PILGRIMS v NASH: Boston United up to fifth despite goalless draw

Boston United 0 Curzon Ashton 0
Nicky WalkerNicky Walker
Nicky Walker

Boston United and Curzon Ashton played out a goalless draw... somehow.

In a game of few chances the Pilgrims will wonder how referee Scott Tallis failed to award them a penalty when Nicky Walker was cleaned out in the penalty area, while the visitors somehow fluffed a sitter in the dying seconds.

Both sides were desperate for three points for different reasons, but both ended up with a point that does them no harm.

United moved up to fifth in the standings while the Nash, coupled with Blyth’s defeat to Altrincham, edged a further point clear of the relegation zone.

For Boston, Luke Shiels, back from suspension, and Rollins got the nod at the expense of Simon Ainge and Martyn Woolford while Ashley Jackson was handed his seventh start of the season at left back, replacing the injured Alex Whittle.

Former Pilgrims midfielder Nicky Wroe was amongst the Nash line-up.

The first half was open enough but lacking in serious goal threats.

Peter Crook denied Andrew Scott at his near post in the first minute, but from then on the Pilgrims had the better of the opening 45.

Scott Garner and Jake Wright headed off target before Rollins had the best effort of the half, his powerful drive whizzing wide of the far post.

Wright was struggling with a shoulder injury after an off-the-ball coming together with Danny Shaw and, unable to continue, was replaced by Walker for the second half.

Jordan Thewlis came within a whisker of opening the scoring in the 57th minute as his strike smashed against the underside of the Nash bar before bouncing back into play, where Cameron Mason reacted well to block Rollins’ follow up.

Mason again denied Rollins, this time the Boston club captain lashing an effort on the spin.

Boston should have had a penalty in the 80th minute when Shaw flattened Walker in the box, but referee Scott Tallis signalled for play to continue.

With two minutes left Curzon should have found the net as quick feet from Connor Dimiao teed up James Baillie who, somehow, skied his effort from six yards out.

UNITED: Crook, Penny (Woolford 77), Jackson, Platt (Tuton 86), Garner, Shiels, Rollins, Abbott, Knowles, Thewlis, Wright (Walker HT); Subs (not used): Ainge, Willis.

NASH: Mason, Halls, Askew, Wroe, Shaw, Ali, Evans, Calveley, Scott (Bayode 59), Dimaio, Baillie; Subs (not used): Sinclair, Merrill, Sloan, Lovell.

REF: Scott Tallis.

ATT: 894 (5).