Topics

16

The B-Ark / Darlington away

« on: August 12, 2016, 10:05:08 AM »

Right.... Third time lucky. Last year we needed two pens to beat nine man curzon Ashton at this stage. Imagine we'll have our work cut out somewhat. They got a point at alty and have had the week off. Them and blyth made a mockery of the NPL last year, getting. 104 and 99 pts respectively, so they'd be well fancied by a few punters.
Playing at the 2,000 capacity heritage park in bishop Auckland and I doubt there will be much room left over, hoping we'll bring a few to contribute to what should be a decent atmosphere.
They can keep going on about how we look good but I'd sooner look shite and get points on the board. Tamworth, chorley and kiddy after this, we can't be sat on zero much longer.

Forza Boston

17

The B-Ark / Harrogate away

« on: August 07, 2016, 05:29:18 PM »

Many of us going to this or saving the money for Darlington (or for non footy!). We seem to have most of our longest aways first but being their first competitive game on their 3G could help us before they really get used to it.

They're probably going to be up there again and I'd be pleasantly surprised if we get anything given how we played yesterday.

BUSA are running a bus as per. Mick Small is trying to get a 35 seat luxury coach sorted too (numbers dependent). Was a cracking away day in April, won't be the same in midweek (hopefully we could drag 3 figures up there but more likely 60-80) but 3points would make up for it

Forza Boston

18

The B-Ark / Alfreton (A) 21/11/15)

« on: November 20, 2015, 06:22:27 PM »

Many others going?
Expecting another tricky game against a side who somehow managed to lose at YS and have beaten Harrogate away in an eye catching result to end a poor run.
We've gone back to being inconsistent. Good at home, poor away. The midweek setback particularly bad as we're still not in the top 5 despite having played 3 more games than most sides (so putting us likely 4-7pts behind when it all pans out)

Trains from Boston. It is better to split for a cheaper ticket so go Boston-Nottingham and Nottm-Alfreton ticketswise
The train leaves Boston at XX50, then you have a 15-20 minute wait at eithe r Grantham or Nottingham and get the Liverpool bound train to Alfreton at XX08, some 2 hours 18 minutes later

After the game, there is a 1704 train but you'll need to be quick (10-15 min walk from ground to station). Failing that, it is the 1808 train. You then have 15 minutes to change at Nottingham and get home at 2018.

The Alfreton train is direct from Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, Grantham, Peterborough and up to Norwich. It is also served by the Nottingham-Leeds Northern Rail trains at a half hour interval with the other train.

19

The B-Ark / Nuneaton Town (A) inc. Train Info

« on: September 30, 2015, 07:44:51 PM »

A very difficult looking game against a side I've never seen us beat (Didn't go to the 4-0 Conference win where it was free entry). But with the Telford game being rearranged it does give us half a chance of picking up a few more points in October to kickstart our season.
I went to see us draw 1-1 there last season in a hastily arranged friendly. I'd take that on Saturday

Train Info
From Boston, it is go to Nottingham, then Leicester, then Nuneaton. Be aware the ground is about a 30 minute walk from the station. A taxi is probably advised.
A problem here though, annoyingly is trains after the game. Only the 1647 train from Nuneaton would get you back to Nottingham in time to get the 1845 to Boston. Assuming you don't leave early, you will have to get the 2050 train back to Boston, so either spend 2 hours in Nuneaton, Leicester or Nottingham before setting off home.

Boston 0850-1022 Nottingham 1032-1059 Leicester 1118-1142 Nuneaton
Boston 0950-1123 Nottingham 1132-1159 Leicester 1218-1243 Nuneaton
Boston 1050-1222 Nottingham 1232-1259 Leicester 1318-1342 Nuneaton

Nuneaton 1654-1708 Tamworth 1736-1831 Nottingham 1845-2018 Boston
Nuneaton 1752-1812 Leicester 1848-2026 Lincoln 2049-2153 Boston
Nuneaton 1854-1908 Tamworth 1936-2031 Nottingham 2051-2229 Boston

Split your ticket via Nottingham. It's about £33 (£33 with railcard) That's Boston-Nottm and Nottm-Boston.

