Funny Old Game

Boston United 2-2 Altrincham (National League)

It was a tale of two penalties the last time these two teams met earlier in the season at Moss Lane. Jordi Hiwula missed his spot kick for Boston on 32 whilst only four minutes later Elliot Osborne scored his, to give Altrincham a 1-0 home win in November.

Tonight's game is likely to be another tight affair, Boston in thirteenth are a point above Alty in fourteenth but the Pilgrims did get beat 6-2 against Carlisle at the weekend to crush a superb run of just one defeat in ten under Paul Hurst. Frankie Maguire was sent off for handball on the line with Boston 2-1 up at Brunton Park and the rest, as they say, is history.

The Robins have been bobbing along in good nick with five wins and a couple of defeats from their last seven played. Last time out Neil Gibson's side beat Southend 1-0 thanks to a first half Liam Humbles strike.

Neither can go up, nor will they go down, so this is as 'mid table battle' as it gets, apparently the last under the lights of the season at the Jakemans, no more midweekers at home for Boston who will at least save on their electricity bill.

I'm off shortly after 5pm and across the A52 through Grantham, the drive is roughly an hour and half tonight as I get to base for 6:45pm, an hour before kick off, I notice the wind has picked up to blowing a gale as I try and open my car door against the elements, parked a five minute walk across on a housing estate it's a short breezy commute to the Boston Community Stadium which is along the Pilgrims Way on the edge of town.

The Venue

Extensive works are continuing behind one goal to finish this modern facility off, as I walk into the ticket office and get my pass, the doors of the clubs reception fly open with the wind, I say to somebody waiting in the queue "this could have a nasty effect on the game tonight".

The gusts continue to blow strong as I walk towards the turnstile, inside I order pie chips and gravy at the kiosk along with a cup of tea for £9 and perch up against a wall to eat tonight's dinner which is lovely, before walking up the steps to the press seats, the usual numbers are here as standard, Radio Lincs, Christian on PA, a couple of commentators from Altrincham and some Data Scouts I know from some rival firms.

The pitch down below in good nick, rain starting to swirl above, the stadium enclosed filling nicely, there's around 35 visiting fans standing opposite well covered, but the rest of the three sided stadium looks toasty as folk are huddled together leaving not much gaps in between, the quirky circled lights shining onto the green surface as Boston in gold, and Altrincham in red, walk out to begin proceedings.

The Game

The wind is a factor, so obvious that Altrincham who are kicking against it first half are suffering. They can't get out their own half as Boston press forward, controlling proceedings and creating chances, the visitors goalkeeper Hutchinson is kicking it in every direction, he's tried lifting them to no avail, even tried the low driven firm passes like David Raya, "he's now got his three iron out" says Peter Costello on co comms behind me. Some have hit the stadium roof, many have been lumped out of play for throw-ins, most have failed to reach half way.

With plenty of pressure imposed it's no shock that Boston take the lead, what is a surprise after three failed free kick attempts at goal is that it's a stunning strike to break the deadlock on 12, Luca Barrington cuts onto his left foot from outside the area and bends one with power into the top corner. A brilliant goal from a talented boy who's only five games into his Boston career.

It's a funny old game, the first half of the first half is all Boston but the second twenty minutes or so is stop start as the Altrincham goalkeeper goes down for a timely technical time out. Someone angrily says something to the Altrincham Manager from the crowd and a statement is taken from the stewards, the Referee is over, it's a lengthy ordeal, Christian on PA announces across the tannoy "there's no room for foul and abusive language" which gets a round of boos from the home supporters, finally play restarts but there's a couple of bookings to end the half as tension rises, the football not very good as the finicky man in the middle hardly lets a moment go without a good blow on his whistle.

The Score

You feel the wind will play a part in the second half too, and to Altrincham's advantage no sooner do they kick off, do they find themselves level.

Declan Howe is sent through racing clear, I've seen plenty of Howe as a former Gainsborough player who's on loan at Altrincham from Scunthorpe. "He won't miss this" i say as he runs through one on one with nobody near him, up against the keeper he softly dinks the ball up and over the onrushing last man in net, cool, calm, classy, he's one of the best finishers on the non league circuit.

