Boston v Barrowafc

[orpheus]

Sounded a decent game on the radio. Should have wrapped it all up by half time. Dodds is rite when he says to give the Team 5/6 games then we will see the class. Not bothered by result too much. You don't win/loose the title on day one. Think some of the Teams in this league will have nap against when they play us. If we get a good support on Tuesday then this will carry us along the merry highway to good fortune :flag: :flag:

[barrowfan_chris]

Great first half should have had the game won. Second half slow and predictable with the ball. Teams will sit back and defend against us we need to be a bit more clever on the ball. Another day and we would have won 5-2.

Roll on Tuesday.

[Kendal_bluebird]

We had that much possession today but just lacked that killer pass.... Alex ray was awesome today was shocked when he got hurled off! Hope pilks is fit for Tuesday!

[xerxes]

Also had what from our end looked like a blatant penalty turned down two minutes from time.

Said on radio it was a bit of a dive with minimal contact and could have been booked for it.

And it was Russell Dodd who said that, so seeing as how he's usually totally biased in favour of Barrow, I think on this occasion we can be pretty sure it wasn't a penalty.

[Steelworks End]

From the vantage point of the back row of the stand behind the goal at the far end of the ground, it looked like a definite penalty.

Or maybe we totally unbiased fans were just desperate to get the equaliser?

[Suffolk Blue]

......and so it begins.

Living in this part of the world for a few years I've see just about every Boston/Barrow game for the last couple of decades. I can honestly say that for the first 35 minutes, I've never seen a BAFC side dominate so much on that ground. It was actually like watching a team from a higher league - we were that much better.

If we had put away any of those early chances, I think the game might have run a very different course. I even remember saying two minutes before they scored that the only way I thought we'd concede was from a long range effort. And then they did. After this the tone of game changed, Boston's heads went up and the pace of the game (in the heat admittedly) dropped.

Fair play to Boston. Having survived the onslaught and got in front, they hit us with a sucker punch early in the second half and despite Cooks response worked extremely hard to keep us out. If that were a Barrow side last year and we'd done the same to Alty or Telford we'd all be singing our praises on this site. Queue the "What a waste of money " chants at the end.

As has been commented on I thought we looked weakest in Centre Midfield creating little and failing to close Boston down on those occasions they attacked. We looked dangerous down the flanks but they seemed to get their heads on everything we put into their box. After a while this became predictable in particular when the pace of the game dropped and this made it more comfortable for Boston who despite looking tired at the end were not tested as rigorously as perhaps they should've been.

Our attacking potential is very good but looked less than incisive when in good positions. Cook in particular looks hesitant when he has the ball at his feet. Contrast this with the opposition who knew they would have limited chances and that they would have to make the most of them. Lastly the defence which looked so good in the first phase of the game and with Livesey and Grand I thought would concede very few goals this season. They might not have had great support from midfield but I think the way we conceded was a little worrying. I'm not looking for scapegoats but given the point about the centre of the park above, I do wonder about Robbie Williams at Centre half. Last season he had an absolute shocker here. He certainly wasn't that bad today but he's not nearly as good as the two on either side of him.

Today should serve to remind us (if any of us really thought otherwise) how difficult it will be to get back into the Conf Prem. I 'll be surprised if Gainsborough is any easier on Tuesday. There's no doubt that we can play attractive classy looking football. My concern would be whether we can still "win ugly" - strange since this is the way we used to win more often than not! Its still a vital ingredient in success at this level. I will predict however that when all the pieces fall into place somebody out there is going to get a complete hammering.

Keep the faith.

[Big E]

Encouraging reports from a defeat.. although I have said all along we needed to sign a midfield general, and as good a game as Harvey had today, I still believe that is the one area we should have looked to develop.. time will tell. can't wait for Tuesday..

[A.B.]

I came away from that game feeling more frustrated than anything. Im not going to criticise the team performance, we were by far the better side and were dominating in all stats, bar the result, obviously. I will question the formation though, 3 centre backs? Not sure if that's the way to go. On another day it could've been 4-2 to us. 2 home wins next week and it will all be forgotten.

