Bad Day at Blundell Park

By: Martin Copass
Date: 10/12/2003

TOWN reserves suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Boston United at Blundell Park after their worst performance of the season. Call me a cynic, but there were first team players in the line-up.

Alan Pouton made his expected appearance in the starting line-up; also included were Simon Ford, playing at left back, and manager Paul Groves playing himself in the centre of midfield.

This was a game that gave the rare occasion of nothing much to write about. An uninspiring first ten minutes gave an indication of what was to come, but after twelve minutes, Boston took the lead after the Town defence were easily out-jumped, and a firm header from 10 yards gave the visitors the lead.

Town tried to come straight back, but two efforts fro Mansaram failed to trouble former Town keeper Croudson. After half an hour, Mansaram did get on the score sheet after good work by Huckett, but this was the first and only real effort on goal from Town, although Hockless did warm Croudson's hand with ten minutes of the half remaining

Before this however, Boston retook the lead after Keeper Hughes 'ballet like' attempt to clear the ball failed and a simple tap in made the score 2-1 to the visitors. Boston nearly increased their lead, when a edge of the box shot thumped against the post, it would have been a fair score if it had gone in.

The second half was instantly forgettable as, although Town pushed forward in the attempt to level the scores, their efforts were either weak or well wide of the mark. Boston increased their lead after 63 minutes with another fine effort, and only an optimist would now believe that Town would come back from 3-1 down.

Groves, Hockless and Ford all had efforts that never troubled Croudson but it was Mansaram who seemed to have a 'shoot on site' frame of mind today but apart from his goal, he never looked like increasing his goal tally. Indeed one effort was of more danger to the corner flag than it was to Croudson's goal!

A poor performance and a bad result, but at least Alan Pouton managed to get in another 75 minutes, and he certainly didn't dodge any tackles. Ford had an ok game at left back, but what the point of manager Groves playing was anybody's guess. Paul Groves once stated that he expected the reserves to win the league; that is now well out of the question, unless there is a major slip up by top-of-the-table Hartlepool.

The highlight of the day was reading the team sheet, only two of the players were wearing the number that was on the team sheet, and one of them was the goalkeeper!!

Town: Hughes, Hyam, Ford, Groves Young, Wheeler, Pouton, Bolder, Mansaram, Huckett, Hockless,

Subs not as on team sheet!!

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