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| Battle of Lincs |
Preview: Boston v Grimsby
By: Kevin Dolan
Date: 02/02/2007
WITH their season fast becoming a nightmare, Grimsby Town face another crunch match as they make the short trip to relegation rivals Boston.
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Home > 2006-2007 Season > Previews > Boston (a) |
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The Opposition | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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After two promotions in three years, Boston were promoted to the league for the first time in 2001. However, their history since then has been overshadowed by off field issues. After promotion, it was revealed that the chairman Pat Malkinson and manager Steve Evans had both been charged with falsifying declared players salaries and were subsequently banned from football. The club were deducted four points from the start of the following season and were allowed to keep their league status (if the points had been deducted retrospectively then the club would not have been promoted). Evans ultimately returned as manager in the summer of 2004 before, in November last year, both him and Malkinson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to evade tax from 1997 to 2002, but only received suspended sentences and small fines.
On the pitch, Boston have had a steady, if unremarkable, few seasons finishing 15th, 11th, 16th and 11th. Helped by a decent home record they spent more of last season aiming for the play offs than worrying about relegation, although neither was probably a realistic possibility. The club were then dealt a blow when last season’s top scorer Julian Joachim left for Darlington before the August transfer window closed.
Boston currently lie 19th in League 2, two points ahead of Town. The Pilgrims made a poor start to the season, losing five of their first six matches and spent the majority of the first four months of the season in the relegation places. Around the beginning of November (and after the court case had been resolved) results improved and since then their form has been ‘mid-table‘ stuff, winning five, drawing three and losing five of their last 13 games. Their inconsistency is highlighted by only once managing to go three games unbeaten although defeat to Swindon in their last home game ended an unbeaten six match home streak.
Boston have been busy in the transfer window especially bringing in loan players including ex-Derby and West Brom full back Shane Nicholson who has joined from Chesterfield, Middlesbrough’s Jason Kennedy and Peterborough’s Justin Richards (left). Meanwhile the club’s three top scorers have surprisingly all left: Dany N’Guessan (Lincoln) Anthony Elding (Stockport) and Tim Ryan (Darlington). Goalkeeper Andy Marriott is the only ever present this season, although defender Paul Ellender has played in the majority of games.
Despite being only 28, Drewe Broughton already has the journeyman reputation after making Boston his 13th team in October of last year. Currently on loan from Chester, the target man already has four goals from his eleven appearances as well as receiving two red cards.
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Subs | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Head to Head | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Mariners are unbeaten against Boston, although there has only been five encounters, and both previous meetings at York Street have ended 1-1. P 5 W 2 D 3 L 0 F 7 A 5 Boston Head-to-Head (12th on The Opposition Ladder)
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Last Meeting | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Mariners last visit to York Street came at the beginning of last season as The Pilgrims halted Town’s record breaking away run with an injury time equaliser.
Boston Team: Abbey, White, Ellender, Futcher, Maylett, Noble (Dudfield, 83), Ross, McCann, Lee (Thomas, 17), Whelan (Rusk, 45), Joachim
Grimsby Team: Mildenhall, McDermott, R Jones, Whittle, Croft (Parkinson, 75), Cohen, Bolland, Kalala, Newey, Reddy, Gritton Attendance: 4,077 Â Â Report Bookings: Rusk (Boston Utd) Reddy (Grimsby) Sent Off: McCann
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Prediction | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Directions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Click on the link for directions to York Street (left).
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After two promotions in three years, Boston were promoted to the league for the first time in 2001. However, their history since then has been overshadowed by off field issues. After promotion, it was revealed that the chairman Pat Malkinson and manager Steve Evans had both been charged with falsifying declared players salaries and were subsequently banned from football. The club were deducted four points from the start of the following season and were allowed to keep their league status (if the points had been deducted retrospectively then the club would not have been promoted). Evans ultimately returned as manager in the summer of 2004 before, in November last year, both him and Malkinson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to evade tax from 1997 to 2002, but only received suspended sentences and small fines.
Boston currently lie 19th in League 2, two points ahead of Town. The Pilgrims made a poor start to the season, losing five of their first six matches and spent the majority of the first four months of the season in the relegation places. Around the beginning of November (and after the court case had been resolved) results improved and since then their form has been ‘mid-table‘ stuff, winning five, drawing three and losing five of their last 13 games. Their inconsistency is highlighted by only once managing to go three games unbeaten although defeat to Swindon in their last home game ended an unbeaten six match home streak.
Despite being only 28, Drewe Broughton already has the journeyman reputation after making Boston his 13th team in October of last year. Currently on loan from Chester, the target man already has four goals from his eleven appearances as well as receiving two red cards.
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