Boston United 1-2 AFC Fylde (National League)
A relegation six pointer as early as October? Both Fylde and Boston have had their struggles this season.
22nd hosts 21st of the National League, Boston under Ian Culverhouse have found things tough following promotion, suffering most recently a 1-0 loss at the weekend to Halifax, Fylde have a new manager in Kevin Phillips, but life under the former Sunderland striker didn't get off to a great start, beaten 4-0 at Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday. Tonight, something will have to give.
I'm out the door for 5:30, a quick stop off at the Shell Garage at Bingham roundabout and across the A52, pulling up in Wyberton an hour before kick off, where I spot a few old friends crossing the road towards the stadium.
John O'Kane, a former Manchester United player in the class of 92, Steve Robinson formerly of Birmingham City and Swindon Town, and Paul Moxey, formerly of Nags Head, Blacks Head, Bassingfield and other good Sunday morning pub teams.
O'Kane's lad Taelor will be on the bench for Fylde tonight, just eighteen he's highly regarded and his dad's not happy, turns out Peterborough United were interested in the youngster but Fylde rejected their offer, "they're not playing him" he moans.. Taelor seems to be taking it better... "He's professional" John says... "He just gets on with it".
The Venue
I leave the lads waiting outside the stadium for their free tickets supplied by former Pilgrim Mark Clifford, I'm through the gates and up to my seat where the media section is packed and cosy.
A Grimsby supporting scout next to me tells me of their 1-0 win at Tranmere last night, the ground slowly filling under the lights as the players warm up.
It's all modern and sleek in here, there's not many from Fylde, around thirty as the two teams come out to nothing more than warm applause.
The Game
It's an edgy start, Boston play 451 and are happy to give the away side the ball, Fylde look more like the aggressors but O'Kane tells me "they're flakey at the back" and the two centre halves come under pressure when a brilliant ball from the right is headed inches wide by Pemi Aderoju.
The young striker on loan from Peterborough is raw but has some technical talent, he also has a leap and makes his mark a minute before half time to put Boston into the lead. A left wing corner crossed into the box where he pushes away his own attackers to get their first.
The Score
I'm expecting an edgy second half of Boston not knowing to stick or twist as Ian Culverhouse sets his precedent by surprisingly taking off their young playmaker off, Finlay Welch on loan from Norwich, did really well at the weekend, not so today but he looks to have something about him, he's replaced by a more defensive minded Frankie Maguire at the break which suggests Boston are going to stick, rather than twist.
That gamble fails just ten minutes into the second half as Corey Whelan is given far too much time to stick a foot at the ball from a low crossed corner, a soft goal for the away side, the 27th in fifteen games that Boston have conceded.
27 becomes 28 shortly after, a decent ball in from the left is headed home by Adam Long, the 30 Fylde fans go crazy, one of them even has his own mobile phone light show.
You feel Culverhouse will make a change, a double sub, get striker Hazel on, there's 30 minutes to play but nothing, the managers demeanour looks dejected, every time I'm here I say he's a game away from the sack, he looks just as close tonight.
Hazel does eventually come on and add some impetus, but it's too little too late, Boston hardly trouble Theo Robinson's goal and it's a good night's work for Kevin Phillips who I believe has the ability and style to get his side away from danger.
No boos at full time, just fans flat feeling and used to underwhelming nights like this, yes they fought, but Boston didn't have the minerals to put pressure on a shaky Fylde defence, at home against a team in and around them, the type of game they needed something from.
The Stars
No one really stood out on a night where both teams tactics were to 'play it safe'. Fylde threatened more down the right with Tyler Roberts whilst Jonathan Ustabasi did most of the threatening often with good feet and pulled out a save from Aidan Stone in the first half.
Boston weren't nearly as effective as they were in defeat to Halifax on Saturday. Sam Osborne tried, Pemi Aderoju threatened, but it was two evenly matched outfits, one simply having less confidence than the other, who lost out.
The Verdict
Kevin Phillips has been previously backed by clubs with big budgets. He did well at South Shields but I was surprised things didn't work out well for him at Hartlepool, perhaps Fylde is the perfect fit? Perhaps he can get a tune out of this team and perhaps he can get some funds added to add more fire power?
Boston look doomed, Ian Culverhouse looks doomed, I said to the scout from Grimsby after the game, "if he's still here the next time I visit I'll be very surprised" but I've said that before, Boston do know that it's going to be a long old scrap and getting promotion last season was probably well over par on their targeted achievements, unless they can sprinkle some magic and find a player or two, it looks like a return to National League North again next season.
The Teams
Boston United: Aidan Stone, Kieran Coates (Jai Rowe 80), Cameron Green, Michael Bostwick, Tom Leak, Keaton Ward (Jacob Hazel 77), Finley Welch (Frankie Maguire 46), Pemi Aderoju, Jordan Richards, Sam Osborne (Adam Marriott 83), Dylan Hill.
AFC Fylde: Theo Richardson, Owen Evans, Harry Davis, Adam Long (, Ethan Mitchell, Jon Ustabasi, Corey Whelan, Lincoln McFayden, Gavin Massey (Charlie Jolley 85), Tyler Roberts, Joe Riley.
7:45pm Kick Off. Wednesday 23rd October 2024, Jakemans Stadium, Boston (att 1,529).
Kommentarer