BOSTON UNITED (Jakemans Community Stadium)

FA CUP 4th QUALIFYING ROUND, BOSTON UNITED 1-1 STRATFORD TOWN, ATTENDANCE: 1,627

This afternoon I headed cross country to Lincolnshire to complete my trilogy of the three brand new grounds in the National League North that I needed at the start of the season (Gloucester City and York City were the others).

Boston moved into their new stadium at the end of 2020 after leaving York Street after 77 years. The ground move had been mooted since 2006, when Boston were a football league club, but it finally came to fruition last year.

The new ground is part of a redevelopment of an area on the outskirts of Boston in Wyberton. As well as the ground, there is a new housing estate and the ubiquitous retail outlets.

The ground is easy to find if you are driving, as it is off the main A16 road. We parked on a residential street about a 10 minute walk away. However, if you are walking it from the town centre then you are looking at about a 40 minute stroll.

The ground is currently three sided, a main seated stand and two sides of terracing. The fourth side behind the goal will be developed in the future.

The Pilgrims played their first game at the new Stadium on 5 December 2020, a 2-0 loss to Chorley in the National League North. Due to Covid fans were not permitted to attend until the start of the current 2021-22 season.

Today I was attracted by the magic of the cup. Both teams were playing for the chance of getting into the first round proper, and all of the possibilities that entails, but for the visitors Stratford Town the occasion was more special as this was the furthest they had ever gone in the FA Cup in their 80 year history.

Boston will be wondering how this one got away. After dominating the opening proceedings, they eventually took the lead courtesy of a Fraser Preston free-kick after 22 minutes. Preston thought he had bagged a second five minutes later, but an assistant referee's flag came to the visitors rescue.

This let off galvanised Stratford and on 32 minutes they were level when Jaanai Gordon headed home from a corner kick.

Stratford had a spell of pressure before half time as Boston were clearly stunned by the disallowed goal and equaliser, but it was all square at the break.

Boston began the second half as they began the first, putting the Stratford under pressure but in truth they failed to trouble Liam O'Brien in The Bards goal. On 75 minutes there was a bit of melee in the Stratford penalty area which resulted in a red card for Jake Wright Jr and with that both teams seemed happy to settle for a replay.

Result!

EDIT: Stratford Town won the replay 3-2 and were rewarded with a home tie with Shrewsbury Town, which will be shown live on television. A very lucrative reward for their efforts, which is why the FA Cup is still important to the majority of clubs.