United sting Bees with double salvo

Mark Greaves

Boston United opened the New Year with a much-needed victory as they swept aside the challenge of in-form Barnet to record an excellent 2-1 win.

Mark Greaves opened the scoring for the Pilgrims in only the eighth minute, although the visitors hit back with Richard Graham equalising almost immediately.

However, United had the last laugh and stole all three points when Barnet defender Ismail Yakubu turned in David Rowson’s cross-shot just moments into the second half.

Going into the game, Boston boss Steve Evans made three changes to the side that had lost 4-0 at Rochdale on Saturday. David Galbraith, Chris Holland and Brad Maylett all returned to the starting XI, with Jamie Clarke and Dany N’Guessan dropping to the bench, while Anthony Elding was the obvious absentee after completing a move to Stockport County on New Year’s Eve.

Elding watched the game from the sidelines and could make his Stockport debut against the Pilgrims on January 13.

Barnet arrived at the Staffsmart Stadium on the back of a four-match winning run, but they were caught cold by the Pilgrims who marched into an early lead.

The Pilgrims broke the deadlock in the eighth minute with the game’s first really meaningful attack. Galbraith got free down the left and whipped over an excellent cross, which was met by a stooping header by Greaves, to put United into the lead. The goal was United’s 250th since entering the Football League in 2002.

Green holds it up

Barnet drew level within three minutes when Galbraith sloppily gave possession away down the Barnet right and Adam Birchall sent over a low centre that was tapped in by Graham from four yards.

Boston wasted a glorious chance to regain the lead when Greaves thread Green through, but the United striker screwed his drive hopelessly wide of the target. The Bees replied and a neat passing move involving various Barnet players saw Barry Cogan drill goalwards from 30 yards and his drive cannoned over off Andy Marriott’s crossbar.

At the other end, another excellent cross from Galbraith found Drewe Broughton and his header flew across goal and wide from six yards. Marriott made a good save in the 37th minute when Birchall had held off the attentions of Ian Miller to fire in a shot on goal from 12 yards.

In the dying moments of the first half, Lee Canoville’s deep free-kick caused problems in the Barnet box and after being partially cleared, Holland’s return cross was stabbed just wide by Maylett.

The Pilgrims retook the lead following a purposeful start to the second half. Broughton nodded down Galbraith’s angled throughball from deep, Rowson surged on to whip the ball across and the unfortunate Yakubu diverted it past his own keeper from six yards.

Maylett’s deep corner was then met by Greaves and Green hooked an acrobatic effort just over from six yards, before Galbraith’s excellent break down the left culminated in a decent cross and Maylett smashed a 20-yarder wide as a result.

David Rowson

Despite the visitors enjoying plenty of possession, Boston held firm and restricted their opponents to little in the way of goalscoring opportunities. Barnet failed to deal with a Galbraith corner in the 71st minute and when he returned the ball into the mix, Miller headed inches wide from 12 yards.

Barnet’s best chance arrived moments later and Marriott came to his side’s rescue when he parried Jason Puncheon’s low drive from 18 yards, before Paul Ellender flung himself in the way of Graham’s rebound.

As Barnet threw more and more bodies forward in search of an equaliser, Boston exploited the gaps and Flitney produced a neat, diving save to prevent Green from extending Boston’s lead, as the Boston striker had wriggled through to fire goalwards from 22 yards.

Substitute N’Guessan saw two good chances go begging in stoppage time. He wasted a glorious opportunity when he headed just wide from an excellent Jamie Clarke right-wing delivery before seeing another snapshot well held by Flitney deep into added time.

Boston (4-4-2): Marriott; Canoville, Miller, Ellender, Galbraith; Maylett (Clarke 78), Rowson, Greaves, Holland (Farrell 82); Broughton, Green (N’Guessan 84). Subs (not used): R Ryan, Stevens.

Barnet (4-4-2): Flitney; Devera (Hatch 70), Yakubu, Charles, King; Cogan (Vieira 84), Hessenthaler, Bailey, Graham; Birchall, Puncheon. Subs (not used): Hendon, Warhurst, Jaimez-Ruiz (gk).