ROCKIN’ ROBINS OVER THE MOONEY!
Keeper’s mistake proves killer blow
BOSTON United’s 87year stay at York Street ended in heartbreak after a shocking blunder from keeper Peter Crook saw Altrincham seize promotion to the National League.
A tight contest was decided just after the hour when Crook – unchallenged – spilled a routine take straight into the path of Dan Mooney. Six yards out, the Alty man couldn’t miss.
It was no more than the visitors deserved for a performance of resolution and discipline that Boston never had the tools to dismantle.
“I’m extremely proud,” said Altrincham boss Phil Parkinson, who was appointed in 2017 following a dismal relegation to the Northern Premier League.
“To have done what we’ve done in a period of time. To have made good on the promises we made. People might have called that arrogance. It certainly wasn’t. It was confidence in the lads we recruited and what they could do.
“We said we wanted to come up from the NPL at the first attempt. We said we wanted to establish ourselves at Conference North and then go up again in the third. So many people said that was unrealistic, but it feels great to stand here and say we did it.”
For the home side, however, a fourth play-off defeat in nine years means their new home will be christened by an 11th straight season at Step 2.
And Pilgrims boss Craig Elliott pulled no punches in the aftermath of defeat, laying the blame squarely at his goalkeeper’s door.
“It’s gutting to have lost the game on an error,” said Elliott, who was previously forced to defend Crook after an embarrassing own goal against Rochdale in the FA Cup second round.
“And it shouldn’t happen. I’ve not spoken to Peter, but we’ve been through it all before with Rochdale.
“I don’t want to be too harsh, but we talked at halftime about concentration.
About not making mistakes in games like this. And unfortunately, that’s a big mistake, isn’t it?
“We’re all accountable. I make mistakes. Players make mistakes. I actually think a lot of our big players didn’t turn up in the second half today.
“And of course I feel sorry for the lad. But you can’t be making an error like that in a game like this. That’s what makes it even more gutting.”
Boston’s home of nine decades was treated to one of its finest contests when the Pilgrims beat Gateshead 5-3 in last week’s semi-final. From the outset, however, it was clear there would be no such fireworks before the final curtain fell.
Cagey, tense and strewn with errors, the first half was bereft of quality, especially at the business end of the pitch.
Boston’s top scorer Jordan Thewlis tested Tony Thompson at his near post. Josh Hancock, Alty’s inspiration against York City last weekend, spun a free-kick wide.
The best chance of a sparse bunch arrived on the halfhour, Tom Platt hitting the outside of the woodwork after a devious back-post cross from Andi Thanoj caught Alty’s otherwise exemplary back four dozing.
Credit Parkinson, however. Boston had craftily leveraged Covid guidance to split the visitors between two different dressing rooms. Yet whatever it was that Parky said during the half-time break clearly bore repeating.
Alty roared out, and should
have scored when a Scott Garner error put Toby Mullarkey through on goal. Jordan Hulme then went close with two headers. Nevertheless, penalties looked nailed on before that innocuous ball somehow squirmed out of Crook’s grasp.
Boston, by then shorn of strike pair Jake Wright and Thewlis through injury, never looked like getting back into the contest, and belief had long since drained by the time Adam Herczeg brought the York Street era to an end.
Crook, dejected and unconsoled, sat on the turf in his own six-yard box for five minutes before opposing goalkeeper Thompson finally hauled him up to his feet.
“We’ve had a fantastic season and this was a great opportunity to cap it,” added Elliott.
“We didn’t take it, but credit to Altrincham.
“I’ve spoken a lot in the last few weeks about finding a way to win. They did that today, and that’s what it’s about in the play-offs. There’s no worse feeling than looking across the pitch and seeing everyone celebrating.
“And I hate doing that speech about ‘It doesn’t matter, we’ve had a successful season’.
“I’m about winning, and we’ve failed today. Soon, I’ll look to the future.
“At this moment, it just feels devastating.”
STAR MAN: Toby Mullarkey (Altrincham) ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★ REFEREE: Adam Herczeg