Report
Vanarama National League North
The Community Stadium
Tuesday 6th October 2020
Boston United gave notice of their promotion credentials in the opening Vanarama National League North fixture of the season as Leamington were soundly beaten on their own turf by the Lincolnshire outfit to give Paul Holleran a not so happy 50th birthday present.
With government legislation preventing fans from attending there was an eerie and flat atmosphere around the Community Stadium throughout that was punctuated only by the constant shouts of the players and benches, and while the game was played in a good spirit throughout it only served to reinforce the fact that the game is poorer without its fans.
The manager made two changes from Saturday’s disappointing FA Cup exit, one enforced. With Jack Edwards unavailable through suspension Callum Gittings stepped in, while Joe Clarke returned to the starting eleven in place of Dan Meredith, taking the captain’s armband.
Boston almost scrambled a second minute opener when Paul Green stretched to stab a cross towards goal, Jake Weaver doing well to get across goal and hold the ball before it crossed the line.
The Brakes keeper saw plenty of the ball in the opening fifteen minutes but cut a confident figure, claiming everything the visitors slung into his penalty area while barking out support to his team mates.
Leamington slowly felt their way into the game and went close when Joe Parker fizzed a powerful low drive across goal.
The visitors picked up three bookings as Brakes began to grow in confidence and push them back, but hit their hosts with a sucker punch five minutes before half time. For the first time all evening Weaver failed to get to the ball as it was played into his six yard box from Andi Thanoj’s left wing corner, and Paul Green got there first to nod home.
Jordan Burrow pushed forward and sent a powerful drive whistling just past the post as Boston finished the half with their tails up.
Thanoj’s aim was askew as he screwed a shot well wide of the target early in the second half. The Pilgrims were zipping the ball around with confidence but it was Leamington who had the first real scoring opportunity, Jack Lane rising highest in a packed penalty area to thump in a header which was well saved by Fitzsimmons.
Brakes battled manfully but Boston, who came so close to promotion last season and had made some shrewd signings during the extended break, were well organised and had the know how to deal with what in truth was a very limited threat from Leamington. In his first game at this level Danny Waldron worked hard in the lone strikers’ role for precious little reward, but like his team mates he will surely improve as he gains experience.
With a little over twenty minutes remaining Boston appeared to have secured the points when another dangerous corner delivery from Thanoj was headed back across goal by Tom Platt for Pilgrims skipper Luke Shiels to slam into the net from close range.
The visitors pressed home their advantage further still on 76 minutes, Thanoj once again the provider supreme with a perfect free kick into the penalty area which was glanced home by the head of Scott Garner.
There was worse to come as the visitors added a fourth goal with five minutes remaining, substitute Jordan Thewlis knocking home from close range as Fraser Preston’s free kick was played into the six yard box with the bedraggled Brakes defence at sixes and sevens.
One game does not make a season, but Paul Holleran will surely be concerned with the slow start his team have made. The inquisition went on for several minutes in the centre circle after the final whistle, but if the manager’s years at Leamington have taught us one thing, it is that there will be a reaction to this setback, there is no doubt about that.
Leamington: Jake Weaver, Junior English, Stephan Morley, Joe Clarke ©, Kyle Morrison, Jack Lane, Joe Parker (12 Connor Taylor, 77), Simeon Maye, Danny Waldron, Callum Gittings, Sam Osborne (15 Kaiman Anderson, 77).
Subs not used: 14 Dan Meredith, 16 Josh Martin, 17 Lance Smith.
Boston United: 1 Ross Fitzsimmons, 2 Matt Tootle, 3 Scott Duxbury, 4 Tom Platt, 5 Scott Garner, 6 Luke Shiels ©, 7 Andi Thanoj (17 Connor Dimaio, 79), 8 Paul Green, 9 Jordan Burrow (19 Jordan Archer, 82), 18 Terry Hawkridge (10 Jordan Thewlis, 72), 21 Fraser Preston.
Subs not used: 15 Tyrell Warren, 16 Josh Askew,.
Referee: Mr Sam Mulhall
Assistant Referees: Mr Alan Cox & Mr Liam Corbett
