Boston United lose play off final to miss out on promotion
It follows their defeat 2-0 to York City in the National League North
Last updated 21st May 2022
It's heartbreak for Boston United as they lose to York City in the promotion final.
The 2-0 result means the Pilgrims face another season in the National League North.
Five coaches full of Pilgrims fans travelled to Yorkshire, with a total of 878 of them all watching on at the LNER Community Stadium.
And hundreds more watched back in Boston at the Jakeman's community stadium on a big screen set up for the occasion.
But it wasn't to be for Paul Cox and his team.
Here's the story of the game:
Well what can I say - it was agonising for Boston United fans.
They were just settling into the game when York struck less than 5 minutes after kick off.
Lenell John Lewis was the man on target for the Minstermen.
He's someone well known to Lincolnshire football fans having previously been at both Lincoln City and Grimsby Town.
From that moment you got the feeling it wasn't going to be Boston's day.
However they picked themselves up and tried to take the fight to York.
The Pilgrims had some nice touches but in the first half couldn't really provide the cutting edge they really needed.
Half time York City 1 Boston United 0.
The second half and the Pilgrims really began to give it a go.
They looked more purposeful.
But still they couldn't find a way through.
York were still a threat on the break but couldn't find a second until the 86th minute when Maz Kouhyar was on target for the Minstermen.
At that point Boston fans knew the game was up.
The players looked drained and beaten.
Yes they tried to find a way through afterwards but the writing was on the wall and with the clocking ticking down to full time there was no way back.
In all honesty they weren't at their best.
Maybe it was the occasion in front of a crowd of almost 7 and a half thousand.
Somehow they couldn't quite find the form that had taken them to the final.
Despite several announcements urging fans not to go onto the pitch the final whistle saw hordes of York supporters doing just that.
They had to be made to go back to their seats before the trophy could be presented.
Full time score York City 2 Boston United 0.
Reaction:
Well you can imagine what Boston fans were feeling.
"Disappointing, agonising, gutted" - just three words that fans were uttering as they wearily trudged out of the stadium.
It's never easy to lose at this stage but many supporters believed this might just be their year.
Some felt refereeing decisions had gone against them or that the team simply didn't do themselves justice.
Whatever the case the Pilgrims couldn't find a way past York.
We spoke to one of Boston United's Directors Chris Cook after the game.
He said "It's gutting".
"But the Boston fans were an absolute credit to the club,"
"They applauded our lads, they applauded their fans and their players at the same time".
"I'm sure everyone enjoyed the day but it wasn't to be."
We also talked to Boston United's manager Paul Cox post match.
He was asked if the result hurt: He said "Yes it does, I probably hide it well, it's going to be a horrible journey back."
"Probably going to be a sulky 48 hours".
"At the minute we're hurting but we'll dust ourselves down as a football club and come back stronger".
"Emotions are running really high at the minute, it's not very nice when you've come all this way."
"It's probably the most loneliest, hardest place to lose is in a final but these kind of days only make me stronger".
"But the supporters have been absolutely outstanding and we'll work really really hard to give them what they crave".
So the season ends without promotion for the Pilgrims but there are positives to take from their 2 victories leading up to the final.
They were so close and yet didn't quite make it.
But maybe this time next year?