Rampant Pilgrims demolish table toppers

Paul Tait celebrates

Julian Joachim bagged two goals as Boston United destroyed Darlington on Saturday to record their first victory of the season.

The frontman was in sensational form as the Pilgrims ripped apart the league leaders at the Staffsmart Stadium. Paul Tait and Tim Ryan were also on target and despite an equaliser from Barry Conlon in the first half, United deservedly claimed all three points.

In one change to Wednesday’s home defeat against Peterborough United, Chris Holland replaced David Galbraith on the left-hand side of midfield. Unite opened brightly and Joachim latched on to a Lee Canoville free-kick after nine minutes and drilled an effort just wide, across the face of Sam Russell’s goal.

Darlington replied through their captain Clark Keltie, who smashed an effort over from 35 yards. Russell made a smart save on 12 minutes to parry Francis Green’s 20-yard drive, following good work down the left by Holland.

Boston took the lead a minute later when Tait bundled the ball over from line from close-range, following Joachim’s driven ball from the right. Seconds later, it could have been two, but Tait’s glancing header flew just wide of the far post, following excellence down the right by Green, with a great run culminating in a fabulous cross.

Andy Marriott made a good stop when Kalusivikako Ngoma powered a header goalwards from 12 yards, after Martin Smith had delivered a good cross from the left. At the other end, Jamie Clarke’s corner on 21 minutes caused problems in the Darlington defence and Mark Greaves stabbed an effort wide from six yards.

Canoville is upended

Darlington almost equalised when Michael Cummins cracked a 12-yard drive against Marriott’s post. However, they were level a minute later when Conlon glanced the ball past Marriott from close-range, after meeting Smith’s left-wing cross.

The visitors thought they had taken the lead a further minute on when Gaetano Giallanza rammed the ball beyond Marriott from 18 yards, but he was in an offside position. As the half drew towards a conclusion, Tait lifted an effort over, following more good play from Joachim. Joey Hutchinson and Russell then got into a tangle, trying to deal with Green’s long ball and Joachim stabbed just wide from 18 yards.

At the start of the second half, Joachim used his pace to get away from Patrick Collins, but Russell easily gathered his 12-yard effort, which lacked power. Paul Ellender won the ball 30 yards from goal before advancing and allowing Holland to cross from the left, before being penalised for fouling keeper Russell when the delivery arrived.

The game was held up for around five minutes when Russell received treatment from Darlington physio Paul Gough. After having his head strapped up, Russell was able to continue, but looked groggy following a heavy whack.

Boston came within a whisker of retaking the lead on 62 minutes when Mark Albrighton’s looping header from a Clarke corner was nodded off the line at the back post by Keltie. Seconds later, Russell fumbled Ryan’s 35-yarder, but recovered before any United player could react. Another Clarke corner caused problems and Holland smashed the rebound well wide after Russell had flapped at the driven ball across.

Joachim showed tremendous pace to outstrip Darren Holloway down the Darlington left and after the pair had run around 50 yards, the defender hauled Joachim down in the box. Ryan stepped up to take the resultant spot-kick and although Russell guessed correctly, the shot was too powerful for him to keep out and United re-established their lead.

Battle for possession

The Pilgrims increased their lead on 76 minutes when Joachim smashed the ball beyond Russell from an angle, after Tait had done brilliantly to set him clear.

Darlington tried to muster a response and Ryan cleared a Simon Johnson shot off the line before Ellender performed heroics to block a Giallanza shot from 18 yards. As six minutes of added time were signalled, Marriott saved comfortably from a Conlon header, following Craig James’ left-wing cross.

Boston completed the scoring in the third minute of stoppage time, with Joachim burying the ball beyond Russell to complete a comprehensive victory.

Moments later, Nathan Forbes became United’s youngest-ever player in the Football League when he replaced Joachim for the final three minutes.

Boston (4-4-2): Marriott; Canoville, Albrighton, Ellender, T Ryan; Green (Galbraith 83), Greaves, Clarke (Talbot 86), Holland; Tait, Joachim (Forbes 90). Subs (not used): Farrell, Kirby (gk).

Darlington (4-4-2): Russell; Collins, Hutchinson, Holloway, James; Cummins (Wainwright 83), Keltie, Ngoma (Duke 68), Smith (Johnson 73); Conlon, Giallanza. Subs (not used): Logan, Close.