Matlock Town host National League North outfit Boston United on Friday evening in their second pre-season friendly in preparation for the 2021/22 season.
Earlier in the week, the Gladiators demolished 11th tier side Wirksworth Ivanhoe 9-0 at the Proctor Cars Stadium. Friday night though should see a far sterner test for Paul Phillips’s men as the Pilgrims sit one tier above Matlock in the English league hierarchy.
The Opposition
Boston United were founded in 1933 and play their home games at The Jakemans Community Stadium which has only very recently been built. Boston only played their first ever match at this stadium in December last year, shortly before the National League North season was brought to a halt. The new stadium can hold up to 5,000 people.
The club are nicknamed the Pilgrims; this is in reference to the Pilgrim Fathers, who left England and sailed to North America and settled near (although they did not actually found) Boston in the state of Massachusetts. The club’s crest features the pilgrim fathers’ ship, the Mayflower. The club’s home shirt is always amber and black and their main rivals are Lincoln City, Scunthorpe United, Gainsborough Trinity and Grimsby Town.
Boston United spent a few years in the mid-noughties within League Two but have played their vast majority of football in non-league. The Pilgrims have been a very successful side at non-league level: the club won the Football Conference title in 2002, have won the Northern Premier League title four times and also reached the FA Trophy final back in 1985. While in League Two though, Boston created an unwanted piece of history by becoming the first ever team in Football League history to begin a league season on less than zero points. This was due to a points deduction placed on the club due to their huge financial problems and irregularities at the time.
Their current manager is Craig Elliott who was appointed as the club’s gaffer back in November 2017. Boston’s former managers include the likes of Steve Evans and Howard Wilkinson. Wilkinson was in charge of Leeds United when they won the old First Division league title in 1992.
One to Watch
A key player to look out for will be former Chesterfield midfielder Connor Dimaio. The Chesterfield-born 25 year-old began his career at Sheffield United where he made four competitive appearances. He joined the Spireites from the Blades in 2015 and went on to make 54 appearances for Chesterfield, scoring two goals.
Dimaio would go on to play for Stockport County before joining the Pilgrims in the summer leading up the 2020/21 campaign. Connor also has international experience for the Republic of Ireland. He made four appearances for the Irish U21 side and also represented the nation at U16, U17 and U19 level.
Team News
There doesn’t appear to be any fresh injury concerns in the Gladiators squad since the team’s friendly victory over Wirksworth Ivanhoe earlier in the week.
Two triallists were present during Matlock’s last game and there could be more to appear during Friday night’s game.
Previous Meeting
We have to travel back in time a few years to find Matlock’s last competitive encounter with the Pilgrims.
The last meeting came during the 2009/10 season in the NPL Premier Division. On December 5, 2009, the Gladiators beat Boston United 1-0 at home.
Commenti