Pilgrims 0-3 Nottingham Forest

Friendly

by Barbara Singleton

Boston United's pre-season build-up concluded with another 3-0 defeat, this time against First Division Nottingham Forest. The Pilgrims suffered the same scoreline against Peterborough on Saturday, and a virtually full-strength Forest first team took the honours at York Street last night with goals from David Prutton, Jack Lester and Craig Westcarr. The opening chance of a bright first half took nine minutes to arrive with Forest winger Jim Brennan cutting in from the left only to be thwarted by Paul Bastock. Boston hit back with some neat link-up play between Daryl Clare and trialist full-back Ben Morley leading to loanee Steve Burton firing in a snap shot which Darren Ward scrambled away at full stretch.

Forest responded to positive effect and went ahead on 27 minutes when Marcus Hall whipped over a cross from the left and David PRUTTON netted with a near post header. The second half was only three minutes old when Forest - fielding a completely new side - almost doubled their lead, David Johnson heading against a post from a Craig Westcarr cross. Bastock was beaten again in the 65th minute when Jack LESTER got on the end of a Westcarr cross and slotted in. In reply for Boston, Gould got in a centre from the left and Simon Weatherstone rose well to test Barry Roche with a downward header. But Forest had the final say five minutes from time when WESTCARR converted a centre from the left by Johnson.

United team: 1. Bastock, 2. Morley (Rusk 66), 3. Gould, 4. Hocking, 5. Warburton, 6. Chapman (N Thompson 76), 7. Bennett, 8. Burton (Elding 60), 9. Clare (Cook 60), 10. S Weatherstone, 11. Ellender (Redfearn 72). Subs (not used): Conroy (gk), Angel, Monington.