[Bostonbob]

I believed we would win,and we did.

[Ste Story]

Battered them for probably 70 of the 90 minutes.

Just wasn't our day though, deflected goal for them, our goal ruled out for dubious offside, hit the woodwork twice, Izak Reid missing a chance I don't think I could have missed even if I wanted to, the penalty shout which from where i was stood dead straight behind it looked nailed on, clear contact cleaned him out.

We'll play much worse and stuff teams this season, so not a massive amount to be disheartened about, but if we're seriously looking at the league every point will count and dropping 3 in such fashion straight away won't help; not to mention it'll probably knock a bit off tuesdays gate such is the barrow public.

Onwards and Upwards.

[Si_Nichols]

Frustrating day and on reflection a somewhat missed opportunity to get more out of the game and perhaps more importantly get a good start to keep the optimistic outlook and momentum going that we have at the moment. Not sure I agree with others about us definitely deserving to win and/or dominating the game as Boston were as they always are, well organised and made the most of the few chances they had. We had bits and pieces of good football and we started very well in the first 25 minutes but after that I never felt comfortable.

The formation did not work for us. There is nothing wrong as such with a 3-5-2/5-3-2 but you have to have the right personnel. Burns and Cowps are not wing-backs. Burns is an excellent full back and Cowps a decent utility player (though he didn't have a great game today) but neither gives us enough width or attacking intent for that set up. Reid also pushed up alongside the forwards with Walker slightly off Cook which left Crowther and Harvey with far too much to do trying to run the middle of the park thus leaving huge open spaces and this is exactly where both their goals came from. The worrying thing was that our changes didn't really solve our lack of numbers in midfield and lack of width problems and we ended the game in a kind of 4-2-4 lumping the ball forward pretty aimlessly as Boston retreated in the last 20 minutes. Our set pieces were also shockingly bad.

So a little bit of a re-think necessary for Tuesday. Think we need another player in the midfield so should go to 4 at the back. Our big problem position is left back with McWilliams out. Grand actually went across there in the latter stages with Cowps at RB and Burns subbed. I would play Burns at RB, Livesey probably alongside Grand with Cowps/Willis at LB or play WIlliams in centre and Grand at LB till McWilliams is back fit. Crowther and Sheridan should start in central midfield with Reid and Pilkington (if fit) giving some width. I would then go with Cookie and Ellison up top as Walker seemed to be running on empty to me.

Its a set-back today and I think the overwhelming feeling from everyone was disappointment but I think we do have enough quality to be challenging toward the top of this league. However anyone who thinks we will walk away with it is deluded. I suspect Boston may not be too far away come the end of the season along with Harrogate, Guiseley and one or two others (Tamworth perhaps). I suspect one of the promoted teams might mount a bit of a challenge as well. Boston's players and fans reaction at the end of the game today was telling as they celebrated like they had won the league. We are going to have to get used to the fact that we have big target painted on our backs.

Great support and great to see everyone. Just hope next time the long journey home is with 3 points.

[boyliegladbach]

Great day out, agree 100% with si`s post.

Where's my gnome I've lost it.

[the dumbwitness]

Great day out. Top crack sat above the travelling fans who sang for 90+ minutes. Not bothered by result, on any other day we'd have won that 4-2
Back in Skeggy now with the next seasons guests of the Jeremy Kyle show and Billy Butlins redcoats.

[boyliegladbach]

View of disallowed goal from nige sanddevil
Can't really tell if off or not. Didn't look much wrong with it yesterday
http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=yout ... R4cqgl0BGQ

[bobbie moore]

Agree Al I didn't think it was offside Cookie ran in for header.I think Boston video their games will be interesting to see from another angle.
Disappointed with result but performance deserved at least a point.
I thought ARH had a good game and as said previously surprised he was replaced with Sheridan ,who I thought was poor .
Reid bit disappointing and thought Cribley may have replaced him .Hope Pilkington is fit for Tuesday as we need someone to put in Quality crosses for our forwards.
2 home games which will be battles but winnable just got to take advantage of all our attacking play