Boston Utd v Scunthorpe United

Saturday, October 2, 2004

Football League Two

Boston Utd :
Abbey, West, McCann, Ellender, Beevers, Pitt, Bennett, Noble, Thomas, Lee, Kirk. Subs Strong (not used), Rusk (not used), Thompson (for Kirk 77 mins), Gascoigne (not used), O'Halloran (for Thomas 62 mins).
Subs not used:

Scunthorpe United :
Musselwhite, Stanton, Crosby, Butler, Ridley, Taylor, Kell, Baraclough, Beagrie, Hayes, Keogh. Subs Jackson (not used), Sparrow (for Kell 81 mins), Torpey (for Keogh 29 mins), Rankine (for Hayes 81 mins), Evans (not used).
Subs not used:

SULSESC REPORT

by Chris Pettitt at York Street

AWFUL, bloody awful! It was terrible, enough to turn the most ardent Iron fan to shopping on a Saturday afternoon.

I can't remember the last time I didn't enjoy a game, even last season's fiasco was at least entertaining. It has to be said the referee didn't help matters, with free kicks being, it seemed, conceded by both sides every few seconds.

But the ref cannot be blamed for the lack of decent football played by either side, Boston relying on the long ball to Lee, not pretty, Scunny not being able to string a couple of passes together.

Keogh was replaced, before half–time, by Torps, things started looking up, but still it was Boston who were in charge with their best chance parried away by Musselwhite when it seemed easier to score.

It was a shock, not only to the Boston faithful, but the Iron faithful as well when Cleveland out–paced and out–muscled the Boston defence down the right to put in a dangerous low cross to the near post where Hayes tucked the ball neatly into the back of the net: 1–0 to the Iron at half–time.

The Iron started the second–half as they finished the first, on top. A couple of good efforts from Bara, one from close range, the other from distance which was tipped over for a corner.

Torps had a good turn and shot inside the area but straight at the 'keeper, and things were looking promising.

Then the usual defensive blunder played Boston onside just inside the Iron half, a good chip over Mussy from just outside the box found the back of the net despite the sterling effort of Butler to get back.

Still a draw was not that bad, then with only seconds to spare a long free kick sailed not only over Lee but the Iron defence as well to find an unmarked O'Halloran, who from outside the box let go a shot which 90 per cent of the time would have sailed into the crowd. Not this time as it sailed past Mussy's outstretched left hand and into the top right hand corner, a cracking goal that deserved to win any game.