Marshall Young’s stoppage time secured all 3 points on a 5th of November, they will definitely remember.
It was the first ever meeting between the two sides and it certainly didn’t take long for the first goal between the two to go in as well. Three minutes in, Lee Beeson stormed down the left hand side for Boston, only to find the foot of AFC Mansfield defender Alex Bartholomew who put the ball into his own net, 1-0. A perfect start for the Poachers was almost cancelled out moments later as the visitors won a penalty after Richard Ford was alleged to pull an opponent’s shirt. Mansfield’s Tyler Blake stepped up but hit the crossbar, a let off for the Poachers.
There weren’t a lot of chances throughout the opening stages. Liam Adams struck a shot straight at Mitchell Leivers, the Mansfield keeper, and Luke Wilson’s header was caught between the gloves as well. Boston’s new keeper, Andrew Hewitt who signed from Wyberton, tipped a ball over the bar as well but neither keeper had a busy first half
Both sides looked a lot more fiery in the second half but it didn’t start well again for AFC Mansfield as they found themselves down to ten men in a matter of minutes of the restart. Adam Bratley seemed to barge into Marshall Young which probably went down as violent conduct as the away defender was sent off. That didn’t put a stop to them though as in the 55th minute, Bartholomew got a goal at the same but right end this time and equalised for the visitors after Richard Ford failed to clear a free kick.
Arguably, the Poachers had the better of the chances. Fraser Bayliss headed straight at the keeper and Beeson produced an almost identical chance not long after. The score was still level with five minutes of normal time remaining. Liam Adams let rip with a strike which resulted in a Boston penalty after a hand ball by one of the Mansfield backline. Beeson stepped up but Leiver saved, guessing right and going to his right. The hosts continued the pressure though with chances coming from left, right and centre.
Despite the chances, Bayliss found himself going in the sin bin for dissent and Beeson was shown a straight red which sparked a lot of speculation for why the skipper was sent off. With nine men left, things weren’t looking good for Town but in the 94th minute, Jordan Tate floated a ball over to Marshall Young who got his foot onto the ball and found the net. Another late winner which saw the Poachers get all three points. Absolutely bedlam on bonfire night which had fireworks sparking on and off the pitch.
Boston Town boss, Martyn Bunce said when asked about, “it hasn’t sunk in, the thoughts on the game but I would like to say is that I thought Mansfield was a great outfit, they caused us problems and worked their socks off.” Bunce’s responded to the red cards with “To be honest, I didn’t think there was a sending off in the game really. I think it was just petty bookings and probably just petty red cards.”
Andrew Hewitt made his debut for the Poachers, replacing an injured Travis Portas and Bunce thought “his talking is fantastic and he is a loud vocal keeper. In the second half, he wasn’t called into too much but what he’s done, he’s done really really well and I thank Wyberton for helping us out with him.” He went out to say, “Trav (Portas) is probably 2 weeks away so he will be resuming some light training.
Boston Town host Cogenhoe United in the United Counties League KO Cup next week (Sat 12th) and look to get to the Quarter Finals. Bunce said “We would love to get to the Quarters, we always try and go deep in cups whichever competition we enter in.”
The Poachers move into 6th and return to league action against second place Melton Town on Saturday 19 November.
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