20

The B-Ark / Corby Town (A)- including an appeal

« on: September 14, 2015, 06:31:14 PM »

Corby away on a Wednesday night when we're in the midst of our worst run in 2 or 3 years isn't exactly a thrilling prospect but I should be able to get there after work.
No train info for this one as you can't get back- actually you can only realistically expect to end up at Nottinghsm.

I do have an appeal if anyone is going from Leicester/Nottingham, if they have a couple of seats. I'd be very grateful, as Corby is a nightmare to reach by train from the Northern route, which I'd take. I'd hope to arrive into Leicester latest 5:45 and would need to get back by 10:20 latest

They've had a good start and we cannot put 90 minutes together without capitulating, so a win isn't really expected, but perhaps we can use this 10th game as a chance to finally get going and kickstart a run ahead of a grim FA Cup tie and a home game against Fylde.

I'd like to see Alexander in goal, as he's far less error-prone, but the whole signing policy has been a shambles this year. Absolutely pathetic given that in May we knew we'd only need 2 or 3 good additions
Felix seems destined to go out on loan when fit, and what happened to Stones at the back???

Hopefully we'll still send a good turnout

21

The B-Ark / Chorley (H) 12/9/15

« on: September 10, 2015, 07:22:25 PM »

Well the less said about THAT playoff semi final the better but both of us have had hangovers. Chorley have pretty much matched us stumble for stumble so I'm expecting quite a scrappy game*. In contract to the exciting 0-0 league draw in the fog last year, one of 4 closely fought games.

Looks like Nicky Walker is back and Greene is looking at 2 or 3 additions for Saturday to find a winning formula as our now annual frankly abysmal summer recruitment has put us behind a lot of teams when all we had to do was get in 2 or 3 good players.

It cant be worse than the Hednesford performance so hopefully everyone gets down there are backs the team- we can't turn YS into a cauldron of negativity against our own

*One of us will likely win about 6-3 now

22

The B-Ark / Hednesford Town (A) 5/9/15 with train info

« on: September 02, 2015, 06:43:17 PM »

Despite us thinking our start to the season has been somewhat frustrating, Hednesford have had real problems, as their managers recently left to fill the void left by Steve Kittrick getting the sack at Telford. They lost 3-0 at home to FCUM on Saturday but bounced back with a big 4-1 win at Worcester.
It seems unlikely that the new boss will be in place before the game, but players will doubtless keen to impress ahead of the new manager's arrival. NEw gaffer syndrome and all that.
Hopefully the 5 days has given Zak Mills the chance to get fit (we need him). But he will be best used as a full back surely as Pidge and Stones look good in the middle and I have reservations about Roberts as a full back.
Results at Keys Park have been mixed. We won 1-0 in 2009, lost 4-2 in 2014 and won 2-1 earlier this calendar year

It's a good ground (I'd certainly like them 2 large terraces at our new place) and an added bonus of being local to me.

TRAINS
Sadly, like many away games, the return trip is the problem here, because at Nottingham there is only a 1845 and 2050 train home- no 1945 which would be ideal.

I'd recommend buying your tickets in 2 stages- Boston to Derby and Derby to Hednesford day returns. Both cost £18.90 (without railcard discount of 1/3), this is because Hednesford can be accessed by going to Brum (then north of the Rugeley Line) or by changing at Tamworth & Rugeley T.V. (then south towards Brum)

OUTBOUND TIMES (easy bit)
Boston-Nottingham 0850-1022
Nottingham-Birmingham N.S. 1041-1155
Birmingham N.S. to Hednesford 1212-1253
(you could leave 1 hour later and get in at 1353 too) It is about 20 mins walk from the station to the ground. I'd recommend the Cross Keys Hotel as a nice pub along the way- sure others would comment here too.

