The Greens were again impressive during the opening exchanges at a foggy Tattershall Road but struggled to impose themselves following Harry Limb’s 34th minute opener. The killer blow to the Greens’ hopes arrived in first half stoppage time when goalkeeper Harrison Leech bound out to meet Fraser Bayliss and in the process, hauled him down in the area – top scorer Limb again sliding the hosts out of sight ahead of an uneventful second half period.

Manager Matt Evans made four changes from the side defeated 4-0 by Bourne Town last weekend. That included a full debut for Will Hollingsworth up front – his the place of Harry Gibbons who dropped to the bench. He was also joined amongst the substitutes by Jack Eden, Joe Wilkinson and Andy Whalen who missed out on a starting place for the first time since the 2-1 defeat to AFC Mansfield back on October 19th. Their places amongst the starters were taken by Ben Robson – who returned from suspension – Harrison Ainslie and Lewis Greenfield. Hosts Boston Town meanwhile were defeated 1-0 by title-chasing Eastwood Community on Saturday and they ran with the same eleven for Thursday’s festive derby – possibly more out of necessity than choice – with manager Chris Funnell able to name only three substitutions from the five available to him.

The game started some twenty minutes or late after linesman Giles Elson was taken ill during the pre-match shakedown. He was able to walk off the field, but the game nevertheless remained on hold until back-up arrived. When it did, and the game got underway, the Greens sensed early blood and home keeper Travis Portas was in early action to tip Josh Parker’s dangerous corner over the crossbar. Portas then again reacted well to foil Will Hollingsworth a little while later after he’d been well found from the right by Nathan Brettoner.

Despite the promising start though, the Greens were soon behind, and it was the hosts hotshot striker Harry Limb who manufactured the breakthrough by first bringing the ball under his control, working space, and then powering into the bottom corner just shy of the outstretched hand of Harrison Leech in the Greens goal. The Greens were undeterred though and should have been level in the final five minutes of the half when first, Lewis Greenfield forced Travis Portas to produce a fine diving hand before Hollingsworth slotted the ball the wrong side of the post when one-on-one with Portas. It was from that though that the hosts killer goal arrived, Leech coming out to meet – and ultimately felling – Fraser Bayliss to hand the Poachers a golden opportunity from the spot – one duly taken by Limb as he doubled-up for the day.

Clearly keen to finish of the game as a contest early in the second half, the Poachers came out fighting and central to it was an impressive cameo from Liam Adams who first set up Limb to power over the crossbar before instigating an almighty melee in the box that forced Leech to take evasive action. Leech was then out a few moments later to produce a fantastic block to deny Limb a hat-trick before Lewis Smalley intervened to good effect to block from an advancing Fraser Bayliss.

Limb was continuing to make a nuisance of himself midway through the second period – scooping wide of the mark after beating an advancing Leech to a long ball forward. A few moments later, he was again beating Leech to the punch, but again, the hat-trick evaded him as he instead found the side netting. To the Greens credit though, they continued to plug away and could have found a route back into the game in the final 10-minutes, Andy Whalen seeing his effort well blocked on the line before Josh Parker crossed for Will Hollingsworth to crash an effort inches over the crossbar.

Despite that revival, there was to be no miracle comeback, in fact, the hosts had to chances to stretch their lead yet further, Layton Maddison trying his luck with a direct freekick from range before Liam Adams forced and good diving hand from Harrison Leech on the brink of the 90th minute. There was still time for Limb to once again be deprived of his hat-trick, seeing Leech stick out a leg in handy fashion in stoppage time – but it was never enough to see the Greens to a first win in eleven contests.

Words: Oliver Atkin