Hinckley led at half-time through Aron Wint and despite levelling through Spencer Weir-Daley, the Pilgrims fell behind again to Danny Bragoli’s well-placed free-kick.

Boston applied plenty of late pressure, but Hinckley defended manfully to hang on to a maximum three-point haul.

There had been little sign of things to come with the Pilgrims having won their opening two fixtures — including a 6-0 success over Histon on Tuesday — while Hinckley had conceded seven goals without reply in two opening defeats.

Yet it was the Knitters, boosted by the inclusion of new signing Aaron Cole on the left wing, who started brightly and had chances before they actually took the lead.

Left-back Ben Richards-Everton was arguably Hinckley’s best player and headed over the bar following Phil Green’s free-kick before clipping the post with a low drive following a partially cleared corner.

United responded and Mark Jones’ cross-shot was tipped away by Rob Peet and Kallum Smith could only fire the rebound wide from an acute angle.

Dan Haystead saved well to deny Harvey Headley, while Boston had the ball in the net at the other end, but Conor Marshall was adjudged to have fouled Cole as he teed up Jones.

The Knitters took the lead on 32 minutes when WINT headed the ball back across Haystead and into the far corner following Declan Towers’ pinpoint cross from the right.

Boston came close in the closing stages of the half but defender Charlie Raglan produced a brilliant block on the line to deny Marc Newsham with Peet beaten.

With Ben Milnes thrown on for Ian Ross, WEIR-DALEY followed shortly afterwards for Ben Fairclough and had an immediate impact when latching on to Matt Wilson’s headed throughball to slam the ball past Peet.

Boston were level for just seven minutes before falling behind. Nathan Stainfield fouled substitute Danny Campbell and BRAGOLI stepped up to curl a low free-kick around the wall and into the left-hand corner of Haystead’s net.

The Pilgrims huffed and puffed in the closing stages, but never seriously tested Peet in the Hinckley goal. Wilson’s long-range drive deflected through to Peet, while the keeper clutched Smith’s dipping volley.

Boston (4-4-2): Dan Haystead; Conor Marshall (Gary Silk 70), Kern Miller, Nathan Stainfield, Gareth Jelleyman; Ben Fairclough (Spencer Weir-Daley 60), Matt Wilson, Ian Ross (Ben Milnes 56), Kallum Smith; Mark Jones, Marc Newsham. Subs (not used): Jason Field, Jason Stokes.

Hinckley (4-4-2): Rob Peet; Declan Towers, Charlie Raglan, Paul Lister, Ben Richards-Everton; Darius Darkin (Richard Bryan 76), Phil Green (Jake Holt 56), Danny Bragoli, Aaron Cole; Harvey Headley (Danny Campbell 62), Aron Wint. Subs (not used): Jack Lane, Mark Dudley.