West Street (Winterton) Tuesday, April 12th, 2011   Northern Counties East Premier Attendance: 150         Winterton Rangers 2 3 aet Scarborough Athletic
2010 /11

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What started off as a good night ended in disappointment as Boro fell at the semi final stage for the second time this season as they let slip a two goal lead and the chance of a place in the NCEL league cup final going down in extra time to Winterton Rangers at a chilly West Street. Boro made two changes from their previous outing at the weekend, Denny Ingram replaced Josh Clayton and Richard Dunning returned for the cup tied Nick McNamara. Winterton should have taken the lead after three minutes, but James O''Neill somehow fired wide with only Tom Woodhead to beat, Boro then started to take control when Chris Jenkinson headed just wide from Graham Botham''s free kick. Soon after Boro took the lead with a tremendous finish by Ryan Blott, Jenkinson flicked on a Gary Hepples long throw, the ball fell perfectly for Blott who dispatched a superb overhead kick giving Jack Ward no chance. The home side tried to respond but a good save by Woodhead denied Jack Cross who was through on goal, Blott had Boro''s next chance but he fired wide after a neat pass from James Webb. After twenty-five minutes Boro doubled their lead with a great team goal, Blott played in Frank Belt down the right, his first time cross was flicked on by Bill Law to Webb who made no mistake. Boro held their lead to the break, albeit with the help of the referee''s assistant, when the referee allowed Rob Sanderson''s header to stand, he correctly flagged for a foul on Woodhead. That''s as good as it got for Boro as they were completely overrun in the second half, the home side were immediately back in the tie within a minute of the restart, a poor header by Jenkinson fell to Gavin Cooper who volleyed past Woodhead. Boro tried to get going but Hepples was way off target with a header from a Belt cross, then Botham''s free kick was straight at Ward. Woodhead had to be alert to avert a shot from Cooper, and from the resultant corner Sanderson headed wide. Boro were really struggling and they were not helped when Webb had to be substituted after suffering an elbow to the face. They had some nervous moments and only some desperate defending by Boro''s overworked back four kept their lead in tact. Unfortunately they couldn''t hang on and Winterton grabbed a well-deserved equaliser four minutes from time, a cross from the right wasn''t cleared and the ball eventually arrived to O''Neill who headed home giving Woodhead no chance. This seemed to completely knock the stuffing out of Boro, and whether the amount of games they have played recently caught up with them, they just didn''t seem to have the wherewithal or the energy to repel constant Winterton attacks, and they fell behind for the first time after more poor defending. Despite two or three opportunities to clear their lines, they didn''t, eventually the ball fell to Liam Wilkin who easily beat Woodhead. From that moment on the result was never in doubt and the only chance Boro created was a decent run and cross by Mike Barker but that was easily cleared. Boro pushed Jenkinson up front in an attempt to get back on the game leaving huge holes in defence, which Winterton could and should have extended their lead, but on numerous occasions their poor finishing let them down. Five minutes from the end Hepples received a second yellow card after a strong tackle on O''Neill. Boro: Woodhead, Belt, Botham, Jenkinson (c), Ingram, Hepples, Law (Reid 62), Dunning, Blott, Webb (Barker 79), Palmer (Richardson 106) Unused Subs: Gravill, Clayton, Goals: Blott 10, Webb 25, Booked: Botham, Webb, Hepples. Sent Off: Hepples. Winterton Rangers: Ward, Stannard, Severn (Slack 85), Walkden (c), Sanderson, Smith, O’Neill, Cooper, Wilkin (Nesbitt 112), Cross, Barlow (Leesley 96), Unused Sub: Robinson Goals: Cooper 46, O’Neill 86, Wilkin 99, Booked: Smith, Cross, Attendance: 150 Referee: M. Bell