Pilgrims 3-1 Grimsby Town

Avon Insurance League

by Craig Singleton

Goals from frontline duo Tony Battersby and David Town fired Boston United Reserves to a comfortable victory on Wednesday evening. Battersby hit the target twice, and Town once as the Pilgrims' second string defeated their Grimsby Town counterparts 3-1 at York Street. United included several first-teamers who were in need of match practice, including the likes of Mark Greaves, Stuart Balmer, Lee Thompson and Jamie Cook, while Paul Ellender got 90 minutes under his belt as he stepped up his comeback from injury. Boston opened well and Town fired just wide after Battersby had headed back across goal from a Ross Weatherstone centre. Moments later, Anthony Elding blazed wildly over the bar as the deadlock remained unbroken. However, the Pilgrims took the lead on 20 minutes when BATTERSBY headed home from Jamie Cook's free-kick, giving goalkeeper Andrew Pettinger no chance.

Battersby almost doubled his tally four minutes later but fired over on the turn from 12 yards. Town also saw a cheeky lob drop just over Pettinger's crossbar. Grimsby equalised on the half-hour when the lively Glen YOUNG burst through the centre and clinically fired beyond the reach of United keeper Nick Conroy to bring his side back onto level terms. Either side of the half-time interval, Town was denied by Pettinger, with the home striker seeing two low shots gathered by the young Grimsby keeper. Boston extended their lead on 48 minutes when BATTERSBY rose to nod home from Lee Thompson's corner. Five minutes later the game was put beyond Grimsby as TOWN rounded Pettinger to coolly fire home after a great pass from Battersby. Chances then became scarce although Boston almost extended their lead in the dying minutes when Cook saw his audacious 55-yard shot clipped the bar on its way over.

United team: 1. Conroy, 2. R Weatherstone, 3. Gould, 4. Ellender, 5. Balmer (N Thompson 75), 6. L Thompson, 7. Elding (Hart 72), 8. Greaves (Hardie 60), 9. Battersby, 10. Town, 11. Cook.