Boston United will contest the National League North Play-Off Final against York City at the LNER Community Stadium next Saturday after the Pilgrims secured a 2 – 0 success against AFC Fylde at Mill Farm.

Over 650 travelling Boston United fans were on hand to see Paul Cox’s side defeat another top four team to reach the Play-Off Final, which will be held at York City courtesy of the respective league positions.

Team news saw James Rowe name an unchanged starting XI from last week’s home win against Leamington, goalkeeper Bobby Jones was brought onto the bench. I had thought there might be a start for Stephen Dobbie, looking to employ his vital experience, but Sam Osborne got the nod with his youthful exuberance. Tom Walker maintained his position on the right despite Luke Burke being an option off the pine. For the visitors, Massanka was the surprise inclusion.

From the off, Boston looked like they were ‘on it’. First to every second ball, winning 50-50’s, they pressed as a team and Fylde looked unable to get a foot on the ball. Will Hatfield was brought down with twelve minutes played, Nick Haughton lashed his free-kick at the near post and almost surprised Marcus Dewhurst.

The referee was somewhat inconsistent as both Hatfield and Haughton were hit with tackles from behind, no decision made, moments later an incidental collision in the Fylde half resulted in a Coasters free-kick. Hatfield had to depart the field for Danny Whitehead prior to 45 minutes. Despite pretty much running the game from the touchline, Paul Cox had some choice words for the official at the break and was informed in no uncertain terms to keep his opinions to himself. Funnily enough, as the teams came out for the second half, he was happy to get the beers in for the referee after the game. A masterful performance and genuinely impressed by the Boston manager to turn that around in the space of 15 minutes.

There could have been changes on either wing at half-time, both Tom Walker and Luke Conlan were very poor. Often Walker was unmarked and free but either out of position or waiting for the ball to come vaguely in his direction. He should have been shouting for the ball or gesturing for it, he seemed to let the game pass him by.

Chris Neal, whose personal struggles and tragic circumstances in the last several months can hardly be comprehended, was superb between the sticks as he made an unreal diving stop just after 70 minutes to deny Danny Elliott. The Boston man wasn’t to be denied less than ten minutes later as a corner wasn’t cleared and he swept home. Byrne blocked a strike from Haughton before Elliott secured Boston’s passage to Saturday’s Play-Off Final, Jake Wright Jnr was brought down in the Fylde area and Elliott stepped up to score his second.

Fylde couldn’t find a way beyond Dewhurst and a season that promised so much ended with opposition fans celebrating on the Mill Farm pitch.

Sadly, there were scenes of violence in the away end. Two fans had been ejected from the South Stand already when fighting broke out, an instigator was removed and in an inebriated state assaulted two stewards outside the stadium. In addition, one steward suffered a suspected broken hand as he was crushed against the goalpost during one of the pitch invasions. First aid was required twice in the away end. Horrendous chanting by Boston fans towards James Rowe continued throughout the game, repeating allegations from this week’s Daily Mail article.

At the end of the game, Boston fans poured onto the pitch to celebrate with their team and stadium announcer Brian Porter’s immortal line; “Get off the fucking pitch”, failed to encourage Pilgrims supporters to head to the exits. Even assistant John Ramshaw himself commented that the chanting towards Fylde’s manager was completely unnecessary. There seems to be a theme that larger clubs in the National League North, mostly former Football League clubs, have a fondness for unsavoury behaviour.

A season review is to follow but the game pretty much served as an insight into the entire Coasters season, some fleeting moments of promise but ultimately disappointment never being far away.

Coasters Corner Player of the Match: Danny Elliott for the away side but Chris Neal for Fylde.