United ready for derby day

Tommy Taylor

Boston United entertain old rivals Kettering Town at the Staffsmart Stadium on Easter Monday, determined to bounce back to winning ways against the current Blue Square North leaders.

Kettering are currently seven points clear at the top of the table and look well set for a return to Blue Square Premier. The Poppies have already beaten Boston twice this season at the A-Line Arena and the hosts will be determined to avoid a hat-trick of defeats to the champions-elect.

The Pilgrims have endured a miserable run during March so far, with five defeats from six games, but manager Tommy Taylor is hoping to see his side respond positively on ‘derby day’ at the Staffsmart Stadium.

The two sides haven’t met in Lincolnshire since New Year’s Day 2001 when the Pilgrims won a topsy-turvy encounter 4-3 and the home side will be hoping to repeat their heroics of Easter Monday last season, when they thrashed Macclesfield Town 4-1.

All eyes will be on the Pilgrims’ goalkeeping position, with Taylor hoping to beat the registration deadline to bring in an experienced stopper to take the pressure of rookie Aaron Butcher, who made his full debut against Redditch on Saturday.

In the wake of Simon Rayner’s recall to Torquay United, Butcher was left as the Pilgrims’ only goalkeeper and although Taylor praised the youngster for stepping into the breach on Saturday, he also re-iterated the need to bring a more experienced custodian to the club.

Taylor told bufc.co.uk: “Aaron was thrown in at the deep end on Saturday and he put his nervousness to one side to do a good job for the cause. Having said that though, we cannot rely solely on a 17-year-old for the rest of the season and we need to bring in another goalkeeper to compliment Aaron.

“In terms of Monday’s match, it promises to be a terrific encounter in front of what will hopefully be a large and noisy attendance. We haven’t picked up too many results lately, but I thought we played some good football at Redditch on Saturday and saw one or two things go against us in the second half.

“Kettering are big, strong and organised and Mark Cooper has certainly done a tremendous job this season. They will undoubtedly win the league, but we are aiming to hold up their progress for a week at least with a win on Monday.

“I would urge everybody to get behind us on Monday and it is my responsibility to ensure that at the very minimum, we give Kettering a really good game. Hopefully that will result in three points, but all I can ask is that the players give absolutely everything.”

Midfielder Stewart Talbot is expected to be ruled out with a calf injury, having withdrawn from Saturday’s defeat to Redditch during the pre-match warm-up.

Defender Michael Wood could come back into contention after shaking off the effects of a head injury sustained earlier in the month, while midfielder Sam Gaughran is available after returning on work experience from Peterborough United.

Kettering’s ex-Boston midfielder David Galbraith will not figure due to a gentleman’s agreement between respective managers Taylor and Cooper, while fellow ex-Pilgrim Mark Rawle is currently sidelined through injury.

Full-match commentary is available on bbc.co.uk/lincolnshire from 2.55pm, with Scott Dalton and Chris Cook, and there will be full updates here on bufc.co.uk throughout the afternoon.

Match referee at the Staffsmart Stadium is Gary Brittain and Easter special copies of the Pilgrims’ official matchday magazine will be on sale from all the usual outlets from 1.00pm on Monday, priced £2.50.