Ruthless Pilgrims hit double figures

United celebrate

Report by Craig Singleton at Sir Halley Stewart Field

PICS: Sarah Marson

Boston United annihilated hapless Spalding United on Saturday afternoon, running in 11 goals without reply, to round off their pre-season preparations in style.

The Pilgrims were rampant from the off at Sir Halley Stewart Field and after Danny Sleath had given them a 10th minute lead, Boston were in total control.

New signing Danny Davidson and substitute Matt Kennedy both struck hat-tricks, Sleath and Marc Newsham both claimed doubles, while teenage centre-half Simon Ashton got himself on the scoresheet with his first touch.

The Pilgrims now head into the season’s opener at FC United of Manchester on the back of an unbeaten pre-season, which had yielded 28 goals from seven matches.

The match at Spalding was preceded by a minute’s silence in memory of Sir Bobby Robson and the Pilgrims were on the front foot from the off.

Home goalkeeper Richard Roberts made a good save in the fourth minute, tipping Mark Camm’s long-range drive over for a corner. The resulting James Cullingworth flag-kick saw Liam Parker head wide from close-range.

Tom Evans made a routine save when he gathered Ben Good’s header, following Andy Toyne’s left-wing cross and within moments Boston found themselves in front.

SLEATH exchanged passes with Newsham inside the box before rolling the ball into the far corner of the net from 12 yards.

The Pilgrims doubled their lead in the 21st minute with debutant DAVIDSON producing a nifty piece of footwork before lifting the ball into the roof of the net from a tight angle.

Boston were forced into their first change five minutes later when Lee Canoville was substituted after taking a knock and his replacement ASHTON swept the Pilgrims into a 3-0 lead with his first touch, lifting the ball home after Davidson had nodded down Cullingworth’s corner.

Marc Newsham scores

A minute later, DAVIDSON raced through the middle, one-on-one with Roberts, before smashing the ball home from 20 yards, following Matt Austin’s piercing throughball.

Davidson was denied his hat-trick seconds later, being thwarted by Roberts after the static Spalding rearguard had once more been unable to deal with Boston’s new powerhouse.

DAVIDSON was only temporarily denied though and he slammed home the rebound after Sleath had rattled the post in the 39th minute.

Davidson almost added his fourth, but his lob dropped agonisingly wide from 18 yards. He soon played his part in United’s sixth goal, sliding through a beautiful reverse pass to NEWSHAM, who shimmyed round Roberts before rolling the ball home from 12 yards.

The bombardment continued after half-time, with substitute Mikel Suarez testing Roberts within moments of the restart. Nick Kay then hacked Suarez’s header off the line, following Sleath’s left-wing cross.

Boston added their seventh goal with KENNEDY angling home an 18-yarder which gave Roberts no chance and the eighth arrived a minute later with NEWSHAM curling home a beauty from 20 yards.

The Pilgrims scored their ninth from the penalty spot, with SLEATH lashing the spot-kick home, after Kennedy had been upended by Kahmeel Spence.

Sleath almost completed his hat-trick, but saw Roberts produce a top drawer save to deny him from 25 yards, but the Pilgrims reached double figures when KENNEDY chipped the ball home from 20 yards after Suarez had flicked on Aaron Butcher’s long kick.

Boston rounded off the scoring with nine minutes remaining, with KENNEDY drilling home from just inside the box to round off a thoroughly professional performance from the Pilgrims.

Chris Wood and Simon Ashton

Spalding (4-4-2): Richard Roberts; Nick Kay, Luke Walker, David Hone (Kahmeel Spence 46), Stuart King (Matty O’Neill 88); Luke Forbes, Richard Scott (Jason Chilvers 69), Andy Toyne (Kevin Brisley 90), Lee Welbourn (Davy Shepherd 73); Ben Good, Craig Gordon (Alex Nibbs 69). Sub (not used): David De Oliveira.

Boston (4-3-3): Tom Evans (Aaron Butcher 61); Chris Wood, Lee Canoville (Simon Ashton 26), Liam Parker (Nick Jackson 46), James Cullingworth; Matt Austin, Mark Camm (Anthony Church 61), Danny Sleath; Marc Newsham (Shane Clancy 61), Danny Davidson (Mikel Suarez 46), Jamie Clarke (Matt Kennedy 46).