Good Friday For York

Boston United 0-1 York City (National League)

I'm off to a tulip festival on Saturday. Call it a compromise. The things you agree to do with the wife after working Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and having the rest of the Easter holiday weekend off.

York City are gunning for the league and are bidding for promotion back to the 92 after ten years outside, but they are three points behind leaders Rochdale who they play on the last day of the season.

Earlier in the week fans camped outside the York City stadium as tickets went on sale for the all important potential title decider. A winner takes all at Spotland, selling out within a couple of hours.

Before then, however, both teams have four games to go. And whilst Rochdale are away at struggling Morecambe. York visit Boston, who they have failed to beat in Lincolnshire since 1970.

A usual jaunt of mine it's an hour and a bit drive to the Jakemans Stadium, I'm dropping a couple of eggs off at my sister's before heading down the A52, arriving at a packed Wyberton full of parked cars in the surrounding streets ahead of what feels like a full bodied festival of football to kick off the weekend.

The Venue

I'm walking from my car as a fella who's just parked his has a moan about others parking on a roundabout, it seems no space has been left uncovered today with plenty of Yorkies in town.

It's a five minute walk from where I've parked to the ground as I cross the busy A16 whilst contemplating a Starbucks, I don't bother as I can't find the entrance, so instead head for the ticket office, a construction site immediately in front, the main stand glass backed is lovely looking to my left as a ground hopper with a back pack on takes a picture of it.

I'm quickly in and out and through the turnstile and up to my seat, no messing today, there's a good 90 minutes to go until kick off and the press area is already packed with media mainly from the away team.

As modern stadiums go it's certainly one of my favourites, the quirky curved lights look down above, cloudy bright skies lighten the green carpet, the three stands in use slowly filling nicely, there's plenty of York City fans sitting in the home end today which adds to the atmosphere, as a rather attractive lady gets a round of applause off them, she's really milking the applause as she waves back to the crowd, at first I have no idea who she is, but am told it's the co-owner. Julie-Anne Uggla and her son Matthew have a 51% share in the club. The fans obviously very happy with her work.

The Game

It's packed inside today and there's a real feel good factor this Good Friday afternoon, Boston all but safe have put in some great performances in recent weeks since Paul Hurst took on the Pilgrims job in January, York confident that they can be the ones at the end of the campaign who take the championship away from Rochdale, and the away side in sky blue dominate early proceedings, Stuart Maynard has created a lovely football team, they all switch positions and flow freely with good technical ability. It's three at the back, five in midfield, two up top, old fashioned in formation, but free flowing in philosophy. At one stage right back Jeff King is on the left wing, moments later centre half Malachi Fagan-Walcott is on the right wing, midfielder Alex Hunt often the deepest defender, sitting in, covering, collecting the ball and starting moves ahead of later joining the attack.

For all their fluidity York suck Boston in with a brilliant passing move which ends with them going long and direct from Keeper to Stones, the big forward is a powerhouse and one that league clubs have been looking at, he wrestles with defenders and gets away, but his tame shot under pressure is easily saved by Cameron.

The Score

It's nil nil at half time and I say to my fellow scouts sitting besides me "they'll take that" as Boston, happiest have been playing against the wind, they have a strong bench having rested a few ahead of Mondays match with Brackley which they probably see is more winnable, but are well in this game against by far the best footballing team I have seen in this division.

But York come out the traps immediately in the second half, a shot by Pearce is saved by Cameron but the rebound is only flicked to the feet of Ben Brookes who doesn't miss from close range, firing into the roof of the net to send the away support crazy.

Boston's reply however is instant, Slogett heads against the bar and it's carnage inside the area as bodies attack and defend, the ball looks to have gone over the line, the home fans cheer, but no goal awarded and York break away.

It's a tense second half as Maguire fires a shot from long range that clips the top of the bar, but Boston whilst plucky and persistent aren't really equipped to breaking down the visitors now organised defensive barrier, there's cheers in the crowd as news from elsewhere has Rochdale losing at home to Morecambe, you start to feel it's very much going to be York's day.

