Harrogate Town 3-6 Boston United

The title says it all really, Harrogate Town 3-6 Boston United, a scoreline that i think many fans thought they would never have to endure but today it was reality for the Town faithful.

The game actually kind of started well for Town, we had the most of the possession and we were really pressing Boston into their own half. Armstrong forced the Boston keeper into a decent save and forced a couple corners but were unable to find the breakthrough.

Then Boston came alive, sloppy defending from 2 corners in a row from Harrogate, the 1st corner a run from Pearson forced Dootson into a good save, then just seconds later another corner for Boston, the exact same run from Pearson as he escaped Nowakowski far too easily to power his header into the top corner to make it 1-0 to Boston. This was just the start of Bostons Dominance.

As 5 minutes later Boston went further ahead, a cross from the right from Semple, who was impressive throughout for the visitors, was headed powerfully into his own net by Richard Pell. Town fans were now starting to fear the worst, as Boston looked so much quicker than Town and just generally seemed to want the win much more than us.

A few minutes later again, down towns left hand side, Semple again managed to get the ball past Shepherd who was getting no help at all, crossed into the middle and guess what it was 3-0 to Boston, Towns defence split open once again.

On 23 minutes in was 4-0, a free-kick from Canoville towards the back post was headed back across goal and there was Yates to poke the ball into the net. A nightmare start for town fans who couldnt believe what was unfolding in front of them, with only a quarter of the game played we were 4-0 town, muttering around the town fans about players poor performances could be heard. Whilst the Boston fans just next me were chanting "lets get double figures". It was embarrassing as a Town fan to stand there and take this sort of performance.

Town managed to pull a goal back against the run of play a few minutes later, a run through the centre and a drive across goal from Armstrong led to a tap in for Liam Hardy. As a fan i could see no way back for us despite the Town players rushing the ball back to the centre circle.

My thoughts were correct as 2 minutes later Boston restored their 3 goal lead, good play from Davidson, he sent Bloomer 1 way and then the other before finally laying on a perfect pass for Spencer-Weir-Daley to smash into the net. I have to say as a Town fan Daley was outstanding through out the game, giving the Harrogate back-line no rest at all, his pace was extreme and he looked a different class throughout.

5 minutes later Town managed to grab a 2nd goal of the game, a corner whipped in found Armstrong who headered towards goal, the Boston keeper made a great save but was unable to keep out the rebound which was headed in by Nowakowski. A few claps from the Harrogate Town fans could be heard but most didnt see the point as they were being completely outclassed. The score now at 5-2 if your struggling to keep up.

A few minutes before half time and it was that man again, Semple cut in from the right ahnd side with ease, on his left foot he struck a cracking finish into the top left corner of the net from around 25 yards out, the best goal of the game, no doubt about that.

That summed up the half, and town fans were not happy, one man in particular was not happy and vented his frustration towards Town manager Simon Weaver, who has a lot of explaining to do after that abject first half display. The least Town fans hoped for was a spirited second half display to show that they do care about the team.

There was one substitution at half time, Shepherd who had been skinned far too often that first half was taken off to be replaced by Craig James, hopefully he could keep Semple Quiet.

It was Dootson however in action again, with the first shot of the half from daley saved well , who despite the score had a very good game during the 1st half preventing the scoreline from being even higher.

Town then seemed to take charge of the 2nd half a bit more, i think a mixture of Boston taking their foot of the gas, and Town getting stuck in a lot more and generally looking more up for it than the 1st half. Armstrong who i thought had a good game, kept in a seemlessly aimless ball and ran with real drive toward the Boston defence only to power his shot just wide of Mckeowns goal.

With 18 minutes remaining, Town managed to grab a 3rd goal of the game, which their second half performance throughly deserved a great run down the left from Phillips and a cross into the box was finished off by Liam Hardy who flicked a header into the bottom corner. The strikers and attacking players from Town really played quite well, Hardy and Armstrong up top putting themselves about well and looking dangerous, the 2 wingers Phillips and Naylor caused trouble, the debutant for Town Ciaran Toner must've wondered what kind of club he has walked into, he himself had a solid game not giving the ball away much really compared to the rest of the team, however it was ultimately the defence, Not Dootson which let Harrogate Town down as every attack from the visitors seemed to cause horrendous problems amongst the back four.

The game then slowly came to an end, Dootson having to make a few good saves and Mckeown for Boston also pulling off a couple of decent saves. That was the end of the very open game at the CNG stadium, Town fans were left devestated at their teams inability to defend against the pace of the Boston forward line. A few fans shouted for Weavers head at the end of the game showing the Town fans really want this team to get back to the good old day's where we are challenging for promotion, but on recent form we are a long way off.

A very Down-hearted Lee stacey reporting on the game today.