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Season 2004-05
 Boston United (a) Friendly
 
 
 
Date: Tuesday 27th July 2004, 8.03pm

Venue: York Street

Conditions: 
slightly overcast but humid

£13 and £15 admission, programme £2 - I didn't know we were in the bloody Millennium Stadium.
 

 

 

Boston United

4 - 0 Newcastle United
  Teams

Goals

14 mins A through ball from Noble was knocked on by Lee and Carruthers confidently lobbed the ball over the advancing Caig from close range 0-1

21 mins Holland was the architect this time, releasing Carruthers to slot home from the edge of the six yard box after powering past Cave and touching his shot beyond the tardy Caig.  0-2

23 mins
Total disinterest by Newcastle in a free kick on the Boston left saw Gascoigne involved before a cross was met by the unmarked Greaves who nodded home from point blank range. 0-3

38 mins
Gascoigne to Carruthers, who shot home into the space between Caig and his near post. Oh dear. 0-4

Half time: Boston 4 Newcastle 0


Full time: Boston 4 Newcastle 0

We Said

A less than impressed Tommy Craig had this to say:

"Naivety was the byword of our first-half display. We were caught cold on a couple of occasions and we suffered the consequences."

"We then conceded a couple more goals which made for a difficult task in the second half."

"I just felt some of the decisions we made as a group were naive. We had some young players out there and they got a painful lesson, but one they must learn from nonetheless."

"The biggest thing for me was our naivety in defending as a team in the opening half hour, and our passing, which is always important to me, was poor at times."

They Said

After the game a seemingly re-born Gazza said:

"I have spent a great 48 hours with Steve (Evans), even his wife is looking after me by buying me a pair of trainers. It’s opened my eyes a bit in terms of wanting to play football again and getting 75 minutes which was good. Another couple of games and a bit of short stuff, I’ll be up with the rest of the lads.

"It was nice in the dressing room, listening to Steve talk to the lads and seeing cups of tea everywhere, little things like that which I had for 20 years. Little things like that give me a buzz back. I’ve been given a great opportunity by Boston, Steve and the chairman," .

"The chairman was happy and I’m happy and I don’t see why not – I’m 110% sure I will sign for Boston United."

"Sometimes with a player like Paul Gascoigne a manager has to put their neck on the line."

Boston boss Steve Evans said: "The man Gascoigne was magnificent. It’s great, I’ve got no holes in my socks, no sleeves off my suits, so so far so good.

"He’s been great in the dressing room, he’s mixed with the lads straightaway and let’s hope for the longer term it works."

Waffle


Journeyman Martin Carruthers upstaged Paul Gascoigne by firing a first half hat-trick for Boston United as they thumped a lethargic Newcastle side 4-0 at York Street on Tuesday evening.

Kick-off was delayed for 15 minutes due to crowd congestion and The Pilgrims started the game with both ex-Mags, Gazza and Chris Holland in their ranks.

But it was ex-Stoke and Darlington man Carruthers who stole the show with a 24 minute hat-trick as a pitiful first half performance from Newcastle enabled Boston to take a 4-0 half-time lead. Mark Greaves' 23rd minute effort completing the misery.

After a slow start, Gascoigne (wearing number 19) enjoyed himself in front of the crowd and showed some trademark shimmies and pull-backs as well as some neat passing. And alongside was another former toon midfielder, forgotten man Chris Holland who showed one or two decent touches but also seems to have picked up a few nastier habits since leaving Tyneside - one or two crude lunges that passed for tackles were noted.

While Carruthers did the damage with the goals, his strike partner Jason Lee also proved something of a handful, although he nearly didn't get to face us after requiring treatment just before kickoff for an apparent eye problem. It's gratifying to report that he's not grown back the ridiculous pineapple haircut he had while playing for Forest...

Half time came with the visitors in total disarray and all eleven players on show looking like prime candidates for replacement - Tommy Craig opted to replace academy pair Matty Pattison and Guy Bates, who both looked particularly unimpressive. Howe came on and looked overawed by the presence of Gazza, while at least Lewis Guy had a couple of efforts on goal and looked interested unlike the perenially scowling Chopra who really could do with being put out of his undoubted misery....

Unfair? You tell me - thirteen notes to watch so-called professionals like him, McClen and Brittain comprehensively outthought and outplayed by a rejects XI tends to impair one's judgement. I know how that Everton bloke felt when he got on the pitch at Highbury and tried to take the shirt off one of his own players.

Newcastle improved after the break, although they still looked slow and unimaginative. We may have shaded the second period with Webster having two good chances to register for the visitors but we failed to damage Boston in the slightest. Terrible.

PS - Is there any other ground in the UK where you can see an apparently operational windmill from? It could clearly be seen from the away end - that's how entertainment-free this game was for Toon fans.....

Biffa

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Page last updated 14 July, 2016