Boston Town revive title ambitions by thumping league leaders
Boston Town delivered a statement performance as they crushed league leaders Sherwood Colliery in front of a bumper crowd.
On a day when only one other game in the division survived the wet weather, the Poachers underlined their promotion credentials with an emphatic 4-0 victory.
It was Sherwood Colliery’s biggest defeat of the season and sees their lead at the top of the United Counties League Premier North table cut to five points.
Chris Funnell’s side started well and threatened twice early on. First Kallum Smith forced a good save from Jordan Pierrepoint after a long throw, and then Zak Munton headed just over from a Harry Limb cross.
But the opening goal wasn’t long in coming. Limb latched onto Smith’s long ball and as a Sherwood defender misread the bounce, he deftly lobbed the keeper from 20 yards.
Carter Widdowson fired wide from a free-kick but the Poachers went in 1-0 up at half-time with the visitors having created little in front of goal, despite having plenty of possession.
The hosts doubled their lead after 62 minutes when Limb made a great run down the right, outpaced the defender and squared for Munton to finish from close range.
Within five minutes, Town could have added another when a mistake by sub Nicholas Hood let Limb in again on the right. He crossed to Matt Cotton, whose shot was blocked on the line and then blasted the rebound just over.
But a minute later, Limb was brought down and he converted the penalty to make it 3-0.
Cotton rounded off a perfect afternoon by heading home at the back post from Leo Priestley’s corner after 87 minutes.
The Poachers now have a tough run of three consecutive away fixtures - at Kimberley MW on 7 March, Melton Town on 14 March and Clay Cross on 21 March. Their next home game will be against Eastwood CFC on Saturday 28 March.
Town: Portas, Ging, Smith (Graves), Priestley, Ford, Wilson, Bayliss (Gibbons), Archer, Munton (Nuttell), Limb (Hudson), Cotton; unused sub: Gurney