PILGRIMS v SPARTANS: Boston United up to fifth following Blyth victory

Boston United 2 Blyth Spartans 0
Dominic Knowles.Dominic Knowles.
Dominic Knowles.

(Dominic Knowles 11, Andi Thanoj 52)

Boston United moved up to fifth in the National League North following a 2-0 win over Blyth Spartans.

Dominic Knowles scored for the third consecutive match while Andi Thanoj’s hot streak continued, the midfielder bagging his fourth goal in eight matches as the Pilgrims maintained their unbeaten home record in their final season at York Street.

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The result means Blyth, who have never won in Boston, will now have to attempt ending that streak at the new stadium.

Peter Crook got Luke Shiels out of jail early on after denying Michael Sweet, who had robbed the Pilgrims skipper too comfortably.

But moments later Knowles put the Pilgrims in front, completing a glorious team move.

Jordan Thewlis collected the ball in the centre of the park, made space with a Maradona turn and fed Alex Whittle out wide. The left back fed a teasing low cross into the box which Knowles placed home with a customary late burst into the box.

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While United looked pacy and confident in attack, there were still imperfections in defence.

Demeaco Duhaney’s heavy touch saw him robbed by Dylan McGlade, only for the Huddersfield loanee to upend his opponent on the edge of the area, spared a red card by Whittle’s covering run.

Thanoj doubled the advantage seven minutes after the re-start, following up after Brad Abbot’s drive rattled the post.

Spartans stopper Nathan Harker denied Tom Platt, Whitle and Thewlis as the hosts looked for a killer third.

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At the other end Crook did well to hold onto Sweet’s drive after it deflected off Abbott’s chest and Shiels nodded Callum Roberts’ effort off the line after he had lobbed the United keeper.

In stoppage time Harker made another fine block to deny Jake Wright.

UNITED: Crook, Duhaney, Whittle, Platt, Jackson, Shiels, Thanoj, Abbott, Knowles (Wright 78), Thewlis (Tuton 85), Woolford (Rollins 74); Subs (not used): Middleton, Wafula.

BLYTH: Harker, Evans, Callaghan, Scott, Ritson, Hutchinson (McKeown 80), Hawkins (Mullen 56), Hunter, Sweet, Roberts, McGlade (Amantchi 57); Subs (not used): Mouanda, Foden.

REF: Tom Kirk.

ATT: 1,007 (17).

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