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Raynor, Elding and Howarth

Morecambe 2-0 Pilgrims

Nationwide Conference

With Mick Nuttell out injured, young striker Anthony Elding finally got his chance to start a Conference match. Early impressions are that although he still looks slightly out of his depth at this level, there is evidence to suggest that a few more appearances for a full ninety minutes could pay dividends. With both sides looking relatively safe from relegation or promotion pressures, it was not surprising that this was a fairly passionless match. Boston had the first chance of taking the lead when a clever header by Charlery found Raynor in front of a gaping net. He wasted his chance however by blasting the ball into the crowd behind the goal. Soon after, Simon Weatherstone made a powerful run down the right flank, but his eventual shot only found the side netting. Next to attempt to break the deadlock was Farid Diaf, with a long range header from the edge of the area, but it didn't trouble Mark Smith in the Morecambe goal. On the half hour, Morecambe nearly forced the ball home, but Mark Clifford headed a goal bound shot onto his own crossbar and the ball bounced down on to the goal line before being scrambled away. Morecambe went in front in injury time at the end of the first half.

After winning a succession of corners, Boston were caught on the break. Morecambe's David Lee left Richard Lucas for dead as he sped down the right wing. A perfect cross into the centre found the head of Dave MCKEARNEY who nodded the ball past Paul Bastock. In the second half, Boston chances were few and far between. Morecambe always looked like the side most likely to score. First Stuart Drummond saw a good shot go just too high. Then a pass by McKearney released Ryan Black, but his shot was deflected behind for a corner. Peter Costello came on for Diaf, and soon after Morecambe increased their lead. A through ball into the area found the Boston defence despairingly appealing for offside as Mark QUALE slotted home. Jim Dick came for Richard Lucas for the last few minutes. Boston then had a couple of chances to make the scoreline more respectable. First Jamie Cook broke clear, but his shot was well smothered by the Morecambe keeper. Then right at the end, Elding headed over the bar from a corner.

United team: 1. Bastock, 2. Clifford, 3. Lucas (Dick), 4. R Weatherstone, 5. Howarth, 6. Diaf (Costello), 7. S Weatherstone, 8. Charlery, 9. Raynor, 10. Cook, 11. Elding. Subs not used: Gowshall, Lodge, Conroy.


Match report and photo by Ken Fox.