30-03-18 – Report – Boston Utd 3 Harriers 2

Lee Vaughan off as Harriers lose late yet again

Report: Phil Lench

The Harriers defender Lee Vaughan will miss three games after being given a straight red card during the second half of this late away defeat at Boston Utd. Lee will be eligible to play in the crucial Brackley Town game at Aggborough on Monday but will then miss three equally crucial games against Blyth Spartans, Stockport County and Tamworth following that.

We also gave a late goal away again to end the game defeated after super sub George Waring had come on to pull us level to 2-2 minutes after Vaughans dismissal. It was all in vain though when a Boston substitute, Jonathon Wafula, scored in the ninetieth minute of the game to send the Reds home empty handed.

We had started the game with just one change to the starting eleven from the previous two games. Joel Taylor was out yet again this time with an ear infection and Sam Austin took his place while on the bench was Elton N’Gwatala making his return from a few weeks out injured.

The Harriers started the game somewhat slowly compared to recent games and seemed prepared to let Boston do all the work in the opening stages. Jake Beesley was the first to get the game going when he fired goalwards only for Declan Weeks to block the ball out as he got there just in time. It was Beesley involved again a few minutes later when a clearance from the Harriers keeper Brandon Hall hit him but thankfully rebounded out for goal kick.  

It took almost until the fifteenth minute for us to get a sight of goal with both chances coming Ryan Croasdales way. The first he fired over the bar from Manny Sonupès cross and then a minute later his shot was stopped on the line by James Clifton. A few seconds later and we went into the lead when up popped Dan Bradley to bag another goal for the fourth game running. A corner, taken by Weeks, was met by Bradley who powered the ball home. The Boston players surrounded the referee claiming that Bradley had fouled their keeper but he waved their complaints away.

Boston responded by going straight on the offensive and should have scored through Reece Thompson after Clifton played him through to beat the offside flag but he shot straight at Hall. The warning sign turned to a confirmation sign a minute later when they did score to draw level through Jordan Keane, the brother of our former defender Cieron, when he was the first to gt to a free kick from the edge of the area.

Whereas Boston responded positively to going behind we didn’t and a few minutes later they had scored again when Ben Middleton was the one to get contact on the ball in a goal mouth scramble from a corner. This time it was our turn to surround the ref claiming for a handball but again he waved it all away.

With the halftime whistle about to go Thompson claimed he had been fouled in the box but told no while Bradley sent the last kick of the half wide of the target.

HT: 2 – 1

Boston came out the strongest for the second half and began to take the game to the Harriers with us struggling to cope. Chances fell for Ashley Hemmings and Ryan Qualter but both were squandered and then came the red card.

Lee Vaughan lashed out at Hemmings, mid way through the half, to catch the winger’s shins after Hemmings had gone past him. It was probably only worthy of a yellow card but the referee thought otherwise and pulled the red version out of his pocket to send Lee back to the dressing rooms.

We made an almost immediate change and took off Sonupè to bring on George Waring. It wasn’t quite the defensive change expected but it least it wasn’t a negative move and it repaid itself straight away. Three minutes after coming on Waring followed up Joe Ironsides shot on goal to return it back in, with interest and to draw us unexpectedly level.

Now we had ‘won’ the point it was sense to try and manage the remainder of the game out and at least come home with a point. We seemed to be doing that ok with the odd chance coming for both teams. Bradley couldn’t get the ball through a crowded area and Hall saved from Thompson well and all we had to do was survive the added on time.

With a last throw of the dice Boston sent on Jonathon Wafula in place of Clifton and a minute later we had thrown away yet another point. 

The home side earned another free kick on the edge of the area and again Hemmings took it. He floated it into the area and the first to get to the ball was the substitute who rose high to power the ball home with his head and give his side all three points.

Bradley tried to score from range but our hearts weren’t in it and once again we came home empty handed following a late, late goal. After every game that this happens we get the same response from the management that this is a young side still learning.

One thing the fans are learning is that we won’t even get in the play offs at this rate.

FT: 3 – 2

Goals for Boston: Keane 24, Middleton 30, Wafula 90

Goals for Harriers: Bradley 15, Waring 72

Talk about the game here and phone the Harriers Hotline on 01905 577 777 after the game too

Latest table and stats here

Boston Utd	Goals	Subs	Time	Cards
Willis
Middleton
Brogan
Thanoj
Keane
Qualter
Clifton			83
Abbott
Thompson
Beesley			76
Hemmings
Subs:
Tshimanga			76
McGuire
Hare
Smith
Wafula			83
Harriers	Goals	Subs	Time	Cards
Hall
L Vaughan
Austin
Croasdale
Horsfall
Pearson
Weeks
McQuilkin
Ironside
Bradley
Sonupè			69
Subs:
N Vaughan
A Brown
N’Gwatala
Digie
Waring			69
Referee:
Mr Anthony Tankard
Sheffield