Vanarama National League North
The Jakemans Community Stadium
Saturday 3rd December 2022

By Paul Edwards 

Leamington fell to a third successive defeat in all competitions as they were outplayed, outscored and outfought in all departments on a chastening afternoon in Lincolnshire.

The heavy rain showers at regular intervals throughout this early kick off left the players looking a little bedraggled at times, but it was evident from the opening exchanges that there was only ever one team that looked likely to win this contest , and by full time the dark grey skies matched the mood of the small band of travelling supporters as they contemplated the long journey back to Warwickshire.

There was one change to the starting eleven, Charlie Williams replacing Rackeem Reid.

Brakes looked a little shaky as the game commenced; Theo Streete giving away an unnecessary corner when Callum Hawkins looked to have a right wing cross covered. The goalkeeper was impeded from the dead ball as Boston looked to force it home.

The Pilgrims quickly forced another corner, and when the ball was played back in they won the aerial challenges to present Jordan Crawford, whose half volley was parried by Hawkins. His follow up shot was deflected behind for another corner which came to nothing, but Leamington were still penned deep inside their own half.

There was soon brief respite however as Dan Turner held the ball up just past half way, allowing Simeon Maye to charge forward before being shouldered to the turf just outside the penalty area on the left. Devon Kelly-Evans curled the resulting free kick on target but it was claimed at the second attempt by Sam Long.

Boston looked to build down the right again, and Maye was beaten by Crawford, who drove the ball in low but the resulting shot struck a defender and looped away from goal.

Crawford was then guilty of missing a great opportunity to put Boston in front when the ball landed perfectly at his feet as it was played back into the penalty area, but his low shot across goal was wide of the far post. Crawford then headed over at the far post from Keenan Ferguson’s right wing cross as Boston continued to do the bulk of the attacking.

Brakes were allowing their hosts a little too much room to get crosses into the box, and were indebted to the alert Hawkins when Crawford’s ball in from the right was directed towards goal first time by Scott Pollock, but the Brakes keeper sprung into action to claim it.

If Leamington were fortunate to be level at this stage it did not last long, as they gift wrapped the opening goal of the afternoon to their hosts. There looked to be little danger as a ball was played forward and Theo Streete picked up possession facing towards his own goal, but his pass back towards Hawkins was weak, and Pollock could not believe his luck as he rounded the stranded Hawkins and slotted into an empty net.

There was a response of sorts, Kelly-Evans and Adam Walker combining as Leamington broke forward to send Turner through, but after cutting inside his shot was deflected behind for a corner, from which Jack Edwards headed narrowly wide at the far post.

More catastrophic defending handed Boston a second five minutes before half time, as the hosts poured forward and Leamington were simply not quick enough to react to a loose ball as Hawkins saved from Jake Wright, allowing Pollock to nip in and drive low beyond the dive of the Brakes stopper into the net.

Jack Lane picked up a needless booking for preventing the quick taking of a throw in, and just before the half time whistle Walker looked fortunate not to receive more than a booking for a challenge on half way.

There needed to be a vast improvement in the second half, and the early signs were promising. Some patient build up play ended with neat footwork from Williams which saw him just inside the box before unleashing a powerful drive which was pushed over the crossbar by Sam Long. Lane headed the resulting corner onto the roof of the net.

It all proved to be academic however, as Boston put the game to bed from their next attack - Pollock completing his hat trick with ease as he converted a low ball in from the left from Crawford.

Williams saw another shot saved by Long as Leamington attempted to reduce the deficit, but they had left themselves with too much to do to take anything from this contest.

Reid and Liam Cross were thrown on in an attempt to salvage some respectability from the afternoon but Leamington were almost four goals down as Pollock’s effort from distance flew past the post.

There was concern for Maye as he clattered into the advertising hoardings trying to keep the ball in play, and looked to be in some pain as he was helped round the pitch by Pete Denham and the Boston physio, but by the time he got to the players tunnel he was gingerly walking unaided, and was replaced by Junior English.

Walker volleyed well over the bar as the final whistle approached, but although there were individual efforts to try and salvage some pride from the afternoon there was little cohesion to Leamington’s play, and they ended the game well beaten.

Attendance: 1,219 (19 Leamington)

Boston United: 31 Sam Long, 3 Alex Brown, 4 Tom Platt ©, 7 Scott Pollock (9 Jordan Burrow, 81), 10 Jake Wright (14 Will Atkinson, 70), 12 Keenan Ferguson, 15 Jordan Crawford, 16 Ben Pollock, 21 Sam McLintock, 25 Jo Cummings (5 Lebrun Mbeka, 63), 26 Shaun Pearson.

Subs not used: 1 Rhys Davies, 17 Tom Solanke.

Leamington: Callum Hawkins, Dan Meredith, Louis Hall, Simeon Maye (15 Junior English, 73), Theo Streete, Jack Lane, Charlie Williams, Adam Walker, Dan Turner (12 Rackeem Reid, 63), Jack Edwards (14 Liam Cross, 63), Devon Kelly-Evans.

Subs not used: 16 Connor Taylor, 17 Jack Sang.

Referee: Abigail Byrne

Assistant Referees: Lewis Saunders-Johnson & Wayne Gray

Brakes Man of the Match: Callum Hawkins.