Boston 2 Telford 2 - Report and pictures
Another late, late show from the Bucks saw Theo Streete rescue a point deep into injury time, in a game that the Bucks probably should have won.
A topsy-turvy encounter saw Gavin Cowan’s men pegged back by a penalty, then fall behind to a goal five minutes from time before defender Streete’s first goal of the season snatched the win from the Pilgrims.
Cowan’s side were worth more than a single point as their reward, although the manager felt they played only sporadically and lacked ruthlessness in front of goal.
One thing that he couldn’t question was the never-say-die resolve that has developed in his squad, and it was there in abundance once more.
The Bucks also had to cope with the early departure from the game of last weekend’s penalty save hero, Andy Wycherley, who left the field after 20 minutes following a poor challenge by Boston’s Jonathan Wafula.
The Bucks, unchanged from the side that won a memorable FA Trophy victory last weekend, seemed to have the memory of that game fresh in their minds in the early stages.
They started quickly, and were a goal ahead after just ten minutes.
Home defender Spencer Harris gave up possession and Steph Morley and Darryl Knights combined on the left for the latter to surge into the penalty area and cross low to the near post; keeper George Willis and Amari Morgan-Smith challenged for the ball and as it ran loose, Dan Udoh pounced to net his 23rd goal of the season.
The Bucks should then have put the game to bed; Ryan Barnett had a shot blocked and then crossed for Morgan-Smith to head wide from six yards when you’d have backed him to score. Boston were struggling to contain the Bucks but then came a moment that halted the Bucks momentum.
A ball lofted into the box looked to be Wycherley’s to claim, and he did so, but Wafula followed through, and a raised arm removed the Bucks keeper from the game; with his sight affected by the blow to the head, he left for a check-up at hospital and Joe Bursik took his place in goal.
Wafula was booked, and that signalled a change in Boston’s approach; they started to play with a more physical edge, but initially the Bucks chances kept coming.
Steph Morley fired over the bar at the far post, snatching at an effort, before Brad Abbott crept a shot past the far post in a rare Boston attack. Morgan-Smith and Udoh were being drawn into a battle, and Boston began to get a foothold.
Barnett saw a deflected low shot saved by Willis before Ross White had to clear off the line from Gavin Allott, the speedy Jay Rollins setting up the chance.
Allott then ended the half by using everything at his disposal to muscle past Shane Sutton and Streete before firing in a shot that Bursik beat away.
The second half followed a similar pattern; the Bucks could have been two head on 49 minutes, keeper Willis saving with his outstretched foot as Morgan-Smith latched onto an Udoh through ball, but then Boston took over.
Rollins started to test the Bucks back line, then Brad Abbott volleyed over the bar from 15 yards when he should have hit the target, the ball sitting up for him to strike.
On 61 minutes, the Pilgrims’ progress earned a dubious reward; Streete was adjudged to have handled the ball as he challenged for a header, and referee Scott Simpson ruled it was inside the area. Former Shrewsbury man Ben Davies blasted low and hard past Bursik’s right hand to equalise from the penalty spot.
The game intensified. Boston substitute Nicky Walker almost made the Bucks suffer, his pull-back from the goal-line behind the unmarked Rollins before the Bucks, with the returning Adam Dawson on as a substitute, were denied by Willis, who tipped over Darryl Knights’ audacious free-kick attempt.
With a draw looking likely, Boston manager Craig Elliott introduced substitute Max Wright, and it had an instant impact; Wright drew a fine save from Bursik before earning a corner that was to undo the visitors; they couldn’t clear the flag-kick and when another former Shrewsbury man Nicky Wroe drove the ball in low and hard, centre-forward Allott let the ball cannon off his shins and past Bursik at the near post.
It looked a cruel blow for the Bucks, but they are made of tougher stuff these days. They piled on the pressure, with Willis making a succession of miraculous blocks at close range to deny substitute James McQuilkin; however, from a 95th minute corner kick, street-fighter Streete latched onto Sutton’s header back into the six-yard box to crash the ball home high past Willis at the second attempt.
AFC Telford United: Wycherley (Bursik 20), White, Morley, Deeney, Sutton (c), Streete, Barnett (Dawson 77), Royle (McQuilkin 77), Morgan-Smith, Udoh, Knights.
Unused Substitutes: McQuilkin, Dawson, Brown, Dinanga.
Scorers: Udoh (10), Streete (90+5).
Bookings: None.
Boston United: Willis, Davies (c), Jackson, Thanoj, Harris, Qualter, Wroe, Abbott (Wright 81), Allott, Rollins, Wafula (Walker 71).
Unused Substitutes: Parkin (gk), Middleton, Johnson.
Scorers: Davies (pen 61), Allott (85).
Bookings: Wroe, Wafula.
Referee: Scott Simpson.
Assistants: Ian Jackson, Richard Eley.
Attendance: 993 (35 from Telford)
