MAIDSTONE 1-1 BORO: Saturday 17th November 1979
Jon Sammels made a stylish return to the Boro netting an equaliser with only few minutes to go. Boro started the game cautiously but soon took control playing neat and tidy football. Controversy seemed to take up the whole of the first half when Boro were disallowed what looked to be a perfectly OK goal. Pugh challenged Maidstone keeper Dickie Guy, the dodgy keeper dropped it and Pugh put the ball over the line but it seemed the referee thought an unfair challenged had been put on the Maidstone keeper and awarded him a free kick. The home side took the lead just after the interval through Glenn Aitken who fired a free kick past a stranded Bob Stockley at his near post. Boro then controlled the second half but failed to score until three minutes from the end, Hill failed to clear a cross and the ball fell to Sammels who was forward and unleashed a 20 yard screamer that gave Dickie no chance.
Hall, Farndon, Fallon, Cross, Smithers, Sammels, Stockley, Gallagher, Pugh, Hoult, Sugrue. SUB: Neale
GRAVESEND 2-2 BORO: Saturday 22nd March 1980
Only a day before this vital clash Boro boss Roy Barry joined Oxford Utd as Assistant Manager and Graham Smith was promoted from number two until a replacement was found. The home side opened the scoring through a penalty. Hall made a great save before realising the penalty was to be disallowed and was to be re took. Brown made sure with his second attempt firing in to the other corner. Boro then conceded a second just after the break, Brown cross found Busby who picked out Stonebridge who made no mistake from 5 yards. Debutante Gavin Lang played a big part in Boro 75th minute goal, his cross was met by Gallagher whose shot was blocked and Pugh fired home to half the goal deficit. Boro got what they deserved and scored and equaliser 9 minutes from time, Langs corner found Neale, who headed home for the visitors.
TEAM: Hall, Stcokley, Fallon, Cross, Smithers, Head, Sammels, Lang, Gallagher, Neale and Pugh. SUB: Ward
BORO 3-0 YEOVIL TOWN: Saturday 10th November 1979
Three goals in side 30 minutes secured Boro a deserved victory at Manor Park in front of 1348 fans. A warning was handed to Yeovil straight after the kick off, Ian Hoult came close with a long range shot. About 10 minutes into the game, Bob Stockly played a great through ball to Gallagher whose shot just bet Yeovil keeper Parker. Yeovil made very little impact on the Boro defence but when hate did it was Sugrue to the rescue, clearing the ball off his own goalline. Sugrue then went from Defender to attacker, on 16 minutes he took on the Yeovil defence before firing home a 25-yard shot which keeper Parker could do nothing about. Sugrue when put the game beyond Yeovils reach despite it only being 30 minutes on the clock. In the second half Boro took their foot off the gas a little, they created very few chances but played some delightful football, keeping possesion of the ball for most of the half. TEAM LINE UP: Farndon, Fallon, Cross, Smithers, Stockley, Gray, Sugrue, Gallagher, Camobell and Hoult.
GRANTHAM 3-0 BORO: Saturday 8th October 1988
Martin ONeils outfit made Boro look second best infront of 422 viewers. After only 6 minutes Boro found them selves a goal down, Pete Whitehurst scored from close range. Boro knew it wasnt going to be easy at Grantham attacked from the word go. On the half hour mark, Grantham doubled the deficit through Burrels free kick which luckily deflected off Stephens head, Belford couldnt do anything about the air bound ball as he watched it sail over him into the back off the net. Any chance that Boro had to pull back the game were vanished on 68 minutes, Grantham scored their first, Belford failed to hold on to the ball and Anderson was quick to react tapping the ball past Boros number 1. TEAM: Belford, Bateman, Pinner, Stephens Howarth, Bradley, Watts, Ward, Pollard, Polgrave, Donnelly. SUBS: Thomas, Gregory.
