PILGRIMS HAVE WRIGHT STUFF!
BOSTON: (4-3-3): Crook 6; Challoner 6, Shiels 6, Garner 7, Whittle 5; Abbott 7 (Ainge 90), Platt 6, Thanoj 6 (Heslop 87); Rollins 7 (Mulhern 90), Wright 8 (Knowles 87, 5), Thewlis 7 (J Nicholson 81). Subs
not used: Willis
GATESHEAD: (3-4-2-1): James 6; Cooper 5, Williamson 4, Forbes 5; O’Donnell 6, Agnew 5 (Blackett 78, 5), Hunter 6 (Keating 69, 5), A Nicholson 5; Deverdics 6, Olley 6; Preston 5. Subs not used: Pattison, Greenfield, Guthrie
IT was five months in the making but well worth the wait for Boston United as they extended the shelflife of their famous York Street ground after coming through this remarkable semi-final with plucky Gateshead.
The Heed will feel aggrieved with the two penalty decisions that allowed Jordan Thewlis to overturn JJ O’Donnell’s early strike, although a penalty of their own from Alex Nicholson restored parity once more.
But a fine strike from Jay Rollins and then two goals in the space of nine minutes from Jake Wright suddenly turned 2-2 into 5-2, deeming Elliott Forbes’ late strike as mere consolation and ensuring Craig Elliott’s Boston earned a final date with Altrincham on Saturday.
Wright, though, saw it somewhat differently. “They were both stonewall penalties,” the Pilgrims hitman said. “The second one, nine times out of ten the linesman doesn’t see it but this time he did.”
The visitors started on top and took a deserved lead on 19 minutes. Home captain Luke Shiels conceded a free-kick on the edge of his box, affording Greg Olley the position to deliver a menacing ball into O’Donnell, who powered his header home.
Jordan Preston ought to have doubled the Heed lead minutes later, but the frontman slipped at the crucial moment to skew his effort into the gloomy Lincolnshire sky.
Boston had enjoyed precious little possession in the final third but controversially broke through on 34 minutes. Brad Abbott’s through ball set Wright beyond the backline and once contact was made by Heed player/boss Mike Williamson, the York City loanee went down and referee Robert Massey-Ellis pointed to the spot. Thewlis calmly dispatched high to Brad James’ left.
The visitors’ felt aggrieved by the first and seven minutes later were incensed by a second. The assistant referee called for a foul as Gateshead broke. Williamson was booked and James this time got a hand to the resulting spot kick, but Thewlisfound the left corner.
Then, six minutes in the restart, the game had its third penalty – this one unquestionresulting able. Boston left back Alex Whittle ploughed through Nicholson and the Heed man dusted himself down to find Peter Crook’s bottom-right corner with precision.
Level again, the game started opening up. James did well to deny Thanoj, who’d danced around the challenges to find space in the box, but could do nothing five minutes later.
Abbott was afforded time and space down the attacking right, stumbled on the ball but recovered himself to side-foot to Rollins 20 yards out. Just right of centre, the winger sent in a skidding effort which nestled into the bottom left.
Boston, with their tails up, scored a fourth almost immediately from the drinks-break restart. Wright sent an outswinging cross in over James’ head and the ball settled in the far side of the net.
Williamson, having been penalised for both penalties, had the opportunity to redeem himself but side footed over the bar as Crook failed to hold onto a corner, then James swatted Abbott’s effort away and Shiels nodded the corner wide at the other end.
As Gateshead pushed in growing desperation the Pilgrims countered, goalscorers Wright and Rollins both raced through and the former beat Williamson, cut inside and side footed home.
The visitors pulled one back through Forbes’ header five minutes from time but Boston saw time out to hold out and book themselves a place in Saturday’s final.
STAR MAN: Jake Wright (Boston) ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★ REFEREE: Robert Massey-Ellis