Pilgrims 1-2 Scunthorpe United

Pontins Holiday League

by Craig Singleton

Boston United Reserves succumbed to a third successive defeat on Wednesday evening when Scunthorpe United scored a goal in either half to secure a 2-1 win. Boston trailed on the half-hour to a Jonathan Hunt strike, but promptly replied through a fine Simon Rusk free-kick, before Andy Parton nicked all three points for the Iron ten minutes into the second half. There was an emphasis on youth within the Boston camp, with six Centre of Excellence youngsters featuring in the squad. Lloyd Freeman played the full 90 minutes, while Stuart King, Lewis Brooks, Brett Williams, Jay Mahoney and goalkeeper Aaron Bellairs were all named as substitutes, with the former duo making late appearances from the bench. Moroccan striker Younes Tajer also made an appearance for the Pilgrims. The tall frontman has most recently been with Kettering Town in the Ryman League. The match started off slowly, although the visitors looked the more dangerous of the two sides, and midfielder Richard Kell saw an early 20-yard free-kick well gathered by Steve Croudson.

Immediately at the other end, Boston's Peter Duffield drilled a 25-yarder marginally over after surging through the Scunthorpe half. The deadlock was broken on 30 minutes when Hunt tapped the ball home from close range after Wayne Graves' corner had caused a scramble in the box. But Boston were level in the 41st minute when Rusk fired home a 20-yard free-kick, giving Adam Capp no chance, after Duffield had been upended by Marcus Williams. Both sides had chances to take the lead before the break, with Freeman seeing a low effort blocked by Capp, while Scunthorpe's Lee Featherstone drilled a shot wide following good play by Kell. After the break, Scunthorpe stepped up a gear and took the lead in the 55th minute when Parton drilled the ball beyond Croudson after nipping past Matt Hocking. And rather disappointingly, Boston only had one serious chance to equalise, when Capp made a good stop to thwart Freeman from 20 yards.

United team: Croudson, Sutch (Brooks 68), Chapman, Rusk, Clarke, Hocking, Tajer, Bennett, Duffield, Freeman, Angel (King 86). Subs (not used): Williams, Mahoney, Bellairs (gk).