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Will he won't he?!
Will he won't he?!

Boston Preview

By: Richard Lord
Date: 09/02/2006

IT'S tight at the top of League Two, but Grimsby have the chance to reach the summit on Saturday when they take on local rivals Boston United at Blundell Park.

Home > 2005-2006 Season > Previews > Boston (h)


The Opposition

Overview
Boston endured a terrible start to the season but Steve Evans' (left) men have turned it around and will be gunning for a play-off spot come May. The Pilgrims took eight games to register their first league victory and it was just one win in 11 before their good form started to come through. Despite a heavy home defeat to a rampant Carlisle side in recent weeks, Boston have been creeping up the table but a number of draws - especially away from home - have hindered their ability to establish themselves as a top ten side.

Their Squad
Much was said about the Pilgrims' squad before a ball was even kicked in August. They appeared to have signed some quality players and were real promotion favourites, but it has taken time for some of them to settle in. The experience of Julian Joachim up front will give the Mariners' defence a stern test. There are some well established campaigners in midfield too, including Scunthorpe-born Paul Ellender and former Huddersfield man Chris Holland (left). Conrad Logan will start in goal - the 19-year old shot-stopper is on loan from Leicester. In defence is the well-travelled Austin McCann, who has spent time north of the border with Airdrie, Hearts and Clyde. Jamie Clarke was recently signed from Rochdale as manager Evans looked to strengthen at the back.

Key Player
Julian Joachim. He's played at the highest level and has notched 12 goals this season. Julian Joachim has proved to be one of the more astute League Two signings, and at 31 years of age the former Leicester, Villa and Coventry striker still has the uncanny knack of being a match-winner. Four of his goals have come in individual games but the rest have been registered as braces - on four occasions he's bagged two within 90 minutes, so whichever defence lines up against United on Saturday will have to be on their guard. And who can forget the last minute goal he scored against the Mariners in the meeting at York Street earlier in the season?

Recent Form

TownBoston
WNotts Co(a)1-0
LPeterborough(h)1-2
LStockport(a)1-2
DTorquay(a)2-2
DDarlington(a)0-0
Currently 3rd in League Two.
DDarlington(h)0-0
DRochdale(a)1-1
WBury(h)3-1
LCarlisle(h)0-5
WChester(a)1-0
Currently 13th in League Two.

Top Scorers

TownBoston
Michael Reddy12
Gary Jones7
Julian Joachim12
Alan White4

Team News

TownBoston

  • Gary Cohen likely to battle it out for a place in the side.

  • Jean-Paul Kamudimba Kalala is also a contender to start in midfield, but it's likely that he will be named on the bench after seeing little in the way of first team action in recent months.

  • Rob Jones hasn't trained all week but manager Slade will be hoping that the big central defender will be fit for the weekend.

  • If Jones fails to make it, Slade may have to go back on his word and name Ben Futcher in the starting eleven.

  • John McDermott should be available again, but the match has come round too soon for Justin Whittle, who is still a week away from a return.

  • Gary Jones is out with a broken toe.
  • Steve Evans is expected to field an unchanged line-up.
  • Probable Teams

    TownBoston
    1Steve Mildenhall
    2John McDermott
    20Gary Croft
    3Tom Newey
    4Ben Futcher
    15Gary Cohen
    10Marc Goodfellow
    32Curtis Woodhouse
    18Ciaran Toner
    31Junior Mendes
    9Michael Reddy
    30Conrad Logan
    2Lee Canoville
    15Mark Greaves
    3Austin McCann
    25Gary Silk
    37Peter Till
     Jamie Clarke
    17Stewart Talbot
    11Chris Holland
    19Julian Joachim
    27James Keene

    Subs

    TownBoston
    11Andy Parkinson
    14Terry Barwick
    17Glen Downey
    7JPK Kalala
    26Rob Murray
    8Asa Hall
    4Paul Ellender
    7Bradley Maylett
    12Simon Rusk
    23Lawrie Dudfield

    Head to Head

    All three previous meetings between the two sides have ended 1-1. The Pilgrims have scored in the very first minute (Daryl Clare) and very last minute (Julian Joachim) in the last two fixtures.

    P 3 W 0 D 3 L 0 F 3 A 3

    Boston Head-to-Head (Not on The Opposition Ladder)

    Last Meeting

    Joachim's last-minute equaliser brought an end to Russell Slade's amazing away record sequence, which would have otherwise made it seven consecutive victories on their travels. Jean-Paul Kamudimba Kalala registered from the spot after 12 minutes in a game that came four days after his memorable winner in the League Cup second round match against Spurs.

    Grimsby Team: Mildenhall, McDermott, Rob Jones, Whittle, Croft (Parkinson 75), Cohen, Bolland, Kalala, Newey, Reddy, Gritton
    Subs (not used): Crane, Barwick, Gary Jones

    Boston Team: Abbey, White, Ellender, Futcher, Maylett, Noble (Dudfield 83), Ross, McCann (sent off 11), Lee (Thomas 17), Whelan (Rusk 45), Joachim
    Subs: (not used) Talbot, Wright

    Attendance: 4,077    Report

    Prediction

    Boston are a difficult team to beat on their travels, although only two of their nine league wins have come away from home. They've only managed to score 11 goals but conceded just 17, so they'll play a tight game and just one goal may decide the tie.

    1-0 to the Mariners!

    Recent Predictions

    GamePredictionScorePoints
    Notts Co2-11-01
    Mansfield3-02-11
    Carlisle0-01-20
    Wrexham0-02-10
    Lincoln1-03-01
    Bury1-02-11
    Bristol R1-00-10
    Rochdale3-24-11
    Oxford1-13-20
    Wycombe1-21-31
    Reader's POMs

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    Admission Prices

    Click on the link for ticket prices to Blundell Park.


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