In the opening match of the English National League, Boston United hosted Rochdale at The Jakemans Community Stadium, with the visitors claiming a resounding 3-0 victory. Prior to this match, the head-to-head record between the two teams showed they had not played each other for the last three seasons. The first goal was scored by Devante Rodney in the 15th minute, courtesy of an assist from Harvey Gilmour. This initial breakthrough seemed to galvanize Rochdale, who continued to exert pressure on their opponents. As the first half drew to a close, Rodney netted his second goal in the 40th minute, effectively doubling his team’s advantage. With this win, Rochdale moved to second place in the league standings with 3 points, having played one match, while Boston United dropped to 22nd place with 0 points, having also played one match.
Throughout the match, both teams accumulated yellow cards, with notable bookings for Harvey Gilmour, Zak Mills, and Tobi Adebayo-Rowling, among others. These cautions underscored the competitive nature of the encounter, with players from both sides displaying tenacity and determination. The teams also made several tactical substitutions, as they sought to influence the outcome of the match. Boston United made a trio of changes in the 70th minute, introducing Martin Woods, Jacob Hazel, and Ryan East did not come on for Boston but for Rochdale, into the fray, while Rochdale made their first change in the 64th minute.
Despite their best efforts, Boston United struggled to breach Rochdale’s sturdy defense in the second half. As the game entered its final stages, Rochdale opted to introduce fresh legs, with Ian Henderson replacing Devante Rodney in the 89th minute. This substitution proved inspired, as Henderson scored his team’s third goal in the 92nd minute, thereby sealing a comprehensive 3-0 victory for Rochdale. This outcome not only marked a triumphant start to the season for the away team but also left Boston United with a significant task ahead, as they seek to recover from this setback and regain momentum in the league.