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League Two Table

  PGDPts
1Mansfield39+4273
2Stockport38+3571
3Wrexham39+2270

4MK Dons40+967
5Crewe39+1265
6Barrow38+1364
7Crawley Town38+359

8Gillingham40-859
9AFC Wimbledon40+1158
10Walsall38+556
11Newport County39-155
12Morecambe39-954
13Harrogate Town39-954
14Notts County39+251
15Tranmere40+250
16Accrington Stanley39-550
17Bradford39-750
18Doncaster38-1149
19Salford40-1347
20Swindon39-544
21Grimsby38-1639
22Colchester37-1934

23Sutton Utd40-2633
24Forest Green39-2733

Full League Two Table
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Question of the Week

Who will go down?







Battle of Lincs
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.

Home > 2006-2007 Season > Previews > Boston (a)


The Opposition

Overview
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.

The Team
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.

Key Player
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.

Recent Form

TownBoston
LTorquay(a)1-4
LDarlington(h)0-1
LWalsall(a)2-0
LChester(h)0-2
LRochdale(h)0-4
Currently 23rd in League Two.
DWalsall(a)1-1
LSwindon(h)1-3
LStockport(a)0-2 (FAC)
LAccrington(h)0-1
WBarnet(h)2-1
Currently 19th in League Two.

Top Scorers

TownBoston
Peter Bore5
Gary Jones5
Elding5
N'Guessan5

Team News

TownBoston

  • Matthew Bloomer has rejoined the club until the end of the season.

  • Justin Whittle is still missing with a groin injury whilst Peter Till is unlikely to be available after a week off with illness.
  • Defender Colin Cryan and midfielder Ernie Cooksey have both joined on free transfers from Lincoln and Rochdale respectively, whilst Barnsley striker Nathan Joynes has arrived on a month’s loan.

  • Defender Lee Cannoville and midfielder Chris Holland have joined Shrewsbury and Southport respectively.
  • Probable Teams

    TownBoston
    1Phil Barnes
    20Gary Croft
    24Simon Grand
    5Nick Fenton
    3Tom Newey
    16Danny Boshell
    8Paul Bolland
    25James Hunt
    23Nick Hegarty
    19Gary Jones
    14Martin Paterson
    TBAAndy Marriott
    2Jamie Clarke
    4Paul Ellender
    26Bradley Thomas
    3Shane Nicholson
    18Stephen Vaughan
    10Francis Green
    5Mark Greaves
    25Jason Kennedy
    9Drewe Broughton
    8Justin Richards

    Subs

    TownBoston
    13Robert Murray
    TBAMatthew Bloomer
    4Gary Harkins
    27Tony Thorpe
    18Peter Bore
    TBAColin Cryan
    TBAErnie Cooksey
    15David Farrell
    7Brad Maylett
    TBANathan Joynes

    Head to Head

    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)

    Last Meeting

    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.

    24-Sep-2005
    Boston1 - 1Grimsby
    Joachim 90 Kalala 12 (p)

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

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

    Attendance: 4,077   Report

    Bookings: Rusk (Boston Utd) Reddy (Grimsby)

    Sent Off: McCann

    Prediction

    Boston 1-0 Town

    Reader's POMs

    Directions

    Click on the link for directions to York Street (left).

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