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Macclesfield Town 2-3 Pilgrims

Coca-Cola League

Horrendous defensive blunders that really upset new manager Paul Ince gifted Boston United their first win in nine games and their first away win of the season. Loanees Jason Kennedy and Ian Miller both returned to the starting line-up after missing out on last week's FA Cup match. Anthony Elding also started as convicted fraudster Steve Evans employed an attacking 4-3-3 formation. Boston went in front after just three minutes. The Macclesfield defence failed to mark Ian Miller as a Tim Ryan free kick flew into the area and the youngster's header forced a good save out of Jonny Brain but the ball fell to Paul ELLENDER who tapped the ball across the line from close range to score his first goal of the season. Macclesfield hit back on 17 minutes when Mark Greaves was adjudged to have brought down Jamie Tolley in the penalty area. Colin HEATH stepped up to fire the ball into the bottom left corner. But Boston went back in front almost straight from the restart. The Macclesfield defence failed to make any decisive challenges as Elding and Drewe Broughton took the ball into the box. Eventually BROUGHTON was able to roll the ball past the 'keeper with a mis-hit shot for his first goal for Boston since joining on-loan from Chester three weeks ago.

Boston put the game almost beyond doubt five minutes from half time when the Macclesfield defence waited for an offside decision that never came. Elding swept the ball to Francis Green on the left who picked out Mark GREAVES on the far side of the area with a killer cross who placed a long range header beyond the reach of Brain for his first goal of the season. In the second half Macclesfield tried hard to get back into the game but failed to produce any efforts to trouble Andy Marriott until well into stoppage time. On 92 minutes the Silkmen got a consolation goal when Carl REGAN fired home from the edge of the box after getting on the end of a cross from Martin Bullock. The win put Boston 10 points clear of Macclesfield, but still in a relegation slot - a point behind Grimsby and Rochdale. After the match Steve Evans told Scott Dalton: "We'd have taken a point. I think the first half performance was as good as we've played both home and away. Tactically we got it right. I still think you're a numpty."

United team: Andy Marriott, Tim Ryan, Paul Ellender, Ian Miller, Jamie Clarke, Richie Ryan, Mark Greaves, Jason Kennedy, Drewe Broughton, Francis Green, Anthony Elding. Subs not used: Dany N'Guessan, Mark Albrighton, Chris Holland, Jamie Stevens, David Farrell.


Match report copyright © Ken Fox 2006.