In-form Pilgrims surge to big win

United celebrate

Report by Craig Singleton at The Weaver Stadium

PICS: Graham Holt

Boston United surged to the top of UniBond Premier League table with a resounding 4-0 victory over Nantwich Town on Saturday afternoon.

The Pilgrims recorded a deserved 4-0 success over the Dabbers at the Weaver Stadium, thanks to a second half blitz which included goals for leading scorer Marc Newsham, two for Danny Davidson and a belter in stoppage time from Dan Cotton.

The result propelled United to the top of a league table for the first time since they led the Nationwide Conference in 2002.

Heading into action in Cheshire, United named an unchanged line-up, with Spencer Weir-Daley included on the bench.

Boston had an early let-off when Michael Lennon fluffed his shot after skipping round Tom Evans and Shaun Pearson in the box, which allowed the Boston defender the opportunity to recover in the nick of time.

Boston saw their first real chance go begging when Anthony Church ghosted in to nod Jamie Yates’ free-kick over the bar from six yards.

The Pilgrims threatened with Newsham glancing a close-range header off target, following Liam Parker’s cross, while Church drilled wide from 20 yards moments later.

Boston thought they had taken the lead when Pearson powered home Yates’ free-kick after 31 minutes, but referee Hobday ruled the ‘goal’ out for pushing.

Davidson went close again when his volley deflected wide, following Yates’ free-kick while Pearson was denied by a decent save from Lee Jones, following another Yates corner.

Shaun Pearson

The second half started at a frenetic pace and Mark Camm pipped keeper Jones to a high ball and after Ritchie Sutton had nodded the ball off the line, Newsham's follow-up was blocked.

Glyn Blackhurst almost gave the home side an early second half lead, but headed just wide from Lennon’s pinpoint cross.

Newsham came within a whisker of giving United the lead when he curled a 20-yarder inches wide, while at the other end, Lennon saw his drive blocked by Pearson and Evans did brilliantly to palm Liam Dawson's follow-up to safety.

NEWSHAM gave the Pilgrims the lead after 63 minutes when he lifted the ball high into the net, after Kelvin Mellor had slipped while trying to deal with Evans’ long kick downfield.

Nantwich sought a response, but Sutton turned the ball over from close-range, following Blackhurst's driven cross-shot.

DAVIDSON doubled United’s lead with a clinical finish on 79 minutes, lifting the ball high into the net, after Newsham’s initial effort had been blocked by Sutton.

United added their third goal five minutes from time. DAVIDSON tapped the ball home at the near post, after Camm had drilled the ball along the byline, having held off the attentions of keeper Jones.

Davidson was denied his hat-trick by Jones’ legs in stoppage time, but the Pilgrims were not to be thwarted and added the goal of the game two minutes into added time. Substitute COTTON sailed home a fantastic drive from fully 25 yards, which flew into the net to give Jones no chance, to complete a truly memorable afternoon for the Pilgrims.

Jamie Yates

Nantwich (4-3-3): Lee Jones; Kelvin Mellor, Chris Flynn, Ritchie Sutton, Dave Tickle (Matt Rhead 64); Jake Sedgemore, Glyn Blackhurst, Dave MacPherson; Ashley Carter, Michael Lennon (Sam Madeley 78), Liam Dawson. Subs (not used): Charlie Reeves, Rodney Jack, Aaron Carter.

Boston (4-3-3): Tom Evans; Liam Parker, Lee Canoville, Shaun Pearson, Chris Wood; Mark Camm, Anthony Church, Danny Sleath; Marc Newsham (Dan Cotton 90), Danny Davidson, Jamie Yates (Spencer Weir-Daley 68). Subs (not used): Mikel Suarez, James Cullingworth, Aaron Butcher (gk).