Three strikes stun Pilgrims

Jon Rowan celebrates

PICS: Richard Hinckley

Boston United tumbled to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Redditch United on Saturday, despite Jon Rowan's eighth goal of the season.

The Pilgrims fell behind to a quickly-taken free-kick in the 13th minute, but were back on level terms before the half-hour mark when Rowan notched from the edge of the area.

The visitors were the better side during the first half, but Redditch rode their luck and scored twice in the second period to seal all three points and complete Boston’s fifth defeat from six matches.

Going into the match at the Valley Stadium, Boston boss Tommy Taylor handed a full debut to 17-year-old goalkeeper Aaron Butcher, while Kieran Leabon and Lee Thompson replaced Stewart Talbot and Sam Gaughran, with Talbot withdrawing in the pre-match warm-up with another calf injury.

The Pilgrims started well and Leabon almost opened the scoring within six minutes when he drilled into the side-netting, following Jon Froggatt’s assist.

Lee Thompson

The home side took the lead seven minutes later when Ashley Nicholls was penalised for a foul on Keith Rostill, 25 yards from goal. With Butcher busy lining up his defensive wall, referee Thornley allowed Graham Deakin to take the kick without blowing the whistle and he bent the ball into an unguarded net.

Boston responded with Froggatt heading wide from Leabon’s cross and Redditch goalkeeper Danny Lewis made a good save to deny Rowan’s looping header from Tony Crane’s flighted free-kick.

The Pilgrims equalised on 27 minutes when Liam Green and Paul Ellender combined to free Rowan in the box and he drilled past Lewis from 18 yards.

Boston should have taken the lead when Froggatt met Thompson’s low cross, but he stabbed wide from close-range.

Towards half-time, Lewis made a good save to deny Nicholls’ cross-shot, before Froggatt saw his rebound blocked by Liam Daly.

Ashley Nicholls

Butcher made a comfortable save on the stroke of half-time to deny Deakin from 20 yards. Moments into the second period, Crane’s quick free-kick was blocked by the defensive wall and Rowan’s 20-yard follow-up was gathered by Lewis.

The home side re-established their lead in the 64th minute when referee Thornley awarded them a penalty. The spot-kick was given for an apparent handball offence, and Daly stepped up to smash the ball home, despite Butcher guessing correctly.

Five minutes later, the home side put the game beyond Boston’s reach with a third goal. Crane and Butcher made a hash of clearing a loose ball and when Danny Edwards crossed from the left, Carl Heggs was on hand to head the ball home from three yards.

Boston threw on Jon Stevenson and Micky Nuttell in the final 20 minutes and Nuttell went close from 12 yards, but saw Lewis save well at his near post.

Tom Matthews cracked an effort wide from 20 yards, while Ellender fired wide from 30 yards, following clever play from Boston’s captain, as the clock began to tick down.

Lewis made a fantastic save in stoppage time, parrying Crane’s 25-yard free-kick on to the post and wide, as Redditch held on for the victory.

Redditch (3-5-2): Danny Lewis; Liam Daly, Matt Clarke, Liam Murray; Richard Softley, Chris Murphy (Ashley Walker 79), Howard Forinton, Graham Deakin, Danny Edwards; Carl Heggs, Keith Rostill (Richard Evans 59). Subs (not used): Scott Rickards, Chris Dickinson.

Boston (4-3-3): Aaron Butcher; Tom Matthews, Tony Crane, Matt Bloomer, Liam Green; Ashley Nicholls (Micky Nuttell 70), Paul Ellender, Jon Rowan; Kieran Leabon (Matt O’Halloran 63), Jon Froggatt, Lee Thompson (Jon Stevenson 70). Subs (not used): Markell Bailey, Simon Weaver.