Boston out muscle Bulls
Boston United's uncomprimising style of play paid off for them as they progressed to the third round of the F.A. Cup at the expense of Hereford United at Edgar Street this afternoon. A goal early on and late on were not enough for the hosts as they succumbed to a 3-2 defeat.
Hereford United started with the same defensive partnership from last Tuesday's game of Tom Smith and Tamika Mkandawire meaning club captain Tony James was left on the bench. Graham Hyde reclaimed his starting place in the side as stand in skipper thus Jamie Pitman dropped to the subs bench, as did David Brown. Lee Mills took his place in the attack. Topscorer Andy Kirk had recovered from an injury for the Pilgrims in time to start the match, although he was replaced after he grabbed a brace.
A shock was on the cards at Edgar Street for the first half hour at least. After nine minutes Tamika Mkandawire put the home side 1-0 up with a powerful header after Mark Robinson delivered a good cross when Adam Stansfield had won a free kick on the left. Hereford took the momentum gained from the goal and were controlling the game despite creating very little in the way of goalscoring opportunity. Hyde set Purdie away on a counter attack but Danny Williams' cross from the right was over hit.
Hereford were given their first warning by their visitors following a corner from the right. Boston showed that they would be most dangerous using their aerial ability. Danny Thomas swung the ball in and centre back Matt Greaves headed onto the top of the crossbar. Jason Lee headed at Craig Mawson before Simon Rusk sliced a volley wide from the edge of the box as Boston pressed. They were rewarded for their efforts on the half hour mark. The tricky winger Thomas crossed from the left for former Nottingham Forest striker Lee to nod into the bottom corner for the equaliser. Tom Smith was booked for a late challenge before Williams volleyed wide and Chris Holland shot wide for the Pilgrims as the first half came to a close.
The first twenty minutes of the second half lacked incident as the game became rather scrappy. Boston continued their tactics of playing the ball long and high using their height and strength from their attackers Lee and Kirk. It was a cross into the box from the left that, like the first, resulted in Boston's second goal of the afternoon. Kirk was on the end of the cross to cleverly flick the ball over the advancing Mawson and into the back of the net.
At the other end Lee Mills smashed Hereford's best effort since their goal against the hand of Nathan Abbey in the Pilgrim's goal but Williams was adjudged to be offside when following the ball up. Graham Turner finally decided to change things around as the Bulls needed to create more in attack. Brown replaced Rob Purdie on the left wing. However, just eight minutes after Kirk's first he added a second and looked to have put the result beyond doubt. He brilliantly turned Smith on the right and cut into the penalty area and smashed a low shot past Mawson.
Danny Williams then felt he was fouled in the box twice in a couple of minutes. Firstly he appeared to be tripped when on his way to collecting a pass from Simon Travis and secondly, following Craig Stanley's powerful effort that was palmed away by Abbey, he, and the majority of the home fans, thought that he had been bought down when attempting to convert the rebound. However referee Trevor Parkes booked Williams for his protests.
Mills headed Travis' cross at Abbey before substitute Lee Thompson had the perfect chance to put Boston three goals to the good. A route one pass found him in plenty of space through on goal but Mawson advanced off his line and made a low save to his left. Hereford then managed to grab a goal back but it was too little too late for the Whites. In the eighty nineth minute a free kick was won which Robinson played short to Stanley who smashed a twenty five yard effort into the roof of the net, although it did take a deflection on its way. Boston did everything they could to waste away the three minutes of injury time, preventing Hereford from attacking. They hammered the ball out of defence, ran it to the corners and made a substitution as they clock ran down.
3,601 turned up for the game including 296 away fans. The supporters saw two very contrasting styles of football and it was perhaps the more unpleasent, physical approach taken by Steve Evans' Boston side that won the game. The Bulls may be slightly disheartened that they did not get at least a draw that would have seen them travel to Boston to play for a place in the third round of the cup.
HUFC Team: Mawson, Travis, Mkandawire, Smith, Robinson, Williams, Hyde, Stanley, Purdie, Stansfield, Mills. Subs: Tretton, James, Scott, Pitman, Brown.
BUFC: Abbey, Ellender, Beevers, Greaves, McCann, West, Thomas, Hollan, Rusk, Kirk, Lee. Subs: Melon, O'Halloron, McManus, Pitt, Thompson.
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