Boston United 0 Vauxhall Motors 1
MOTORS completed a double over former Football League outfit Boston on Saturday.
Ashley Stott’s 39th-minute header was enough to give the Ellesmere Port visitors all three points at The Jakemans Stadium.
The Pilgrims, beaten 4-0 at Rivacre Park in December, looked the livelier of the two sides in the opening 45 minutes, but they rarely threatened.
Motors keeper Zac Jones had only one notable save to make in the first half, denying Boston midfielder Ian Ross from 20 yards out following good build-up play from Spencer Weir-Daley.
The only goal of the game came six minutes before the interval.
Motors were awarded a free-kick which was whipped in from the right by Danny Fearnehough. Man of the match Tom Hannigan nodded the ball on and Stott arrived at the far post to head the ball home from close range.
Boston had plenty of chances after the break but they could not find a way past Vauxhall keeper Jones.
A fizzing drive by Ross flew just over the bar following Marc Newsham’s neat lay-off, while defender Conor Marshall tried his luck from distance but the Vauxhall keeper was equal to the effort.
Further chances fell to the home side. Newsham’s close-range header flew wide from a Tom Ward cross, while Phil Watt was denied by a goal-line block as the Pilgrims piled on the pressure in search of an equaliser.
Craig Mahon twice had opportunities to wrap up all three points for Motors but he failed to trouble the Boston keeper on both occasions after surging clear of the home defence.
Pilgrims boss Graham Drury paid for the result with his job. He was sacked on Monday.
Vauxhall: Jones, Wainwright, Barnes (Fearnehough), Hannigan, Nicholas, Noone, Mahon, Clair, Rutter, Stott (Anoruo), Noon. Subs: Moss, Kocsis, Ellison.
Attendance: 800.
Motors return to Rivacre Park this Saturday when mid-table Worcester City are the visitors (3pm).
