Match Report

FC United came from behind to draw 1-1 at home to Boston United on Saturday afternoon with George Thomson finding an equaliser midway through the second half.

The Reds rescued themselves from a dreadful first half performance where they could have been three or four goals down.

Boston captain Gregg Smith was the star man for the Lincolnshire team and proved too much to handle in the air. He scored a free header from a cross floated over from the right by Callum Chippendale on 24 minutes.

The Pilgrims also had a goal disallowed for offside, one cleared off the line by captain Jerome Wright and goalkeeper David Carnell blocked another close range effort with his feet. However, FC United were much improved in the second half and just about deserved the equaliser.

Marcus Marshall nearly broke the deadlock on 20 minutes. The winger beat Carnell when he headed Lewis Hilliard’s corner but Wright was the man on the post and did his job by clearing the danger.

But Smith soon put the visitors ahead with a simple goal. Moments later the big target man nearly gave Boston a second but Jay Rollin tapped his header over the line from an off-side position so it was ruled out.

United weren’t learning their lesson and just before halftime they inexplicably allowed Smith to have a free header at the near post from a corner. Thankfully, Carnell was well positioned to make a great block with his legs.

The Reds came back out for the second half attacking the Saint Mary’s Road End and looked a lot better for it. They could have been back on level terms seven minutes into the second half but goalkeeper Ross Durrant tipped Thomson’s shot onto the post.

Moments later, the floodlights at the St Mary’s Road End failed for a second year running in what could be a new FC United Christmas tradition. And it was the Reds who responded better to the impromptu 10 minute break.

Jason Gilchrist should have found the equaliser within a couple of minutes of the restart but he stabbed a limp effort wide of the post from inside the box after good build up play and a cross by Tom Brown.

The momentum was building and thankfully the goal eventually came. On 66 minutes, the visitors headed away a Sam Sheridan corner from the right but it fell to Thomson 25 yards out. The former Chester midfielder took a touch before expertly placing a shot into the bottom left corner for 1-1.

The Reds went in search of a winner with the late introduction of Kieran Glynn and Gareth Arnison but neither were able to have any real impact on the game.

There were half chances to win the match at both ends as neither team was happy to settle for a draw. However, ultimately that’s what both teams had to do. FC United over hit or misplaced crosses too often and Durrant was never really tested after the equaliser. At the other end, Carnell did well to keep Boston at bay.

Website man of the match: Sam Sheridan - Used the ball well and pulled the strings for FC United.

Report by Matthew Haley