Boston United 1-1 Dagenham & Redbridge (National League)
I said on my last viewing at Boston that I would be "very surprised" by my return if Ian Culverhouse would still be in the managerial hot seat. Little over two weeks later he's not, as experienced midfielder Martin Woods takes temporary charge for his first National League game as boss.
Under Woods, Boston did ok in midweek to beat Sunderland U21's in the much despised National League Cup, a competition set up by the Premier League that offers fifth tier football clubs million pound rewards for agreeing to scrap FA Cup replays. It's no substitute for supporters who don't like their clubs being used as fodder to groom Cat A Academy youngsters so it's hardly attracting the attendances to make the competition worth it. Maybe that in time will change?
Not only did Woods win his first game against the Black Cats, Boston also drew in Culverhouse's last, but the manner of conceding a 90th minute penalty against ten men Eastleigh to extend a twelve match winless run was enough pain to eventually cause time on the former Norwich City defenders two year tenure at the Jakemans. In a funny way, had Boston not punched above their weight to go up last season and had the club now been up and around the promotion places in the National League North instead, he may still be in a job, but despite his achievements last year, Culverhouse often lacked charisma, a dour man, the Boston fans never really warmed to him, so any bit of trouble his side got into, the writing was always going to be on the wall.
As for Dagenham & Redbridge, a team that merged to become one in 1992, they are in their ninth year in the fifth tier after nine previous years in the Football League. Currently middle of the table they won their National League Cup game in midweek against West Bromwich Albion U21, they also beat Crewe Alexandra in the FA Cup the previous weekend to reach round two, thanks to that they'll play AFC Wimbledon at the end of this month with a chance to draw the big boys in round three for the winner.
The Venue
I've met Robbo for a coffee at McDonald's this morning, it's grey, miserable and threatening to drizzle, I'm on the road for 12:30 and through Grantham and south Lincolnshire towards Boston, arriving at the Jakemans before 2pm, accreditation signed for, through the turnstile, I order a warm sausage roll, tea and Twix from the kiosk before sitting down in the press area of this modern three sided arena.
I'm joined by a scout who's from Lincoln. He tells me of his time in the summer spent in Germany where he stayed to watch the Euros for the whole 4 weeks after his Mrs fell in love with the atmosphere after watching Romania v Ukraine. He gets about like I do from Maidenhead to Bath and Scunny to Curzon Ashton, he still calls 'Baseford' "Bassford" though which really grates on me.
There's a presentation ahead of the game as the two teams come out to line up for Remembrance Day, which is impeccably put on by old and young military and even better observed by all inside the arena. Then it's down to the action of a full bodied sweaty and thirsty encounter of November National League football.
The Game
It's a good start, Boston are front foot whilst the Daggers look to do damage on the break. Martin Woods seems to have certainly got a spark out of his team as they press high and play with confidence, taking the game to their opponents I'm as impressed as I have been all season in watching the Pilgrims play, but Ben Strevens has a well drilled side, he has a good player up front in Dylan Stephenson who's deft touch is used on a couple of occasions, on 27 he flicks a forward pass first time to Junior Morias who sets him free with a threaded pass. Stephenson is young, 21, relatively quick, Michael Bostwick and Zak Mills are not. In their mid thirties the arms of both centre backs are flapping as they hopelessly chase down the young striker, Stephenson through on goal runs in and slots home.
It's been Boston's Achilles heal all season their defence, 36-year-old Bostwick is brilliant beside someone with pace, but Mills is an experienced full back 'doing a job' for the new gaffer, because he trusts no one else to do it better, he's dependable and reliable but he's no centre half, a position that needs addressing if Boston are to survive.
Another reason for Boston's struggles is ball retention, they don't keep the ball well enough and give it away far too often, but what they do have, which they didn't use enough under Culverhouse who's teams tended to look for that perfect goal, is players who can shoot from outside the box. They have several players with a good dig on them, as Jai Rowe sets his sights from range he blasts low and hard into the corner for a sensational leveller on 37, maybe taking a leaf out of his new managers book, who is also known for the odd long range thunder blasting attempt.
The Score
At half time it's anybody's game. Boston have the fire in their belly but you feel the Daggers have another gear to go up, but I'm disappointed in the away sides entrance after half time, as Boston begin to show they 'can' keep the ball, they dominate the second half as they press for a winner.
Midfielder Frankie Maguire recalled to the first team line up has a couple of chances, he hits an effort from outside the box wide before forcing Justham to save at his near post, Billy Chadwick is denied a goalscoring opportunity as he runs through on goal only for N'Guessan to get back with a fabulous sliding tackle, before Jordan Richards comes closest of the lot, a low drilled attempt again from outside the area, clipping the outside of the post.
In the end it's a point shared, which probably suits the away side more, Boston have been brilliant and gave plenty of fight, although on leaving I told the clubs press officer "they were brilliant today, but everyone else around them have won" it's the sort of luck you get when you're down there in the doldrums.
The Stars
Plenty of positivity for Boston where even some of their weaker players stood up, a player I'm never sure about is their right back Jai Rowe but he was brilliant, progressive down the touchline he scored a magnificent goal, in midfield Frankie Maguire was awarded home team man of the match and he's a player I liked from day one when he made his debut v Rochdale on the opening weekend of the campaign, young and hungry he works hard and has good feet, as does Billy Chadwick who recently signed from York City on loan, he previously played for Boston and will be a useful addition up top.
For Dagenham, I really liked their young striker Dylan Stephenson who got their goal, he's a Blyth born forward who spent four years in the Newcastle United Academy. Their thick set loanee from Notts County Junior Morias also played really well in the no10 position, whilst out wide, another loanee, Dion Pereira, from Luton Town, shown quick feet and good technical ability cutting in off the left.
The Verdict
Boston getting a much needed point to hear that Wealdstone, Fylde and Braintree all won is one of those soul destroying moments when you get back in the changing room to find out you're worse off than you were at the start of the day, I've been there, it's annoying, but they'll be optimistic in their own performance that they can compete at the level and they won't give up the fight just yet.
Dagenham despite this result, will at least be happy about Boston not reducing the margin below them, they have a six point cushion on the relegation zone and will be combative and solid enough to take points off anyone this season, they also look like they can lose against anyone, which points to a campaign of mid-table mediocrity, which can perhaps be buoyed by a decent cup run.
The Teams
Boston United: Aidan Stone, Jai Rowe, Michael Bostwick, Zak Mills, Cameron Green, Jordan Richards, Dylan Hill, Keaton Ward (Sam Osborne 70), Billy Chadwick (Dan Mooney 88), Frankie Maguire (Adam Marriott 90), Jacob Hazel (Pemi Aderoju 73).
Dagenham & Redbridge: Elliot Justham, Oscar Rutherford, Tom Eastman, Romoney Crichlow, Luca Woodhouse, Harry Phipps (Frank Vincent 78), Christian N'Guessan, Ryan Hill, Junior Morias, Dion Pereira, Dylan Stephenson (Ruben Vigrass 86).
3:00pm Kick Off. Saturday 9th November 2024, Jakemans Stadium, Boston (att 2,039).
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