RED-HOT PILGRIMS SILENCE BOYZONE
MEMBERS of Boyzone watched their beloved Chorley yesterday but the star of the show was Pilgrims’ hat-trick hero Jimmy Knowles.
The striker made it 18 for the campaign as Boston took advantage of a missed Justin Johnson penalty.
Pilgrims boss Ian Culverhouse, was delighted with his side and the strikeforce – Knowles and Kelsey Mooney – who have scored 13 goals in the last three games.
He said: “The front two are in blistering form. Keaton Ward in behind as well, and Michael Bostwick was outstanding; he has been colossal these last few games. Outstanding team performance today.”
Hat-trick hero Knowles said: “Since Gloucester, it has been crazy. I knew I had the beating of the defenders with my pace against the last man I can get in behind.”
Pilgrims got a penalty after six minutes when Knowles latched on to a weak header from Harvey Smith and nudged past Max Dearnley, who tripped him. Dearnley avoided a red card but could not deny Knowles from the spot.
Hazlehurst persisted in finding space on the edge of the box but curled a shot high and wide, with the hosts starting to show some life.
Boston came close to a second when Ethan Sephton drove into space on the left and unleashed a powerful low effort, which Dearnley smothered.
Knowles doubled his tally, tapping in Sephton’s cross at the back post in the 30th minute.
And he nearly had a third in the 42nd minute with a dipping shot just wide of the top-right corner.
The forward completed his hattrick before the break, collecting the ball to the left of the area and firing a shot that went under Dearnley to make it 3-0 at half-time.
Chorley raced out of the blocks after the break with Johnson flashing a half-volley wide of Cameron Gregory’s upright. Johnson then drew a save out of Gregory with a snapshot from outside the area.
Robinson was pointing to the spot for a second time, instead in the Magpies’ favour, after Brad Nicholson felled Frankie Maguire.
But Johnson dragged his kick wide of the right post, which summed up the hosts’ dismal day.
Gregory produced a superb save in the 73rd minute to deny Johnson’s searing volley.
Hazlehurst saw red in the 85th minute after he took out Mooney on the halfway line, giving the referee no choice but to send him off.