Play Misty for Me: Boston Report

Grimsby Town 1 Boston United 1
10 Aug 2004, Coca Cola League 2

Expectation and hope was as high, and possibly as wayward, as a pass from Justin Whittle.

Town warmed up in a circle, dancing lightly to some modern music with an incessant beat. Slaves to the rhythm, at the mercy of the weather as it rained matchstick cats and dogs, they didn’t look that enamoured with life. The pre-match kick-abouts were much better organised than Saturday’s drippy debacle; they must be gelling. Or is that Reddy’s hair.

Town lined up in the 5 year plan formation, as shown. The only change from Saturday was that McDermott played as right wingish-not-quite-full back, and Crowe moved to the left. Nothing much else to say really, apart from Reddy’s hair was as shiny and slippy as the pitch; it must be a memento of his Premiership days, clinging to his former (reserve) glories.

Boston turned up in blue but without the trophy wife of the fourth division, left fretting and fumbling with his wine gums in the stand.

I don’t fancy Ashley’s Macaroni Cheese, the dish of the day according to the programme. We don’t do florets of broccoli in Grimsby, unless they are frozen first, of course.

1st half

Boston kicked off towards the Pontoon and immediately displayed their ambitions for promotion. They kicked it straight out of play, nowhere near anyone, perhaps 2.43 seconds from whistle to throw-in. If you want to live with the big boys, you play like the big boys. Oh how we chuckled to ourselves, in a "vague memory of once being any good" sort of way.

From the throw in Town ripped Boston apart. Pinault twisted, turn-ed and pass-ed to Sestanovich on the centre right. Sestan did the Sestan thing of being Mr Choo-Choo train, a giant fantabluous steam contraption, an iron horse scaring the injuns as it ploughed through the countryside. Up to the edge of the area, waiting, waiting, waiting for Crowe. With perfect timing Sestan tippled a little pass between centre half and full back as Crowe flew into the area on the wings of a dove. Behind the defence, free and... falling over the ball. Ah, the secret of great comedy. I’ve more than a feeling that the Bostonians smiled, Mr Grimsdale.

A couple of minutes later, after a great deal of nothing, Boston lamped the ball downfield and won a throw in on their right. Beevers launched it, with two feet on the pitch, a flick on, a half clearance and the ball dropped to Noble, just outside the area in the centre. He leant back, prepared himself using the latest male grooming products only available from the most fashionable and exclusive stores, and shinned the ball high and wide. The ball remained in Blundell Park, footballers do like to take the positives from any situation, don’t they.

The next five minutes were rubbish. Boston mostly had the ball, with Town completely unable to pass to each other. No, that’s far too much of a sweeping statement. Pinault was already showing off a full range of tricks and flicks, nicking and knocking the ball around at will, but no-one else was capable of holding on to the ball. All this meant Boston kept passing and probing about 30 yards out, getting a succession of throw ins, advancing up the right like it was American Football. In the 6th or 7th minute Jones tackled and remained on the ground, motionless. The referee let play continue and the ball went out of play near the Police Box via Crowe’s foot. Eventually Jones was taken off the pitch for treatment. The throw in was flung towards the near post, Ramsden jumped upwards, then moved horizontally, the ball slapped off his forehead and went across the face of the penalty area.