Last-gasp Parker secures epic win

Marc Newsham

Report by Craig Singleton at The Jakemans Stadium

PICS: Tim Hoff

Liam Parker scored the winner eight minutes into stoppage time as Boston United edged out Buxton in a blood and thunder UniBond Premier League clash on Saturday afternoon.

Parker volleyed United into delirium after Shaun Pearson and Joe Wilcox had traded goals earlier in the second half.

United had seen Gareth Davies sent off before half-time, but showed fantastic battling qualities and resilience to take all three points against a dogged Buxton side.

Danny Davidson was handed a start up front, with Spencer Weir-Daley and Mikel Suarez making way. Anthony Church was back in from the start too.

The match was preceded by an impeccably-observed minute’s silence in memory of United club president Alf Bell, who sadly passed away on Friday.

Buxton were much the brighter of the sides early on, with Michael Towey heading marginally wide from Steve Ridley’s cross, while Tom Evans made a brave save to deny Cayne Hanley. Parker hacked Towey’s rebound off the line.

The visitors continued to dominate and Mark Reed drilled agonisingly wide from 25 yards, while Evans again denied Hanley.

Boston suddenly found their stride and Buxton keeper Scott Hartley had to punch the ball away from Davidson, before seeing Davies’ follow-up blocked and Nathan Koranteng’s rebound headed clear by Tommy Agus.

Marc Newsham then forced a brilliant save from Hartley, while a good run from the same player afforded Church a shooting opportunity and he drilled wide from 25 yards.

The talking point of the first half arrived on 32 minutes when referee Mick Bell brandished a red card to Davies, who had seemingly being trying to shrug off the attentions of an overzealous Towey in a clash near the corner flag.

Shaun Pearson

Boston were undisturbed by the sending-off and seemed to perform better with 10 men.

Church drilled a rising drive over the bar from distance, while Hartley made a good save at the start of the second half to deny Davidson.

Hartley kept the scoreline blank with a tremendous diving save to thwart Newsham’s goalbound drive, but the Pilgrims took the lead from the resulting corner when PEARSON rose majestically to arrow a bullet header into the roof of the net following James Cullingworth’s inviting delivery.

Boston were visibly buoyed and Davidson headed over from Cullingworth’s free-kick, when he possibly should have done better.

The Pilgrims had a let-off when Reed wriggled free to fire over from six yards, but United were not so fortunate when WILCOX smashed the ball home from close-range with five minutes remaining, following Kieran Lugsden’s cross from the right.

Evans made a good save at his near post to deny Towey, as Buxton threatened for an unlikely winner, but it was United who had the last laugh.

Cullingworth floated a deep free-kick into the Buxton box and PARKER swivelled to lash home a 12-yard volley, off the underside of the bar, to spark wild celebrations from the majority of the 1,151 in attendance.

There was still time for Buxton assistant boss Clive Freeman to be dismissed from the dugout following an angry confrontation with Church as play was set to resume.

James Cullingworth

Boston (4-3-3): Tom Evans; James Cullingworth, Shaun Pearson, Liam Parker, Chris Wood; Gareth Davies, Anthony Church, Danny Sleath; Marc Newsham, Danny Davidson (Mikel Suarez 81), Nathan Koranteng (Spencer Weir-Daley 72). Subs (not used): Simon Ashton, Mark Camm, Aaron Butcher (gk).

Buxton (4-4-2): Scott Harley; Grant Black, Gregg Anderson, Tommy Agus, Joe Wilcox; Neil Stevens (Kieran Lugsden 64), Scott Maxfield, Michael Towey, Steve Ridley (Christian Millar 64); Mark Reed, Cayne Hanley (Sam Liversidge 90). Sub (not used): Greg Moseley.