Boston Town went 10 unbeaten on Saturday afternoon but they couldn’t find all 3 points away at struggling AFC Mansfield.
Before the game, Martyn Bunce’s side had had a good week with wins against both Belper United and Kimberley Miners Welfare at home. AFC Mansfield sat in 18th place with Boston in 8th so it was expected to be a comfortable afternoon for the Poachers.
However, in the first half, the hosts took the lead through Yewo Nyirenda who got past the Boston backline and shot straight past Andrew Hewitt who was in goal for the injured Travis Portas. Ironically, Hewitt’s only other league appearance for the Poachers was against the hosts in the reverse fixture back in November where Boston won 2-1 but in this one, AFC Mansfield led 1-0 after 14 minutes.
It was a half of few chances but the Poachers had two just before the break. Jordan Nuttell’s header was caught comfortably by the Mansfield keeper and shortly after another header by Boston’s number 9 just floated wide past the post. At half-time, Boston were behind 1-0.
It was a much better 2nd half for Boston Town and they almost scored not long into. Three minutes in, Liam Adams shot over the bar. There was quite a few half chances for the visitors but none of them seemed to be paying off.
Boston’s captain Lee Beeson had his shot saved from his free-kick as the Poachers started to push even harder to find an equaliser. In the 71st minute, the away side finally found a way through as Richard Ford’s header found the net from a cross which came in from the left.
The final score was 1-1. It was a much better performance from the Poachers in the 2nd half but it was a missed chance to get all 3 points. With AFC Mansfield near the bottom of the table, it just goes to show no game is easy in this league.
Town: Hewitt, Mucklin, Field, Maddison, Ford, Wilson, Adams, Hobbins, J Nuttell (Limb), Young (L Tate), Beeson; subs: Slater, Borbely
Boston Town FC 