The Jakeman’s Stadium, York Street, the famous former home of Boston United based in Lincolnshire, but is now the current home of Railway Athletic who play their trade in the Boston Saturday League. In early 2020, me and the Merry Miller had decided that we would attend Boston’s final game at the ground… But sadly the lockdown put an end to that dream… The club moved into their new ground and that was it… BUT NO IT WASN’T!! This little club have moved in and tonight I’m making the journey!! One last chance perhaps? It must be done!! Off I go!
Straight from work literally… The journey to Barnsley, and now to Doncaster, and now to Grantham, and finally to Boston! I left at 2:45pm and here I am at 6:30pm, this better be worth it! A familiar face I am joined by tonight, the man I met at Sutton Rovers and then at AFC Bentley, Mackem Mark!! A quick catch up with him and off we go! The anticipation is palpable for me to see this ground after all the positivity from the groundhoppers. Free Entry to this game! Mesmeric! Railway take on Boston College in the Fishtoft Cup tonight!
Kick Off! 8 minutes in and College play a ball forward, number 8 gets it, he gets into the box, keeper is committed, he shoots… Just wide of the post! Goal kick.
11 minutes now and College break forward, number 8 is played through, keeper comes out… brings him down… Penalty! Definite penalty for me! Number 6 steps up, scores!! 0-1! 19th minute and College play forward again, ball played through to number 8 on the left side of the box, he shoots… Good save! Railway clear.
2 minutes later and Railway win a corner from a break on the left, in it comes… College clear and they break, ball is played through to number 3 on the right, he’s through on goal and the keeper comes out… He plays it across to number 8, he hesitates… But scores! 0-2! College look like they’re going to run away with this.
25 minutes played and Railway come forward down the right, number 14 has it, he beats his man and drives into the box from the right, he goes for goal! Keeper saves!
The game has evened itself out with both teams enjoying a fair share of possession but no other real chances at the moment. 43rd minute and College come forward down the left again, played across towards the edge of the box for number 17 to shoot… Oh! He’s put it just over! Should have scored there. At half time the score remains 0-2!
Second half, 1 minute in and College play forward again, played to number 17, 25 yards out and he goes for the curler… And he finds the far corner!! What a hit!!! 0-3! A fantastic goal there!
51 minutes on the watch and Railway play forward, they get it out wide to the left, played in low, played back for number 8, he shoots… Just wide! Corner, in it comes… Headed away, railway get it back, they work down the right, crossed in, number 47 at the far post… The keeper can’t keep it out! And it’s 1-3!
55 minutes now and College come forward, ball played through to number 3, he gets it, he goes around the keeper, he goes down… Referee says no! I agree there but you do see them given! 59th minute and Railway have a free kick around 25 yards out, number 47 steps up… He’s got it!! It’s 2-3!! He bends it towards the near post and it just sneaks in! Brilliant!
68 minutes now, are Railway going to pull off this comeback here tonight? College come forward, Railway clear but College get it back on the right, played into the box, flicked on with the keeper committed, comes to number 9 on the stretch… He’s put it over! Unlucky there.
1 minute later and College come again, played out to the right, played in low, number 9 again… Just wide! 71 minutes on the clock and Railway play forward, played to number 14 to strike from 25 yards out, keeper scrambling… He gets there just to tip it wide! Corner, in it comes… Foul and a free kick for college.
74th minute and Railway are going for it! Number 17 has it down the right, he beats his man in the box and crosses, college clear but it comes to number 14 on the volley on the edge of the box… Great save by the keeper!!
End to end stuff now!! The next goal is vital! 78 minutes now and Railway have a corner, in it comes… Number 15 with the header… Blocked and it comes back to him… Blocked again, it’s pinball, comes to number 9 he plays it across low, number 47 is there… HE’S DONE IT!!! THREE THREE!! Bostanbul!! How about that!! What a ground!! WHAT A GAME!! 3-3 from 3-0 down!!
Into the 90th minute and College have a free kick about 25 yards out, could there be a sting in the tale here? Number 3 steps up… No! It’s gone over! Into stoppage time and College play a long throw in from the right, flicked on, college retrieve it on the left, crossed in, the header… It’s tipped onto the bar… It’s not gone yet and the shot comes in… Blocked and railway clear! So close! The full time whistle blows and it will be penalties… Wait no it won’t! It’s extra time… And with my last opportunity to get home tonight not too far away, I’m going to have to bow out sadly… Over to Mackem Mark to report what happens next!
A lot of midfield battles in extra time now! 98th minute and College come forward, they get it out wide to the right, crossed in, number 9 with the header… It’s in!! College have the lead again! What a game! 3-4!! Nothing much else from Mark and at half time in extra time, 3-4 is the score!
Second half of extra time, the Railway players are struggling with cramp now it seems… Has the game gone beyond them? 112 minutes and Railway play forward now, they get it into the box, a late challenge by College… The Referee waves it away… Railway not happy!
117th minute and College get the ball just inside the railway half, number 15 gets it, he’s around 2 players and he goes for goal from 35 yards… Tipped over by the keeper! Corner comes in… Railway head away. The Referee blows for full time! What a game that was… Of what I saw anyway!
FT: Railway Athletic 3-4 Boston College AET
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 2/10 – A fair few in tonight, not as many as what I would have liked to have seen but a little bit of noise for the teams.
- The Ground: 10/10 – I love this ground! Groundhoppers around this country always say that this is one of the best! Anybody arguing!? It is simply glorious! It has been a Football League ground in the past! Standing terraces with a great main stand, really close to the pitch! A good backdrop of the Stump… In daylight anyway! York Street has got it all! I think I can speak for all groundhoppers when I say: PLEASE DON’T DEMOLISH THIS GROUND!!
- Expense: 10/10 – Without question!! Free entry for that!? Boy am I lucky!
- Overall Experience: 10/10 – Good games! I only get good games! Another cracker tonight! Great to catch up with Mackem Mark and great to meet an official of Railway tonight too! I certainly don’t regret this visit one bit and I’m thankful I managed to get here after Boston moved out! I would have loved to have seen a full crowd but I am not upset about tonight one bit!! Once again: PLEASE DON’T DEMOLISH THIS GROUND!!
32/40