I love this stage of the season where results elsewhere matter as much as your own, no doubt the players aware of the happenings at Spotland, this gives them the extra incentive to get the job done in Boston, and they do, with a good solid display, an away win on the road for the first time against the Pilgrims in 55 years.

At full time there are more celebrations as it turns out Morecambe have scored again, by now the players are dancing with the fans in the far corner following Rochdale's 4-2 defeat, as I leave Stuart Maynard is getting a rather intimate hug off his owner, if Carlsberg did Good Fridays for York fans, this would be it.

The Stars

Packed of talent there's probably no better technical team in the division than York, who have one of the best attacking defenders in Malachi Fagan-Walcott, a fast strong footballing footballer, probably better used as a traditional right back where he can bomb up and down the line, but in this Maynard system he excels as a right sided centre half with freedom.

I really like the left sided centre back Mark Kitching who has the technical ability and confidence of a left winger. He's taking on attacker's inside his own half, cutting in with a speed of turn, whilst ticking everything along is Alex Hunt, a brilliant passing midfielder who understands completely his job for the team. The tall ponytailed Ollie Banks twisting and turning besides him, Hiram Boateng also adding some beef.

In attack they arguably have the best pairing in the division. Top goalscorer Ollie Pearce didn't do much, but at one stage flicked a long ball over Jake Rooney's head and ran in on goal, a touch of class from a classy forward who's a threat even when he's quiet.

I really like Josh Stones, so much so I told Mansfield Town about him as I think he's perfect for a club that would play to his physical strengths, he's big and robust, quick and likes the scrap, can compete in the air, beat players on the deck, even if York do go up, I think they'll have it all on trying to keep him.

As for Boston, not forgetting them, as they certainly played a part in this match, on the day, Alex Lankshear had a really good game at left back, whilst Frankie Maguire, again, was their main source of energy and dynamism, we discussed his future and decided that he might also be heading upwards elsewhere this summer, football league clubs are starting to take note of his consistent efforts.

I thought Greg Slogett had a really good match until tiring in the second half, he's been one that under the previous regime was un-droppable, that perhaps didn't win his new manager over quite as much initially, I'm hoping Paul Hurst is getting to understand how important he can still be in midfield going forward.

Finally, a mention for Luca Barrington who recently signed for Boston after a period out of football, he still looks unfit but technically he's as good as anything they have, if Frankie Maguire does go in the summer, I see him as the natural replacement, a different kind of number ten, but one with invention who sees a picture like no other Boston player.

The Verdict

York City are top of the table on goal difference and having scored 24 more goals than Rochdale this season are now very much in the driving seat for promotion.

Next for the Minstermen it's Altrincham at home on Monday before Tamworth away next weekend, then it's Yeovil at home and by then I wonder will they have wrapped up their promotion party for the final day, or will it come down to getting something from their biggest and best rivals from the 'other' rose county? I'm not sure if it'll be as straightforward as three straight wins? I'm personally hoping for a few twists along the way, as if it all comes down to that final day, what a day it's going to be.

The Teams

Boston United: Dan Cameron, Connor Teale (Marcel Lavinier 80), Jake Rooney, Jamie Grimes, Alex Lankshear, Jordan Richards, Greg Sloggett (Arjan Raikhy 80), Dylan Hill (Tom Cursons 78, Luca Barrington (Jordy Hiwula 68), Frankie Maguire, Lenell John-Lewis.

York City: Harrison Male, Malachi Fagan-Walcott, Zach Johnson, Mark Kitching, Jeff King, Alex Hunt (Dan Batty 90), Hiram Boateng, Ollie Banks (Joe Grey 74), Ben Brookes (Ryan Fallowfield 90), Josh Stones, Ollie Pearce.

3:00pm Kick Off. Friday 3rd April 2026, Jakemans Stadium, Boston (att 3,198).