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Aldershot Town 0-1 Pilgrims

Friendly

by Barbara Singleton

Winger Andrew Stanhope took the plaudits as Boston United recorded another impressive pre-season result. The Pilgrims' player was on target with a tidy 70th minute header to help Steve Evans' side extend their unbeaten build-up sequence to a remarkable 11 matches. Most of United's previous good work had been achieved with home advantage. Evans had always felt that an away challenge was a much-needed requirement, and the Pilgrims certainly got that against an Aldershot side packed with experienced non-league players. Boston did much to keep the home attack at bay for long spells, restricting Gary Abbott and Simon Ullathorne to only a few untaken half-chances.

Defensively Boston looked a solid unit with Lee Howarth and Colin Hoyle both showing commanding form. United's first chance of any note came on 22 minutes when Paul Fewings set up Jason Minett. But home keeper Andy Pape blocked Minett's shot on the six-yard line and thwarted the rebound. Just before the break Paul Raynor drilled a shot across goal and wide and then Stanhope sent a close range header looping over the bar. Boston continued to look purposeful after the interval. Two early corners and a penalty appeal were turned down after Fewings was sent tumbling. The issue was finally settled in United's favour when STANHOPE rose at the far post to head home from a Kenny Cramman corner - a flag-kick earned when the goalscorer forced Colin Fielder to put the ball behind the line.

United team: 1. Bastock, 2. Wooding, 3. Lucas, 4. Livett (Cramman 61), 5. Howarth, 6. Hoyle (Gowshall 61), 7. Stanhope, 8. Minett (Dick 75), 9. Nuttell (Elding 71), 10. Fewings (Rawle 71), 11. Raynor (Hayes 90). Sub not used: Costello.


This report originally appeared in the Lincolnshire Echo.