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Pilgrims 1-1 Mansfield Town

Coca-Cola League

Boston United dropped more points at home as they failed to overcome fellow strugglers Mansfield Town at York Street. With Francis Green and Tim Ryan out suspended and Lee Canoville, Brad Maylett and Richie Ryan all out injured a bit of shuffling was required to the starting line-up. However there was one return to the squad as Simon Rusk made it on to the subs' bench - his first appearance in the first team since he picked up a knee injury at Peterborough back in April. It was a scrappy game with few goal scoring chances. Boston took the lead in the 25th minute when Dany N'GUESSAN blocked an attempted clearance before lobbing the ball over the approaching 'keeper. Mansfield's best chance of the half came just before the interval, but Giles Coke's long range effort was well saved by Andy Marriott. Early in the second half Anthony Elding headed just wide of the target after getting on the end of a cross from the right by Stewart Talbot. Mansfield equalised from the penalty spot in the 71st minute after Paul Ellender was adjudged to have fouled Richie Barker.

BARKER himself stepped up to take the kick and powered the ball home high into the centre of the goal. The point gained was not sufficient to lift the Pilgrims out of a relegation slot as they remain second from bottom above winless Macclesfield. In an amazing post-match interview with Scott Dalton of BBC Radio Lincolnshire, manager Steve Evans revealed the true reason he was still at the club. It is down to the fact that he has loaned the club a six-figure sum and the club doesn't have the resources to pay it back if they sack him. Effectively Evans is openly bribing the club to keep his job. Evans said: "If there is a Boston United fan who wants to come and give me £150,000 in clear funds then that might change my decision. If you nip along to your Building Society and get me that cheque and I promise you Scott I will leave."

United team: Andy Marriott, Mark Greaves, Paul Ellender, Mark Albrighton, Stewart Talbot, Jamie Clarke (Simon Rusk 80), David Galbraith, Dany N'Guessan, Chris Holland (Bob Davidson 86), Anthony Elding (David Farrell 73), Paul Tait. Subs not used: Ben Kirby, Daniel Cotton.


Match report copyright © Ken Fox 2006.