05-05-49: Boston United (a) 2-5 (HT 1-4) Crowd (5,749)

Match Report:

This Mather Cup game against the Leeds United first team was arranged as part of the transfer deal that had taken Boston's Spalding born centre half Roly Depear to the Second Division side. After impressing in the 4-3 Boston win in the Mather Cup match against Leeds the previous season, Depear had been snapped up for £500 by Leeds manager Major Frank Buckley, with a further £300 to follow as soon as he had played ten times for the first team. Depear had been mainly turning out for the reserve side in the intervening year, but had managed to make five first team appearances and now returned to face his old club. The Leeds side he brought over to Boston was a strong one. It contained many first team regulars including two players with international caps.

As soon as the match started it became evident that the visitors were a classy side, and as is often the case when faced with good opponents, the home side raised their game to fit. This resulted in what many spectators considered to be the finest display of football seen on the ground all season. Depear was Leeds captain for the night and it was clear that he was a vastly improved player from the one who had turned out for Boston the previous year.

Boston soon had a good chance when Gallagher picked out Harry Sharp with a good pass, but the Boston forward's shot was well saved. At the other end Jock Bayne then had to smother a shot from Northern Ireland international David Cochrane forcing Norman Dingwall to push the loose ball into touch before it could be pounced on by the incoming Leeds attack. Boston took the lead when LONGMATE took advantage of hesitation by Leeds keeper Harold Searson to rob him of the ball and stab it home. The Leeds forwards now tested the Boston defence and Jack Moss fired a hard shot at Bayne, but he was able to turn the ball over the bar. On 14 minutes Leeds equalised. A move by John Rudd on the left wing pulled the Boston defence out of position and his cross picked out MOSS in a position to score. Boston however hit back straight away as LONGMATE got his second goal, from a corner kick taken by Albert Wilson. The best goal of the match came five minutes before half-time. Constantine GALLAGHER went on a solo run through the Leeds defence that had the spectators on their feet. He went past Jim Milburn and then placed his shot, giving Searson little chance of reaching the ball. Just before the half-time whistle Boston went further ahead when Longmate threaded a perfect pass to SHARP. On the resumption Leeds put pressure on the Boston goal, but in the 53rd minute CLAYTON scored Boston's fifth goal when he headed the ball home from a Longmate corner. The pace of the game now slackened. Towards the end of the match Leeds managed to get a consolation goal when DEPEAR headed home a corner.

This was to be Depear's last game for Leeds as a month later he was transferred to Newport County for £8000, making Leeds a tidy profit on their initial £500 investment and denying Boston their £300 bonus payment.

Report courtesy of http://www.bufc.drfox.org.uk/C050549.html.