INBOUND TIMES
The only way of getting to Nottingham to get the 1845 train is to get a taxi to Rugeley Trent Valley by 1705, Lichfield Trent Valley by 1713 or Tamworth by 1736 (best bet), then you get a Tamworth-Nottingham train 1736-1831, then to Boston (1845-2018)

Realistically, you will either have a fair wait at Hednesford, Birmingham or Nottingham, catching the 2051 from Nottingham to Boston (due in 2229)

Another option is to go Hednesford-Rugeley Trent Valley (1828-1842), Rugeley T.V to Tamworth (1905-1919), Tamworth to Nottm (1936-2028 and Nottm-Boston (2051-2229)

From other locations, info is that trains leave Birmingham New St at XX12 and XX42 (45 mins journey) and trains from Rugeley Trent Valley leave at XX45 and XX12 (10 mins journey)

23

The B-Ark / Gainsborough (A) 29/8/15 (incl. Train Info)

« on: August 25, 2015, 03:51:33 PM »

Should be a close game. We've found a couple of results and so have they. Not convinced we're at full tilt yet so hopefully we get a convincing performance on a ground where we tend to do well at. Should be roared on by a decent support- presumably they give us a bit of the main stand side and the open terrace behind the goal (prays for a dry day)

Pidge is banned for us, Mills should hopefully be OK. Jarman's ban doesn't start yet for them and Newsh could be fit again.

Wonder if Garns will go to CB alongside Mills, with Roberts to push into CM alongside Dixon- much emphasis on them 2 not to get drawn into a physical game.

TRAIN INFO
For the 0950 from Boston, you should split your ticket Boston to Sleaford (£6.30) and Sleaford to Gainsborough Lea Road (£14.50)

Outbound Times
Boston-Sleaford 0950-1013               
Sleaford-Lincoln 1020-1053
Lincoln-Gainsborough Lea Road 1125-1146

Return times
Gainsborough Lea Road-Lincoln 1738-1805
Lincoln-Sleaford 1810-1842
Sleaford-Boston 1855-1922

For the 1150 from Boston, it is a different route so splitting tickets is not possible. You just get a Boston-Gainsborough Lea Road ticket at £25.20
Boston-Grantham 1150-1241
Grantham-Retford (High Level) 1249-1309
Retford (Low Level)-Gainsborough Lea Road 1324-1340
The return trip is the same as above

From Lincoln, trains tend to leave at XX:25 (with a 1154 possible) and from Sheffield, trains leave at XX:44

Group saver tickets and railcard discount may further reduce the prices here, so you could be looking at about £13 return

24

The B-Ark / Gloucester City (H) 22/8/15

« on: August 20, 2015, 06:56:34 PM »

After 2 straight wins, the season is somewhat back on track, though we're still a win away from making an impression on the top 5. Gloucester have a terrible record against us (a fact their fans referred to on their forum), winning 2 and losing 11 or 12 against us (2 draws) and they haven't scored at YS in a league game since 1999. We've won the last 5 meetings, conceding 1 goal in that time so all expectations are that we can make it a 3rd straight league win.
They have a good looking win against FCUM, but they've also struggled so even that result doesn't look as good now, haven't won (they did get a spirited 1-1 draw with 10 men in midweek) since whilst our performances are getting better and the Brackley performance was more akin to March and April last season.

I'd be bitterly disappointed if we couldn't continue this mini run, I suspect the only possible change would be Felix for McGhee if fit. Pidge  will play this game before his 1 game ban kicks in.

