Boro 1 BottesfordTown 1
AS I WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND THIS SATURDAY'S MATCH, I HAVE COPIED THE REPORT FROM OUR LOCAL PAPER, ONCE AGAIN INJURIES MADE LIFE DIFFICULT FOR THE BORO MANAGEMENT TEAM AS THEY STRUGGLED TO PUT OUT A TEAM STRONG ENOUGH TO COMPETE WITH HIGH RIDING BOTTESFORD TOWN, WHO WERE 4TH IN THE LEAGUE BEFORE KICK-OFF.

"Brian France continues to shuffle his pack around as absentees still prevent a full strength squad. Ryan Blott was added to the injury list with a groin strain sustained midweek, while Scott Phillips and Craig Hogg were only fit enough to make the bench. Glenn Powley was given his first start of 2008 with Dave Bramley out of action and watching from the sidelines. With captain Jamie Waltham still serving a suspension the back three remained the same from the midweek fixture against York. Carl Wood was escalated up the pitch into a midfield role and Mark Griffin had a cameo in the front line.
The wind had not really died down since Tuesday meaning that conditions were still difficult to play in; gusts across the pitch made accurate long balls a non event. Bottesford would benefit from the wind in the first half and started the better of the two; most of the first 10 minutes were played in the Boro half but with no real end result. The away defence however, was not infallible as Medcalf had the ball in the back of the net only to be ruled just offside.
Scarborough were starting to find their feet and range in the wind, Griffin being strong to hold off his marker long enough to find Thompson whose shot forced a good save from keeper Sam Slocombe. Boro kept the pressure on from the resulting corner with Richard Medcalf heading just wide. Any cause for optimism was short lived when Bottesford swiftly took the lead with a decisive move straight through the heart of the Boro defensive. Ryan Davies was left on his seat as Danny House struck into the bottom left hand corner giving Powley no chance.
In response Dave Thompson was leading by example in the center of the park winning a loose ball and finding Griffin in an advanced position, his shot across the face was only narrowly wide. Ryan Morton was only past fit at the last minute and pulled up after only 34 minutes replaced by Graham Botham. Scarborough continued to press and would be unlucky not to level the scores as Gary Hepples lifted the ball over the away defense onto the six yard line. Both Griffin and Thompson were prowling and despite a scramble neither could find the right touch to steer it into the back of the net. Finally Boro would make the spell of ascendancy count, Kevin Milner lifted a promising ball over the top that substitute Botham latched onto, some clever play enabled room for a shot that was blocked, his second beat the keeper at the near post.
The scores level at the break, Scarborough should have the benefit of the wind in the second half and would be looking to push on and continue the good work at the end of the first period. Hepples was replaced at half time by Phillips, still lacking a little bit of match fitness. Thompson still the pick of the home side was formidable in midfield providing a cross from Liam Widdowson, his shot gathered comfortably by the keeper. The second half rarely got into any rhythm and neither side dominated, long spells of stalemates where neither side could keep the ball long enough to threaten goal. France did what he could to energise some attacking intent, defender Ryan Davies made way for striker Craig Hogg.
Despite the change Boro couldn't quite find the right formula to break down the Bottesford defence. Paul Chatterton had a rare shot on the Boro goal, a tenacious over head kick looped over Powley's bar. Scarborough had one good chance to take the lead; a counter attack led by Griffin was laid off to Medcalf although his long range shot was wide. Moments before time Bottesford had a chance to steal all three points, Wood conceding a free kick on the edge of the area, however Jamie Sherlock directed his strike too close to Powley to cause any problems.
In a game where the Boro side had many playing out of position and many carrying knocks one point was perhaps not so bad. Both teams were lacking a little bit of inspiration and neither really easy on the eye. Thompson again put in the performance of the day; however the team need to click as a unit if they are to find the form the fans have come to expect. Next week poses an easer fixture against Yorkshire Amateurs ,who have lost their last 4 fixtures".
Result: Boro 1 Bottesford 1
Boro line-up: Powley, Davies (Hogg 73), Milner, Kemp, Widdowson, Thompson, Hepples (Phillips 45), Wood (c), Griffin, Medcalf, Morton (Botham 34) Goal: Botham 43
Bottesford: Slocambe, Leech (Roach 55), Lill, Bell, Kirby, Mitchell, Chatterton, House (Baross 81), Sharpe, Jackman (Carter 76), Sherlock Goal: House 25
Attendance: 412