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Rodwell outjumps Farnborough Air Show

Pilgrims 4-0 Farnborough Town

Nationwide Conference

With the Conference reaching its endgame, any dropped points in their remaining three games could be fatal to either of the two challenger's title hopes, giving them too little time to recover. Boston United's cause wasn't helped by an outbreak of injuries amongst their recognised defenders; Ray Warburton, Mark Monington and Neil Thompson all being ruled out. However, Paul Ellender and Jamie Gould had recovered from recent knocks and returned to give the defence a look of respectability. Boston couldn't have had a better start. On two minutes Angel powered down the left wing and picked out RUSK in the centre, who directed his shot beyond Farnborough keeper Darren Bonfield into the top left hand corner. Soon after, Farnborough thought they had equalised, but the linesman spotted an infringement and the "goal" was ruled out. On ten minutes Bonfield was stretchered off following an accidental collision with Rodwell. He was replaced in goal by Graham Benstead. Boston increased their lead on 17 minutes when ANGEL curled a free kick into the top corner after Elding had been brought down outside the area. Rodwell then came close to heading home a Gould cross following a quickly taken free kick.

The second half saw more Boston pressure. A Simon Weatherstone free kick was pushed round the post following a foul on Clare. Elding then blasted over from close range after Clare had broken through down the right wing and seen his shot deflected and fall nicely for Elding. ELDING soon made amends for his miss when he latched on to a long punt downfield by Bastock and turned to produce an unstoppable shot. Peter Costello was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet when his shot at goal was well saved. Farnborough had a number of chances to get a consolation goal, but none of their strikers seemed to be wearing their shooting boots and would finish badly. Their best effort saw Vansittart in the clear with only the keeper to beat, but Bastock pulled off a great stop to deny him. Top goalscorer and recipient of a cabinet full of player of the season trophies; Daryl CLARE, increased his tally for the season three minutes from the end. A Clifford throw-in was flicked on to Clare and he made no mistake with his long-range effort. With Dagenham & Redbridge only drawing at Scarborough, Boston are now two points clear with two games left.

United team: 1. Bastock, 2. Clifford, 3. Gould, 4. Ellender, 5. Costello (Beesley 89), 6. Rodwell, 7. Rusk, 8. Elding (Cook 82), 9. Clare (Tarrant 88), 10. S Weatherstone, 11. Angel. Subs not used: Lodge, Conroy.


Match report and photo by Ken Fox.