Pilgrims 3-1 Hull City

Pontins Holiday League Cup

by Craig Singleton

Goals from strike duo Peter Duffield and Stuart Douglas ensured Pontins Holiday League Cup success for Boston United Reserves. The impressive front pairing struck the all-important goals as the Pilgrims’ second string defeated Hull City 3-1 in an entertaining group stage clash at York Street. And despite a solitary reply from Hull’s Justin Whittle, the Pilgrims deservedly grabbed the full three points to give themselves a real chance of progressing to the competition’s knock-out stages. Boston fielded a strong line-up, with seven of the outfield players having started the match at Macclesfield Town on the opening day of the Third Division campaign. Hull also sent a strong team out for the tie, which included the likes of club captain Whittle, John Anderson, Greg Strong, Andy Holt, Carl Regan and Alan Fettis, while left-back Shaun Smith was back in the fold after completing a month’s loan at Carlisle United. Keeper Fettis was alert in the opening stages, when he was called upon to deny Duffield twice within the first 15 minutes. A subsequent effort from Simon Rusk was then deflected wide by Anderson as Boston opened brightly.

Douglas and Simon Weatherstone also went close with efforts in the first half, before Boston took the lead in the 36th minute when DUFFIELD rammed the ball home from 12 yards after a fine knock-down from Douglas. Transfer-listed DOUGLAS worked hard all night and was duly rewarded in the 62nd minute when he outpaced Anderson before firing low into the far corner of the net, despite a strong hand from Northern Ireland international Fettis. He had early fired marginally wide after good work by Mark Angel, while Duffield had also seen a header parried aside by Fettis. However, the two-goal cushion was short-lived as Hull struck back within three minutes, when WHITTLE headed home Smith’s pinpoint free-kick from the right flank. Despite pulling a goal back, the Tigers didn’t have another clear-cut opportunity to snatch and equaliser, and Fettis had to make saves from Angel and Daryl Sutch as Boston looked to extend their lead. And the made it 3-1 in stoppage time when DUFFIELD seized possession from an Angel throw-in, before cutting inside and drifting an exquisite curling effort over a stranded Fettis.

United team: Croudson, Sutch, Chapman, Rusk, Hocking, Clarke, Bennett, Weatherstone (Freeman 46), Duffield, Douglas, Angel. Subs (not used): King, Brooks, Beevers, Bellairs (gk).