BOSTON TOWN 2-2 EASTWOOD CFC

Boston Town.........2 (Ford 59', Limb 65')
Eastwood CFC......2 (Anthony 55', Wilson 73')

Honours even on the road..

The Management duo made three changes from last Saturday’s defeat. TSL, Meakin and Dixon were all unavailable. In come Harrison Eastwood following his ankle injury, Cal Jones regained his place and Devante Reitte was given his first start for the club. Gibson, Lusuku, Wilson and Edwards made up the bench. Lavell White and Jahren Barrow were still recovering from injury and Sam Meakin and Kaylum Mitchell were absent due to work commitments.

The opening exchanges were scrappy with neither team able to get a decent stronghold in the contest although the visitors just shaded the play with a decent amount of half chances. Ben Henderson and debutant Devante Reitte were keeping the Poachers defence busy with some fine interplay. Ayleal Dill had the first opportunity to make his mark on proceedings with a fine effort which was just about cleared away by Richard Ford for a corner. Minutes later Joe Harrison was next to try his luck with a snap shot after being played in by Cal Jones.

The home side didn't manage a decent effort in the last third until the 13th minute, pacy forward Fraser Bayliss seizing on a Ford pass to test Badgers custodian Warren Squires. At the other end Reitte continued to pose problems for Ford and defensive partner Tom Mucklin as Eastwood continued to prove the better side going forward. Boston gained their first corner after half an hour and the resultant Ford header bought an easy save from Squires.

The visitors front 3 were combining well in their efforts to unsettle the home defence and the Poachers were relying on the long ball to ease the pressure. Seconds before the interval the Poachers almost took a surprise lead. Skipper Lee Beeson was inches away with a shot which shaved Squires far post. 0-0 at the break and all to play for.

Whatever was in their half time cuppa, Boston began the second half on fire with 3 successive attacks which, although promising, resulted in no go-ahead goal. Squires came to Eastwood's rescue with a save from Bayliss and Duran Reynolds fired over from a promising position.

It came as no surprise when the visitors went ahead. A long free kick into the home box by Jacob Sturgess was not dealt with by a hestitant defence and Louis Anthony found the net with a shot in off the far post. The lead, however, lasted barely 4 minutes. A corner from the left by Beeson was met by Ford who powered home a header for the leveller.

Six minutes later and the Poachers took the lead. Beeson was allowed far too much room to gather momentum down the right flank and his cut back into the box was meat and drink for the onrushing Poachers leading scorer Harry Limb to sweep home. Once again the lead didn’t last long. The Badgers powered forward and Kamani Wilson, on as a second half substitute headed home a fine cross from Henderson.

2-2 now and the game came alive with both sides eager to capitalise and gain the win. Bayliss again went close but the Eastwood back line were holding firm, much as they did all afternoon. Minutes from time and the home team were denied what they considered a blatant penalty as Bayliss was upended in the Badgers box. Mr Elliott waved away any protest which incensed the home bench and players alike and Ford was sin binned for his over eager protestations.

The game ended with a share of the spoils in what was a gutsy professional performance from the away side making up for the reverses of recent weeks.

I must give a special mention to young full back Harrison Eastwood. After suffering a nasty injury just before Christmas he has battled back to regain his place in the squad and performed admirably against strong opposition and vastly more experienced players. Well done mate !

Manager Rockley gave me his thoughts post-match:~ "Good hard working performance, I asked for a response after the two poor performances at the start of the month and as a group we got one"

"We took the lead and Boston fought back well to equalise and then score again. I thought we showed our real character to equalise that I know this group is capable of doing - much more what is required from this team. Special mention to Jack Messom and Harrison Eastwood from the Under 18's who both started today and both performed exceptionally well. Credit to their youth team Managers for their development not to mention a 3rd Under 18 Ewan Gibson who made the match day 16 but as an unused substitute"

"Good to see the pathway at the club on show to integrate for future opportunities. Overall a battling performance and a well earned draw. We move on now to next week's home game against Melton Town"

Attendance ~ 50
Referee ~Nick Elliott
Assistants ~ Phillip Hayes and Robin Dungworth

Boston Town ~ Travis Portas, Bailey Dilley, Ryley Thompson, Kuwsi Ofushine, Richard Ford, Tom Mucklin, Lee Beeson (C) (Abouu Sylla 75') Fraser Bayliss, Duran Reynolds, Harry Limb, Luke White.
Substitutes not used ~ Toby White, Lorand Borbely and Pharrel Waite.
Caution ~ Ofushine (71' foul)
Sin Bin ~ Ford (81' dissent)

Eastwood CFC~ Warren Squires, Harrison Eastwood, Kyle Wrenn, Callum Jones, Jacob Sturgess (C) Louis Anthony, Joe Harrison, Ben Henderson (Diego Edwards 81') Devante Reitte (Kamani Wilson 45') Jack Messom (Victor Lusuku 89') Ayleal Dill.
Substitutes not used ~ Ewan Gibson and Rob Osbourne.
Caution ~ Wilson (55' foul)