CAM SPARKS A BOSTON PARTY

ALFRETON TOWN 0 BOSTON UNITED 0 BOSTON WON 5-4 ON PENS

HERO goalkeeper Cameron Gregory says the memories of his first play-off involvement will live with him forever.

The 24-year-old helped Boston United seal a semi-final place with Lincolnshire rivals Scunthorpe United after saving from Alfreton’s Harry Perritt in a nerve-jangling penalty shootout, following a tense 0-0 draw at the Impact Arena.

Michael Gyasi subsequently scored the winning spot-kick to spark jubilant scenes among the 1,000+ travelling Pilgrims fans.

“It’s my first major play-off experience and it was fantastic,” an emotional Gregory, 24, said. “It will live with me forever.

“The boys were unreal, and the fans especially! Wow! Coming out an seeing them before kick-off, it was just fantastic.

“I do back myself on penalties. You’ve just got to do your research. If we can win the game in 90 minutes or 120 minutes then even better, but I’ve not got the worst track record with penalties, so I’ll take it.”

Chances were at a premium in this tense Eliminator with Boston’s Kelsey Mooney squandering the best opportunity of the first half with a rising drive, which just cleared the crossbar.

Alfreton, though, enjoyed the better of the second period and were left to rue a hat-trick of late chances, with substitute Gerry McDonagh heading narrowly wide, Gregory denying Billy Fewster and Jordan Thewlis lifting a gilt-edged chance over the bar in stoppage time.

The first eight penalties were all successful until Gregory kept out Perritt’s effort and Gyasi stepped up to send the Pilgrims home happy.

Alfreton boss Billy Heath said: “These players have been magnificent for me, and for the football club and they’ve carried it on tonight.

“Again you’ve seen tonight the endeavour and the desire, I’m just so proud of them really.

“We’ve gone all the way with a full-time team, looked as strong as them all the way though and had the best chance of the game. Unfortunately, though, it wasn’t to be.”