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Archived News from April 2004

STAGSNET`S STATISTICAL PREVIEW
14th April 2004 22:12


When the Stags travel to York Street at Boston hoping to get back on track after the disappointing Easter results, it will be to a completely new ground in FL fixtures. But the teams played each other very frequently in the 1920's, the decade prior to the Stags' election to the old division 3 (S) way back in 1931.

On the other hand, Boston United were promoted to the Nationwide FL div 3 last season and despite having four points deducted they managed to stay up. This season, they have consolidated and are now sitting in a comfortable mid-table position, proving hard to beat at home. Teams like Torquay – clipped 4-0 at Boston by the time the writer of these lines Stagsnet reported the home game against Cheltenham, also won 4-0 - , Oxford and Yeovil can confirm this, latter beaten in the 90th minute 3-2 on Easter Monday.

On the Saturday after the Cheltenham home game, the Boston Pilgrims visited Field Mill for the first time ever in the League. And the Stags earned a hard-fought 2-1 victory. After Weatherstone had given Boston the lead midway through the first half, Mendes equalized a few minutes later – and early on in the second half, he also got the winner – two cracking strikes.

This was the first meeting since the 1930-31 season in the Midland Counties League. In those days, the Stags did score at least once in their 10 home fixtures compared to a measly five away goals, one win and one defeat away at Boston.

In the 20's, the biggest Stags win was a 7-2 on October 22, 1927 and the scorers were Morfitt 2, Keetley 3, Fisher and Roe. When the Stags notched their so far only win at Boston on September 8, 1923, Death and Donovan hit the back of the net once each.

The teams last non-league meeting Field Mill took place on September 27, 1930 when the Stags won 3-0 courtesy of strikes from Murphy (2) and Hargreaves. When the teams drew in the up-to-date latest game at Boston on January 17, 1931, Goddard was credited as the Stags scorer.

And during that period of time, they also crossed their FA Cup swords on one occasion. This happened on November 28, 1925 when goals from Heathcote and Hart weren't enough to see the Stags progress as Boston ran out 5-2 winners at their place. The worst Stags reverse in the Midland Counties League days was a 0-5 on May 3, 1930.

(NOTE: all results details below and the Stags scorers in previous outings are courtesy of the centenary Mansfield Town – the First 100 years book by Jack Retter and Paul Taylor).

There have also been some players figuring for both sides. Among them are Andy White, who earlier this season spent a month on loan to Boston playing a couple of games.

Played for both sides: Russell Allen, Brian Bates, Bernard Chambers, Stephen Chambers, Oliver Copestake, Charles Croft, Paul Evans, Greg Fee, Barry Foster, Jim Lumby, Brendon Phillips, David Smith, Imre Varadi, Ernest Wright, (while in FL), Andy White.
(Reginald Simms, 1 game for the Stags in 1933 – not FL – left for Boston).

Above mentioned players are those whose, courtesy of the centenary book, previous or next club was Boston.

Non-league fixtures:

Home: P 10, W 6, D 2, L 2, GF 27, GA 15
Away: P 10, W 1, D 1, L 8, GF 5, GA 24

1921-22 2-1 1921-10-29 1-4 1922-04-06 Midland Counties League
1922-23 2-2 1922-09-30 0-1 1923-04-14 Midland Counties League
1923-24 2-1 1923-09-15 2-0 1923-09-08 Midland Counties League
1924-25 3-2 1925-03-01 1-2 1924-09-13 Midland Counties League
1924-25 3-0 1925-04-25 0-3 1925-04-18 Midland Counties League, secondary competition
1925-26 2-3 1925-10-17 0-2 1925-10-03 Midland Counties League
1927-28 7-2 1927-10-22 0-2 1927-09-10 Midland Counties League
1928-29 2-2 1928-10-03 0-4 1929-05-02 Midland Counties League
1929-30 1-2 1930-02-08 0-5 1930-05-03 Midland Counties League
1930-31 3-0 1930-09-27 1-1 1931-01-17 Midland Counties League

League fixtures:

Home P 1, W 1, D 0, L 0, GF 2, GA 1
Away first-ever Nationwide FL game at Boston

2003-04 2-1 2003-11-01 (at Field Mill) Div 3

FA Cup

1925-26 2-5 1925-11-28 (1st round at Boston)

Svante Bernhard aka Sweden Stag (pictured, above right)

 

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