Bower Field Skrill North Saturday December 21st 2013
Pre Game
After recent disappointments, it was yet another trip on the road to watch the Pilgrims. This time to Stalybridge Celtic – just east of Manchester. I’d returned home from Uni and was going on the supporters bus to the game – which wasn’t too bad, as it was only £11 for the trip- compared to the £30 train journey I could’ve made.
Following our recent run of away games and the proximity to Christmas, I wasn’t expecting much of a turnout and I was proved right, when I strolled on the bus at 10am to find it less than half full. Nevertheless, I did at least have company sat by one or two regulars and at 10:10, we were on our way.
The bus had left early as they would take an hour to get a bite to eat at the Taybarns restaurant just outside Sheffield (all you can eat for £9.99) and the run into Sheffield was actually quite clear – albeit with nothing spectacular happening on the bus apart from Billy cleaning up 5 cans of coke!
As we got to the services, we noted a familiar face. Boston United captain Ian Ross, who, along with Indy Aujla and Lewis King was awaiting being picked up by the team bus, which arrived shortly after we had tucked into a really nice pizza, chips, fish and chocolate pudding. Top notch and I highly recommend this place if you head this way on away games.
That done, by 1:10 we were on our way again, listening to commentary of Liverpool v Cardiff on the radio and predictably, Liverpool were threatening to run riot- going into a 3-0 half time lead. Cardiff came back stronger after half time and reduced the arrears but it would eventually end 3-1; a result which would send Liverpool top of the league.
As I said, it would eventually end 3-1 but I didn’t know this as by 2:10 we had arrived at Bower Field, home of Stalybridge Celtic. It was actually not a bad ground, with 2 stands down the sides and 2 mostly covered terraces at each end… just a pity the attendance today was a paltry 344 (with around 80 from Boston)
Bower Field- home of Stalybridge Celtic
After a wander, I went into the clubhouse to hopefully find the footy on TV, but sadly it was Channel 4 racing, so after a quick sip of my 7-up (bought from Poundland earlier!) I was back out onto the terraces in what was surprisingly reasonable weather conditions. The sun even made an appearance and the Boston fans I spoke to agreed that this was the start of the kind run of games that we needed to take advantage of.
The Game
Stalybridge (4-3-3): Arron Jameson; Kelvin Bleau, James Tunnicliffe, Kristian Platt, Andy McWilliams; Prince Haywood (Keith Briggs 59), Callum Warburton, Adam Pepper; Sean McConville, Phil Marsh, Paul Ennis (Tom Buckley 79). Subs (not used): Obi Anoruo, Conal Platt, Craig Ellison (gk).
Boston (3-4-3): Lewis King; Stefan Galinski (Jake Hall 78), Scott Garner, Carl Piergianni; Liam Marrs, Ian Ross, Conor Marshall, Rene Steer (Ben Fairclough 40); Marc Newsham, Ricky Miller(Spencer Weir-Daley 13), Netan Sansara. Subs (not used): Ben Milnes, Sam Vince (gk).
Referee: Steven Copeland
Attendance: 334
Boston have a frustrating tendency to concede first and concede early and within 9 minutes and after the first serious attack of the game, that record was highlighted. A dreadfully scuffed corner made its way through everyone and despite an excellent double save from Lewis King, at the 3rd attempt, it was smashed home from close range by Phil Marsh.
Then, Ricky Miller limped off injured and within moments of him going off, following a superb save from King, Stalybridge won what looked like a very questionable free kick 30 yards but fair play to Kristian Platt, who rifled home an unstoppable free kick right into King’s top right corner.
With it all to do, Boston got themselves straight back into the game. Carl Piergianni somehow headed wide from a corner but moments later, Marc Newsham’s cross was fumbled by the home goalkeeper Arron Jameson (quite simply the worst goalkeeper I’ve ever seen) and Netan Sansara had the simplest of tap-ins to get us back in the game… all after only 19 minutes!
Boston then lost Rene Steer to injury in making a fantastic goal-saving tackle following a good save initially by King, but then missed a great chance to equalise as Sansara’s effort from a corner was block by Jameson and a couple of other set pieces and crosses almost got through what was quickly becoming a very dodgy back line, but Stalybridge saw it through to half time, but at 2-1 and their back line among the worst I’ve seen this season, I felt a repeat of the Vauxhall Motors 2-2 was on the cards, if not a win.
In the 2nd half, the Pilgrims started as they ended the first, dominating possession. a couple of set pieces fell agonisingly short and an Ian Ross free kick was spilled by Jameson but Weir-Daley couldn’t bundle it in and then out of very little, Stalybridge extended their lead as a long ball over the top found its way to Marsh, who rounded King to coolly slot home and with only 23 minutes to go, it looked as if I’d be writing to you about Boston’s 3rd straight defeat.
But the Pilgrims are made of stern stuff and immediately reduced the arrears through a Ben Fairclough 25-yarder which was in the moment it left his foot. Then on 73 minutes, following a rasping 20 yard drive from Ian Ross which the hopeless Jameson failed to hold, Marc Newsham had the job of tapping in the rebound for his 99th goal in United colours and the Pilgrims were back level, with still 20 minutes to go.
I expected us to really kill Stalybridge as we had the wind and were going downhill, but although the home side were still time-wasting beyond belief, they actually began to apply pressure on the visitors’ back line, forcing King into another excellent save and a couple of Boston shots went well over.
Somehow, only 3 extra minutes were signalled and as we pushed everyone up for a corner, Stalybridge countered and looked to have scored a 91st minute winner, only for the linesman’s flag to go up to save us a point.
The final whistle blew and the overwhelming sense among the 70 or 80 of us was one of 2 points dropped against a side among the worst we’ve seen all season, but news of other teams dropping points lifted us. We’re 7th- 3pts off the playoffs and only 4 off the top team, Solihull.
Post-game
The bus ride home was nothing remarkable, other than texting everyone to see how other scores had gone and listening to the radio, whose coverage was dominated by the death of BBC Sports Broadcaster David Coleman… but I put a quid into the raffle, believing I had a chance of winning one of 8 prizes with the small numbers on the bus. It all seemed to be false hope as number after number got drawn which wasn’t mine, but the last prize was unwanted by someone so they drew again… and mine came out!
I’d won a bath set with soap and shower gel, as you can see below. It could’ve been a nice Xmas present for someone but as I have finished all that, I may as well use it myself.
My Raffle Prize and winning ticket!
By the time we got back into Boston, (7:45pm, which wasn’t a bad run), the heavy rain we’d experienced for large parts of the journey, had struck and I was quick to hopfoot it into my dad’s car and get home, all despite describing this entire post to Nick (who was now at Tamworth and has probably not yet got back home given the journey he was telling me about!) on the phone, but it is now 10pm, I know who won Strictly (not that I cared) and another away day is done.
Next up is Histon at home on Boxing Day- definitely must-win
Ground 7/10- Very respectable for this level. Cover on all 4 sides, 2 neat stands and good terraces
Atmosphere 2/10- There was minimal noise from the 344 people in attendance, apart from us abusing the referee, who was woeful
Game- 9/10- Two sides playing far from their best made for an exciting game. 6 goals, could easily have been 6-6
BUFC performance- 6/10- The usual ‘rock up at 3:15pm and not 3pm’ but we bounced back well. Disappointed we couldn’t go on & win it though
Day out- 6/10- Decent game, won the raffle, had a good meal, but not the result I wanted and a quiet trip.
Thanks for reading!
Josh
Under The Floodlights 