Boston United end Telford’s unbeaten start with a 3-2 victory

Boston United 3 AFC Telford United 2
Jordan Thewlis. Photo: Oliver Atkin.Jordan Thewlis. Photo: Oliver Atkin.
Jordan Thewlis. Photo: Oliver Atkin.

Boston United ended Telford’s unbeaten start to the league season with a 3-2 victory at the Northolme.

The Pilgrims returned to action following their period of self isolation, picking up where they left off - with a victory.

Jordan Thewlis, Jordan Burrow and Scott Garner netted the invaluable Pilgrims goals as they were pushed all the way by a feisty Bucks side who found the net courtsy of sublime strikes from Aaron Williams and Jason Oswell.

The two rivals served up an uncompromising, entertaining battle on a rainsoaked afternoon, with glorious goals scored, chances somehow misses and no ground given.

These sides last met in February, Dominic Knowles’ debatable penalty - given following an Arlen Birch lunge at Frank Mulhern - settling the contest on the hosts’ favour.

That was the last league goal scored by the Pilgrims at York Street as days later the coronavirus ensured the season was ended early, COVID-19, of course, remaining very much in the forefront as the Boston returned to action this afternoon following a two-week enforced absence from the fixture list due to positive tests in the camp.

A further positive test was announced last night, further hampering Craig Elliott’s plans.

The manager made the one change to the side which kicked off their National League North campaign so effectively with a 4-0 win at Leamington on October 6, their first and only previous league encounter of the season.

Thewlis, scorer of a perfect hat-trick at Telford last season, came in for Fraser Preston, who was omitted from the matchday squad, along with the injured Jay Rollins and Lewis Gibbens - who has linked up with Worksop Town on loan.

It was Thewlis who forced the first save of the afternoon as he latched onto Burrow’s through ball, cut inside and saw his drive pushed away by Russell Griffiths.

Boston enjoyed the early pressure, a deflected Terry Hawkridge cross bouncing off the top of the bar and Burrow heading narrowly wide.

It was the Bucks, however, who took an 18th minute lead, stocky striker Williams given too much space on the edge of the Pilgrims box but offering Ross Fitzsimons no chance with a thunderbolt that rose into the roof of net.

Boston’s reply took less than three minutes as Thewlis rifled home from a tight angle in the penalty area following good build up play from Hawkridge.

Suddenly the tempo upped and the Bucks hit the woodwork twice in as many minutes, Oswell’s header clipping the upright and James Hardy’s deflected strike rocking the crossbar.

Another free header from Oswell flew across goal as the visitors sensed blood and Boston rode their luck.

In response Scott Duxbury’s quick thinking and Thewlis’ quicker feet saw the latter drill the ball into the arms of Griffiths as the contest opened up at the same time as the havens.

But as the rain lashed down the hosts took the lead in the first-half stoppage time.

Andi Thanoj’s perseverance saw the ball land out wide for Thewlis, his cross poked home on almost the goalline by Burrow.

Less than a minute into the second half and the Pilgrims had a cushion. Hawkridge’s perfectly weighted dinked ball to the back post was nodded home by the grateful Scott Garner, the centre back’s second goal in asa many games.

A moment of magic brought the Bucks back into the game inn the 66th minute as Oswell made the most of Boston failing to clear their lines, bending an inch perfect 20-yarder beyond the reach of Fitzsimons and into the top corner.

In response Paul Green tried a similar effort, but the ball sailed over the bar and Ross White kept his side in the contest with a clearance on the line as Burrow looked set to capitalise on Duxbury’s fizzing cross.

Into the five minutes of stoppage time and firm hands from Fitzsimons tipped away Theo Streete’s powerful goalbound strike to secure victory.

UNITED: Fitzsimons, Tootle, Duxbury, Platt, Garner, Shiels, Thanoj (Dimaio 62), Green, Burrow, Thewlis (Archer 85), Hawkridge (Warren 85); Subs (not used): Crook, Askew.

TELFORD: Griffiths, Vaughan, Sutton, Streete, Byrne, Cowans, Hardy (McHale 75), Williams, White (Barnes-Homer 87), Walker, Oswell (Davies 75); Subs (not used): Ashley Rawlins, Lilly.

REF: Ben Wyatt,