Boston United 1 Northampton Town 1

Last updated : 13 December 2003 By Footymad Previewer

Honours ended all square as Boston and Northampton battled out an entertaining draw.

The result, although not really helping either side's aspirations of climbing into the top half of the table, still served to consolidate their respective positions ahead of the relegation zone.

The game kicked off in cagey fashion with the opening 10 minutes seeing little in the way of creativity. But then it was Northampton who created the first chance with Martin Smith's bouncing drive from 20 yards being saved by Paul Bastock at the second attempt.

Boston responded with some useful attacking play with untaken half chances falling to Simon Weatherstone and Neil Redfearn.

Northampton upped the tempo and twice in quick succession close to the half hour mark they were denied by the woodwork as shots from Marc Richards and then Chris Hargreaves bounced away off opposite posts.

But the visitors made their possession pay in the 33rd minute when Smith made strides down the left and centred for Greg Lincoln to slot past Bastock from eight yards.

But Boston drew level on 38 minutes when Lee Thompson drilled home from 16 yards after Adam Boyd had knocked down a Redfearn free kick.

Both sides did look purposeful at the start of the second half with the visitors pressing through Hargreaves and Richard Walker and then Boston going close on 53 minutes when Boyd raced clear only to be denied by a good save from keeper Lee Harper.

Just after the half hour mark, Town's Walker broke clear down the right but fired wide when space opened up for him to shoot.

In the 63rd minute another fleeting raid by Northampton saw Lincoln get free down the right. His cross was met by Hargreaves but his header was superbly saved by Bastock.

Boston replied with near misses for substitute Simon Rusk and Boyd.

In the dying throes Redfearn fired over from distance for Boston and then at the other end a Richards header was well saved by Bastock following a cross from the left by Smith.

Boston boss Neil Thompson said: "It was a tough examination for us. In the first half their attacks gave us plenty of problems but our lads at the back dug in well.

"We changed things around a bit at half time. And it was perhaps a game either side could have won." Town manager Colin Calderwood said: "It was slightly frustrating from our point of view in that a lot of good play didn't bring us the three points we possibly deserved.

"We have got to take it on the chin, but at least the signs are there that we are now getting things into shape."