The Pilgrims slipped to a 2-1 home loss against Blue Square Premier club Mansfield Town.

The Stags opened up a two-goal interval lead with some bright play. But United responded well with a far more determined display after the break

Ben Milnes pulled a goal back, but despite renewed efforts, that proved to be Boston’s only reply.

It was Boston who were the first to offer a threat when Tom Ward went close with a header from a Ben Fairclough corner on eight minutes.

Within 30 seconds on the counter punch, the Stags almost took the lead when Jake Speight fired a drive against the home bar.

The Pilgrims responded through a smart half-volley by newcomer Matt Wilson, the effort drawing a good blocking save from keeper Shane Redmond.

But after that, the remainder of the first half was generally a tale of Mansfield having the better of exchanges. On 20 minutes Godfrey Poku headed wide following good build-up work and then Louis Briscoe fired into the side netting.

The visitors gained the ascendancy with two goals in three minutes. First NICK WRIGHT got in behind the home rearguard, rounded Dan Haystead and slotted in on 25 minutes. Shortly afterwards Briscoe slid a pass through for JAKE SPEIGHT to coolly slot home.

The latter almost made it 3-0 on 31 minutes with a close range header. But Haystead produced a fabulous reaction save.

Boston set off at a higher tempo after the break and pulled a goal back on 48 minutes when Marc Newsham and Mark Jones linked to set up BEN MILNES whose 22-yard drive zipped past Redmond.

United continued to look positive and Ian Ross saw a curling 18-yard effort drift inches wide.

Mansfield, who bizarrely played throughout in white shirts without identifying numbers, answered with close calls by Speight and Ben Hutchinson, the latter bringing a fine save from Haystead.

In the closing stages, the Pilgrims pushed for an equaliser and Newsham drilled a shot straight at Redmond while a Nathan Stainfield header from a Ross corner flashed wide of the target in the dying seconds.

Boston United (4-4-2): Dan Haystead; Conor Marshall, Nathan Stainfield, Tom Ward (Kern Miller 64), Gareth Jelleyman; Ben Fairclough (Ben Milnes 46), Matt Wilson, Ian Ross, Jason Stokes (Marc Newsham 46); Spencer Weir-Daley, Mark Jones. Subs (not used): Ricky Drury, James Reed, Joe French, Lewis Sturman, Jason Field, Korey Dyer-Street, Travis Munn, Kallum Smith.

Mansfield Town (4-4-2): Shane Redmond; Richard Sutton, John Dempster, Pablo Mills, Andy Todd; Louis Briscoe, Ben Hutchinson, Jamie Hand (Jobe Shaw 75), Godfrey Poku; Jake Speight (Adam Somes 87), Nick Wright. Subs (not used): Matt Thornhill, Scott Rogers.