BOSTON UNITED 2-2 BORO: Saturday 22nd September 1979
Both sides when in to the game with great form, which so far that season was near impeccable Boston took the lead after 11 minutes through Bobby Brown. A cross from Callery was flicked on to Brown at the far post where he easily beat Hall who could do nothing. Nine minutes later Boro pulled level, Mark Neale fired a header past the keeper from a Smithers cross. Boston regained the lead on the half hour, Polar and Brown combined in the air again and Brown fired home his second goal of the game. Boro dominated the second half launching attack after attack, as hearts began to sink Boro looked destine to travel home with no points. Boston defender brought down the ball with him arm and the referee had no decision but to point to the spot. Malcolm Shotton, who went on to be the Oxford United manager, coolly slotted away the penalty which handede Boro the sharing of the points. TEAM: Hall, Stockley, Cross, Shotton, Thomas, Sugrue, Head, Smithers, Gallagher, Neale and Hoult. SUB: Fallon
BORO 2-1 NORTHWICH: Monday 28th January 1980
Boro claimed their fourth win in a week with Mark Neale scoring his first goal after a dry spell lasting over a month. With a re-shuffle among the starting eleven Boro looked at their best in front of 1345 fans. The visitors took the lead after 20 minutes, Bailey got possession before setting up Paul Rayman who fired the ball past a stranded Hall. Boro equalised through Pugh, he produced a stunning right foot shot to give him his 13th goal that season. 20 minutes before time Boro got the winner, Substitute Hoult played a key role in the build up which Dale finished well. TEAM: Hall, Stockley, Fallon, Shotton, Smithers, Sammels, Lewis, Surgrue, Dale, Neale and Pugh. SUB: Hoult
NUNEATON BOROUGH 1-1 BEDWORTH. May 7th 1984
The Midland Floodlit Cup final that year was different to many of the other finals as tired legs and the incapability to change the scorer meant the Trophy was shared. Local visitors Bedworth Utd produced arguably the worst game of football to have been played on that ground all year. Boro grabbed an early lead through Paul Richardson after 5 minutes before Bedworth equalised 17 minutes later. Despite territorial advantage Boro failed to add to the score. In extra time it was clear that both sides were lacking the ability to score, so at 1-1 the official decided to award both side with the cup. Boros line up that game was Poole, Hill, Gibson, Dixey, Glover, Smithers, Hamill, Murphy, Culpin, Morley and Richardson. Substitute: Carr
Pre-Season 1963-64. In May 1963 Boro finished fourth place in the southern league, First Division and were promoted to the Premier Division. The average attendance that year at Manor Park was 3141, which helped there bid for the Premier Division. The main priority for Premier Division football was major ground improvements, the main improvement that pre-season is now known as the Cock and Bear stand before the stand existed they called it the Town end.. The stand was put up in 1963 which cost the club 3,500 pounds. It is interesting to note that in the original report on the building of this stand it was stated that eventually there would be seating in place of terracing. Obviously nearly 40 years later we are still waiting for the seats to arrive.
NUNEATON BOROUGH 1-0 BEDFORD TOWN: May 1st 1982.
In front of about 1,400 spectators Boro finished the league game in !982 on a high. They claimed the title after beating visitors Bedford Town 1-0. They took the lead after 37 minutes, a corner from the left saw Bedford keeper punch the ball into the air where Bobby Parker met the ball in mid-flight powering the ball in to the back on the net in front of the Cock and Bear stand. There was very little action in the second half, Bedford came close to equalising a few times but Nuneaton pushed for more goals looking to kill off the opposition. After 90 minutes Boros 1-0 victory prompted a huge pitch invasion. Captain Bob Stockley collected the trophy from League Official Mr Pedley, who was also the Chairman of Alvechurch who coincidentally were runners up to the Boro. A lap of honour was followed by the Boro players as Boro boss Graham Carr watched from the sideline. As Boro had all the glory Bedford were not so fortunate, They were formed in 1980 and had been members of the southern league nearly 40 years, the 1-0 defeat at Manor Park was there last game in their distinguished history. Since then they have re-formed and are currently 2nd in the Ryman league division 1. And yes, this is the same Bedford Town we played in a pre-season friendly away from home.
The team that day was: Dulleston, Stockely, Sandercock, Brown, Glover, Nardiello, Parker, Parker, Dale, McFarlane, Lowe and Robson. The only sub that day was a Mr Hoult.
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