Match report for BHA 1-0 Boston

Last updated : 24 August 2006 By FootyMAD

They needed a stylish first goal of the season from Australian full-back Paul Reid with 17 minutes left to see off the brave but limited challenge of the League Two visitors.

Brighton had come unstuck against League Two opposition in Shrewsbury and Bristol Rovers at the same stage of the competition in each of the previous two seasons.

Boston never really threatened to emulate the exploits of so many of their rivals against Championship clubs the night before, but their spirited performance was a vast improvement on last Saturday's 5-0 drubbing at Shrewsbury.

Albion controlled the early play but couldn't force Andy Marriott into a serious save until the stroke of half-time, when the well-travelled goalkeeper pushed away a shot from a narrow angle by Jake Robinson.

Brighton were grateful to Michels Kuipers for sparing them from an embarrassing deficit at the interval. The Dutch keeper, making his first appearance since January, twice thwarted the side he served on loan in two separate spells last season.

Kuipers made a diving one-handed stop on the half-hour mark to keep out a well-struck effort from long range by Tim Ryan, and was in sharp form again shortly before the break when he blocked a shot on the turn by Paul Tait.

Brighton continued to probe for a breakthrough in the second half but they were frustrated by a well-drilled Boston defence. Dean Cox, making his full home debut, almost broke the deadlock when his free-kick from just outside the area was deflected on to the roof of the net.

Brighton were finally rewarded for their patience and persistence when Reid went on another forward burst. He played the ball into Alex Revell from midway inside the Boston half, continued his run and received the return pass before planting a precise left-foot shot into the far corner.

Revell almost doubled the lead in the closing stages with a low drive from Dean Hammond's cutback, which Marriott held at the foot of his post.