Coca-Cola League Two
MACCLESFIELD were within four points of the play-off spots prior to kick-off, but an abject defensive display ensured their 10-match unbeaten run came to a disappointing end at Boston.
Brian Horton’s side took maximum points over a fruitful Christmas period, scoring 12 times along the way, and, at times, they threatened to run amok as they sliced through the Pilgrims, particularly in the first half.
But the defensive malaise which seemed to have been eradicated as the Silkmen surged up the table resurfaced again as Boston recorded their first win in eight games. The home side’s direct approach caused the visitors problems all afternoon though, in truth, Macc were badly culpable for at least two of the hosts’ goals.
"The players need to set their standards higher than that if they want to achieve anything," said an angry Horton. "Before the Wycombe game we had kept two clean sheets on the trot, but today our defending was lacklustre."
Macc had raced into a 3-0 lead after 13 minutes at leaders Wycombe in their last outing, and they could easily have repeated that feat at York Street. Jon Parkin, twice, and Clyde Wijnhard were both guilty of missing good chances before Stewart Talbot’s 15th-minute strike took a huge deflection off David Morley and looped over a stranded Alan Fettis. Horton added: "You’ve got to take chances when they come, but we didn’t and we were punished for it."
The visitors continued to play the better football and Danny Whitaker was unfortunate to see a fine effort tipped spectacularly on to the crossbar by Conrad Logan. Kevin McIntyre thrashed the rebound into the side netting.
Fettis then did well to turn aside David Galbraith’s long-range strike, but the goalkeeper was badly at fault when he could only palm Lee Canoville’s 25-yard drive into his own net on 31 minutes.
Parkin pulled one back on 47 minutes when he met Kevin Sandwith’s corner with a diving header for his ninth goal of the season, but the Macc fightback never materialised.
Instead, Lawrie Dudfield, Alan White and Julian Joachim all went close for Boston, though the hosts were indebted to a brave block from Logan to deny Paul Harsley on 80 minutes. More inept defending sealed Macc’s fate a minute later when Parkin lost Paul Ellender at a corner and the defender flicked home a third.
BOSTON: Logan, Canoville, McCann, Ellender, White, Holland (Hall 6), Rusk, Galbraith (Thomas 90), Talbot, Joachim, Dudfield. Subs (not used): Futcher, Maylett, Greaves
MACCLESFIELD: Fettis, Sandwith, Morley, Bullock, Harsley, Parkin, Whitaker, McIntyre, Teague, Navarro, Wijnhard. Subs (not used): Swailes, Miles, Briscoe. Deasy, Smart. Booked: Navarro. Star man: Danny Whitaker.
Referee: Andy Woolmer.
Attendance: 1,975 (183).