It would be nice to go to Gainsborough off the back of 3 wins and only a few points off the top teams (Nuneaton v Stockport tomorrow)

25

The B-Ark / Brackley Town (A) 18/8/15

« on: August 17, 2015, 12:37:54 PM »

The season is moving on at a pace, we finally got 3 points on the board, although our lacklustre 2nd half performance against a flat back 8 left more questions than answers. Games at Brackley tend to be low scoring (with the 2-3 exception from 2013) and we won 1-0 there last year against a side who just stayed up.
It seems they're starting to put more investment in after a tough year last year and have started solidly. A good win against Harrogate followed by a narrow loss at Nuneaton and a 1-1 draw at Alfreton... somewhat more encouraging than our start.

Pidge will be able to play but Zak Mills will not. Kaine Felix is 50/50 after a niggle before Saturday's game.

                                   Alexander
Roberts         Marrs          Pidge               Dean-Conteh
Rollins              Dixon      Garner                 Felix/McGhee
                        Jones                 Southwell

That could well be the lineup. Marrs did relatively well at centre back and provided pace against Curzon's number 9 (only real threat)
Roberts wasn't exposed by Curzxon so it will be interesting to see if he can cope against Brackley who ought to show a bit more going forwards (if they keep 11 on the pitch). We need to get on top in midfield though and provide service to the front 2, as Jones and Southwell have had limited chances in 3 games- luckily Southwell has scored pretty much every time he touched the ball

But if we are to challenge towards the top, we need to be putting them away, despite the absentees.

26

The B-Ark / Curzon Ashton (H) 15/8/15

« on: August 13, 2015, 01:08:12 PM »

Curzon have had 2 straight promotions and are yet to get beat in their 2 games so far- a home draw with Corby followed by a good point at Telford. Should we expect to get off the mark with a win- personally I'd see anything other than 3 points as a disappointment and early on, we'd be giving ourselves some catching up to do if we were to be 8 or 9pts off already.

Hopefully Alexander will be given another crack in goal and our defence will not leak the chances they did on Tuesday night. I don't buy Dennis' thinking that we were unlucky v Solihull. Yes decisions went against us and there were errors but they exposed us time and again and we rarely looked like scoring. I'm keen to see what the new left back will do given that he's now had a chance to settle in, as he was thrown in at the deep end on Tuesday.

The season starts Saturday.... right?

27

The B-Ark / Solihull Moors (H) 11/8/15

« on: August 10, 2015, 12:33:39 PM »

Who's joining me in thinking this game suddenly looks far more difficult than it did a week ago? They'll clearly fancy it and we have a couple of gaps to fill with personnel and after not getting on the board on Saturday, we could do with a good return from these 2 home games to get up and running. They're the last team to beat us at YS in a league fixture and have generally done alright here.

It seems like Sam Vince could be recalled for this game and we may have to slip a midfielder in at full back again to cover Zak- would it be better to go 3 centre backs (Marrs/Pidge/Garns), 5 in midfield with wingers having doing a job at both ends of the pitch?

Hopefully the players can respond to Saturday's disappointment and we get behind them to get us going 1 game late

28

The B-Ark / DO NOT BUY ANYTHING INSIDE THE GROUND

« on: August 24, 2014, 10:51:07 PM »

Think it would be sensible for our fans to spend as little as possible to Tamworth tomorrow. I'd suggest you buy no food, no drink and no match programme inside the ground. (The food/drink prices are a rip-off anyway). Don't be fleeced for any penny more than you have to.
Enjoy the game, cheer the team on and hopefully we'll get 3 points and they'll not make the expected revenue

29

The B-Ark / Extra game on Saturday

« on: July 30, 2014, 12:59:02 PM »

We're away at Carlton Town. Makes sense to get a game in as opposed to training sessions.

30

The B-Ark / Halifax made a bid for Miller

« on: February 06, 2014, 10:48:25 PM »

For those who don't have access to twitter,

Rob Makepeace ‏@rob_makepeace  2h
News for @bostonunited fans, FC Halifax Town have made a bid recently for Ricky Miller

With all due respect, not sure why Halifax is significantly better than here (if at all), but they're looking for replacements if/when Gregory goes...