Pilgrims 4-0 Woking

Nationwide Conference

After overwhelming Liverpool in their midweek friendly, Boston United returned to more mundane action - trying to pick up Conference points to maintain their position at the top. Their opponents in today's match were Woking, who despite their lowly position in the table were undergoing a revival following the recent reappointment of legendary non-league manager Geoff Chapple. Boston were forced to use a new formation after injuries ruled out defender Ross Weatherstone and top scorer Daryl Clare. Midfielder Simon Rusk dropped back to a defensive role and Anthony Elding and Mickey Brown provided the firepower up front. The first half provided plenty of entertaining football from both sides, but no goals. Brown and Elding were combining well in the centre and Angel and Gould commanded the wings. Woking looked threatening on the break, especially given the makeshift nature of the Boston defence and Paul Bastock, making his 500th competitive appearance for the club, had to make a couple of superb saves to keep them out.

Eight minutes into the second half Boston broke the deadlock. Andrew Lodge was fouled on the left side of the area and Simon Weatherstone directed the resulting free kick on to the head of ELDING who nodded home from close range. ELDING soon increased the lead. He slotted home a cross from Clifford after Simon Weatherstone had surged through the middle and released Clifford with a threaded pass. ANGEL scored the third Boston goal with a long range effort that found a narrow gap between the keeper and the post. GOULD completed the scoring with a well placed shot across the face of the goal that found its target just the right side of the back post. He had been picked out with a fast moving cross from Lodge, but had been able to bring the ball under control before turning and firing in his shot from the edge of the six yard box. So with three points in the bag, Boston go into the pre-Christmas break on top of the Conference.

United team: 1. Bastock, 2. Clifford, 3. Lodge, 4. Rusk, 5. Monington, 6. Ellender, 7. Angel, 8. Brown (Cook 77), 9. Elding (Town 85), 10. S Weatherstone (Costello 85), 11. Gould. Subs not used: Fletcher, Conroy.