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Yeovil Town 0-1 Pilgrims

Nationwide Conference

by Barbara Singleton

Daryl Clare's 22nd goal of the season proved to be arguably his most telling strike of the season. The Boston United frontman delivered what turned out to be the definitive moment in his team's top of the table match at Yeovil. It was enough to secure three more hugely important points for the Pilgrims. And on a night when main rivals Dagenham and Redbridge were held at Morecambe, it also helped to send Boston clear at the top of the Conference tree. But last night's victory at Huish Park was down to more than one man's contribution. Boston were magnificent in all areas - from keeper Paul Bastock and his resolute rearguard in which Jim Rodwell and Ray Warburton were commanding, through the midfield tenacity of Paul Ellender and Simon Rusk and even out to the width created by Mark Angel and Mickey Brown. Everyone played their part. By virtue of a victory, United demolished Yeovil's previously unbeaten 20-match run and effectively ended the Somerset's side interest in the championship chase. The platform for the triumph stemmed from CLARE's fifth minute breakthrough when he netted with a close-range shot after an initial effort by Rodwell had been partially blocked following an Angel corner.

That strike came hot on the heels of a second minute chance for Yeovil with a cross shot from the right by Adam Stansfield. Both sides then exchanged openings without any addition to the scoreline. For United, Clare got in the area but the ball bobbled away from his control. And then, on 22 minutes, an Ellender shot on the turn flashed wide. Yeovil upped the tempo and Terry Skiverton headed over following a Johnson corner. Then Anthony Tonkin saw a shot blocked by Mark Clifford. Then Rodwell got in a terrific cleanly-won tackle on Stansfield with home connections wailing in vain for a penalty. Just before the break both sides went close again through Roy O'Brien and Angel respectively. In the second half, Boston created two early moments of danger with Jamie Gould setting up Brown for a blocked shot while an Angel free kick was gathered by keeper Chris Weale. In response Stansfield powered a header straight at Bastock following a 50th minute corner by Brasshart. And on 57 minutes, United hearts were in their mouths when Gould headed against his own bar with Bastock tipping away Chris Giles' header from the rebound.

Boston team: 1. Bastock, 2. Clifford, 3. Gould, 4. Ellender, 5. Warburton, 6. Rodwell, 7. Brown, 8. Costello, (Murphy 79), 9. Clare, 10. Rusk, 11. Angel. Subs (not used): Lodge, Cook, Tarrant, Conroy.


This report originally appeared in the Lincolnshire Echo.