Grimsby Amateurs 1-1 Reserves

Lincolnshire League

Report by Colin Woodcock

Boston United Reserves fixture against Grimsby Amateurs was switched to Grimsby owing to their pitch being playable whereas York Street may have been in doubt. Amateurs were currently in good form having recently defeated Lincoln United 3-0, so a hard game was always in the offing.

Despite the change of venue, the pitch was still quite wet underfoot and in the opening minutes, both sides tended to cancel each other out. Starting the game in midfield for United was youngster Leigh Taylor and he settled quickly and had an excellent game against his marker, arguably the home side's best player. On eight minutes Richard Charles crossed from the right for Neil Featherstone to force a great save from the home keeper from eight yards. Five minutes later though, United did break through when Taylor collected a throw from the left and cut inside to put in a long cross which Richard CHARLES controlled and forced home over the keeper from the far post.

United now began to grow in stature and the impish Simon Bailey came in for some very heavy treatment from the home defence late on in the half.

At the break it was United who held the advantage with keeper Maddison and his back four coping well with the home attacks.

After the break though, Amateurs threw players forward in masses and equalised two minutes after the restart when a cross from the left was cut back with the resulting shot taking a deflection off Rob Newbold and over a helpless Nick Maddison.

For the next quarter of an hour United were really put to the test but they weathered the storm and came close to snatching a late winner when Simon Bailey beat three defenders and forced the keeper to make a smart save but it was not to be and the match finished all square at 1-1.

With Ryan Collingwood replacing Joe Vaughan on the hour and Jamie Skipper replacing Rob Newbold ten minutes later, two more of the Football For Life trainees were given the chance to stake a claim for a place in the starting line-up.

Manager Mark Shackleton thought the draw was a fair result, United if anything having created the better chances, with Amateurs having had the greater share of the ball.

United team: 1. N.Maddison, 2. M.Tavinder, 3. G.Maddison, 4. R.Kent, 5. R.Newbold, 6. J.Vaughan, 7. L.Taylor, 8. M.Melson, 9. R.Charles, 10. S.Bailey, 11. N.Featherstone, 12. R.Collingwood, 14. J.Skipper, 15. D.Seager