Howe has played well, really lively tonight, often pick pocketing opponents, keeping possession for his team who have struggled to keep it, but it's roles reversal in the second half, Altrincham finally find competency, they keep the ball better than they did in the first 45, pass and probe, Isaac Marriott starts to dominate in the centre of the park, Tom Crawford besides him playing well, he receives a card after a scuffle with Jordan Richards before Jimmy Knowles scores against his old club, right place, right time, it's what he does.

As the rain suddenly falls down to unprecedented levels you wonder if the game will even finish at all, a real shower of magnitude imposes itself on the playing surface as the players grin and bear the wet and windy weather, there's still tackles flying in, it's niggly, stop start, unattractive on the eye, with Altrincham now leading subs come on and interrupt the flow some more, Boston have had six players booked, it looks a lost cause as they are beaten by perhaps the better team of this half, Boston better in the first half didn't take their chances, and it's that perhaps costly on them getting nothing out of the game thus far, but a late corner is swung in on 93, the ball from Carson looks to have gone out, it's bounced off the crossbar, then down onto the head of Tom Cursons standing pretty much on the line, he nods home, like he usually does, and runs away celebrating a leveller, I'm not sure if the ball completely stayed in play from the corner kick, the Referee consults with his linesman and confirms, Cursons to the rescue, at least the rain has stopped, can we all go home now for a much needed lie down.

The Stars

In an entertaining but unorthodox and unusual evening I'm impressed with a few from Altrincham on my first viewing of them this season. Kahrel Reddin worked hard as a right wing back before a tactical switch had him further advanced, a quick energetic player with good control he has plenty of battery life and looks capable of playing one or two positions on the park. His pedigree past of Aston Villa and Stoke.

Joshua Grant at centre half was calm and assured up against the much bigger Lenell John-Lewis in attack for most of the evening, whilst Isaac Marriott grew into the game, he's a classy deep lying number eight who gets on the ball and keeps things ticking. Good work from Tom Crawford and Liam Humbles in the midfield alongside Marriott, star man however was Declan Howe who led the line well and took his goal brilliantly. Always a threat off the shoulder, he doesn't have huge stand out qualities other than being very honest and very composed in front of goal. He's scored four in eight games (plus two assists) for the Robins since moving on loan from Scunthorpe, I was surprised the Iron let him go.

For Boston, there were moments of class from Luca Barrington who faded in the second half, but you can tell he has ability, he is a technical boy, whilst Matty Carson has a wand of a left foot, he did a couple of cross field passes which had the crowd (and myself) ooh with appreciation.

Tom Cursons was the man to rescue a point with yet another goal, but big news was the return of Jacob Hazel from injury, he played the later stages after picking up a long term knee issue in the summer, it was his first game of the season and he came on to a rapturous applause.

The Verdict

In the end it hardly mattered, as both teams will be going nowhere anytime soon, but a strange game on a weird night of wind and rain, a lad from Lincs scoring against a team from his own county, a player who used to play for Boston netting against his old club, a screamer, a debatable goal, eight bookings, nine subs, eleven corners, four goals, spoils shared, I suppose it could have been much more miserable than that, as I leave the stadium scratching my head to what just happened.

The Teams

Boston United: Dan Cameron, Connor Teale, Marcel Lavinier, Jamie Grimes, Matty Carson, Oisin Gallagher (Arjan Raikhy 85), Jordan Richards, Jordy Hiwula, Luca Barrington (Ken Aboh 69), Greg Sloggett (Jacob Hazel 85), Lenell John-Lewis (Tom Cursons 75).

Altrincham: Luke Hutchinson, Kahrel Reddin (Charlie Kirk 75), Samuel Barnes (Dan Sassi 75), Joshua Grant, Eddy Jones, Tyler Golden, Tom Crawford, Isaac Marriott, Liam Humbles (Lucas Weaver 84), Jimmy Knowles (Sam Read 84), Declan Howe (Jake Cooper 90).

7:45pm Kick Off. Tuesday 24th March 2026, Jakemans Stadium, Boston (att 1,465).