking the A52 east. As I head through Grantham towards Boston I've got the radio on, the Forest match in full flow, the game reaching half time goalless as I pull up a short walk away from the ground.

The Venue

A few more parked cars than usual, a bigger crowd is expected today with the Scunthorpe following filling their away end. I'm walking over a busy A16 and into the stadium complex, as I overhear one Scunny fan say to another "they still haven't finished that fourth stand".

The last piece to the Jakemans jigsaw is scheduled for completion next year. Not only will a small stand be added behind the goal to complete their grey and gold modern looking bowl, there's supposed to be a leisure centre attached behind with gym and badminton courts so plenty to look forward to once it's complete.

I'm heading for the glass doors of the yellow painted ticket office in the centre of the main stand where I sign myself in for my pass, no sooner have I walked through the turnstiles and into the clubs concourse do I notice Chelsea have scored at the City Ground. Goals replayed on the flat screen TV up high on the wall and under the stand. After grabbing a cup of tea and a kit-kat, I turn around and Chelsea score again. I watch no more of my team getting battered, on the presumption Forest have now lost, saying aloud as I walk by a couple of fans in bobble hats eating burgers "that's Ange sacked then".

Outside in happier times I'm met by a scout from Grimsby and one from Scunny who goes home and away wherever his team play. Radio Lincs behind me, Radio Humberside besides me, I'm checking my WhatsApp group of Forest chat to hear no sooner have Chelsea scored a third, and the early kick off game has ended, Ange is already sacked and driving himself out of the ground, a forgettable era lasting 39 days, 8 games and no victories. Statistically Forest's worst ever Manager.

The Game

Back here in Boston, the players are out ready for action and the match eventually kicks off after the referee keeps everyone waiting for the clock to strike three.

You are expecting local derby fireworks but what you get are two teams finding each other out. Boston are fired up and defensively on point. Manager Graham Coughlan always seems to have his side well set when it comes to taking on those in the division of high attacking quality. Every time the ball goes near Cal Roberts young Will Lankshear at left back is snapping away at the winger. Every ball into centre forward Danny Whitehall has Connor Teale all over his back.

It's unsettling for Scunthorpe. Boston's controlled defensive aggression has the visitors lacking ideas, not quite at the races, as the best chance goes to Kieran Donnelly who runs through one on one and forces a good save at the Iron door by Rory Watson. A hard shot aimed through the keepers legs is stopped by Watson's pair of knackers.

The first half is scrappy, not much forward play of quality, the battle hardly helped by a niggly official in Matthew Scholes who seems to let some go, but picks up on other rather tedious technicalities where most Refs would simply say 'get on with it'.

The Score

You feel both sides are happy going into half time with a clean sheet, Scunthorpe because they haven't played well, Boston because they have contained one of the divisions top attacking teams.

But as you expect more cagey quality in the second half, it's a player who's had a poor game, who makes a poor decision, who's error leads to the opening goal.

Will Evans is a centre half I like for Scunthorpe, but he doesn't look at it today, caught out a couple of times in the first half, his heavy touch concedes a throw in on half way which is taken quickly by Boston, as Evans trudges back, Connelly races clear and shoots low to force a save from Watson which he largely makes a mess of down to his left, the ball falls kindly to Lenell John-Lewis who can't miss from a few yards out.

That has the home fans singing "his name is a shop" as I say to the fella beside me "I've never been to Lenell's" and John-Lewis suddenly sparked into life is now causing havoc for Scunthorpe, running at defenders he crosses low which misses the toe of Connolly by an inch, centimetres away from putting the Pilgrims two up.

Connolly then repays the favour as Boston boss their opponents as his low cross is drilled wide by the big striker, by now Will Evans has had enough, he's taken a knee, the physio is on, the sub board is out, he hobbles off and Scunthorpe make a switch.

In fairness, the tactical tweak works in favour of the away side as Kian Scales enters the pitch at right back with Joe Starbuck switching to centre half, Scales has a lot of the ball and Scunthorpe attack with more balance as Boston retreat into defending their lead.

It seems to be all going to plan as Boston bring on their own defensive reinforcements as Ben Grist replaces debutant Marcel Lavinier who's had a good game on the right of defence. A ball in from the opposite flank sees Grist grapple with Danny Whitehall, both players fall down and after a long look, the Referee awards a penalty, softly, harshly, Cal Roberts easily levelling from the spot.

That sparks off a chorus of boos around the arena and every time a free kick is awarded thereafter, the Referee gets it, with cries of "you don't know what you're doing". He awards eleven minutes of injury time with both teams still going for it, in the end both running out of time to take a good solid point each, a derby day that has both teams clapped off for their hard working efforts.

The Stars

On a day where getting stuck in was more essential than showing off technical ability, it was the gritty guys who did best. The Boston back four, their midfield, a day for the likes of Greg Sloggett, never the easiest on the eye, with his funny looking running and leggy un-natural like technique but one who's like a rash on your back, itching away in attempt to win the ball. He's that player in the middle of the park who you think you've got away from, then out comes a leg, an arm, a head, and he's taken it away. Matty Carson and Liam Waldock doing the ugly stuff just as impressively. Will Lankshear up against Cal Roberts did really well to contain him, Connor Teale and Zak Mills no less than your standard 7 out of 10 each week, probably nearer deserving 8's today.

For Scunthorpe, Kian Scales coming off the bench and putting in their best performance of the day, probably tells you what sort of day they had. I'm always impressed with the tenacity and technique of Oli Ewing in midfield, and Joe Rowley besides him did well, Cal Roberts improving the later the game went on, as opponents tired he looked to be more of a menace, floating in and around the eighteen yard box, always looking to get on that weapon of a left foot.

The Verdict

Two solid National League sides doing the county of Lincolnshire proud. I think Scunthorpe do have a chance of going up but with a couple of injuries their squad is now starting to thin, they'll probably need reinforcements if they are to continue their promotion push long into the new year, their bench looking a little light today without the likes of Tyrell Sellars-Fleming who I believe was out with a knock.

As for Boston, without a couple of their own star forward players, they look in good hands under Graham Coughlan, will keep chipping away to score more points and should be ok by the season end. They look more and more disciplined each game I watch them, so when they have the likes of Frankie Maguire and Jacob Hazel back, they good be a team that surprises a few.

The Teams

Boston United: Rhys Lovett, Connor Teale, Zak Mills (Tommy Fogarty 77), Greg Sloggett, Dylan Hill, Kieren Donnelly, Lenell John-Lewis, Matty Carson (Rocco Coyle 86), Alex Lankshear, Liam Waldock, Marcel Lavinier (Ben Grist 73).

Scunthorpe United: Rory Watson, Branden Horton, Jean Belehoan, Will Evans (Kian Scales 66), Declan Howe (Carlton Ubaezuono 66), Alfie Beestin, Danny Whitehall (Joey Dawson 77), Cal Roberts, Joe Rowley, Oli Ewing, Joe Starbuck.

3:00pm Kick Off. Saturday 18th October 2025, Jakemans Stadium, Boston (att 2,866).