Southport 1-2 Boston United

The Pilgrims trailed to a Nathan Ellington goal on eight minutes but United struck back six minutes before the break and six minutes afterwards.

The result was deserved on the balance of play as the Pilgrims continued their impressive form on Merseyside.

It booked United's place in Monday's second round proper draw for only the third time in the last seven seasons.

United's afternoon had got off to the worst possible start. Loanee Joel Logan was a thorn in the Pilgrims' side during the first half and he created the game's opening goal on eight minutes.

His firm drive was parried to safety by teenager Sam Vince, with ELLINGTON on hand to sweep home the loose ball from close-range.

United's first chance arrived with Newsham's drive deflecting marginally off target after referee Ryan Johnson had played advantage following Jamie Hand's crunching tackle on Jake Hall.

The Pilgrims received a real let-off when Logan inexplicably shovelled a shot wide from 12 yards following excellence down the left from Ellington.

United took full advantage and levelled on 39 minutes. Ian Ross' corner was bundled goalwards by Scott Garner and NEWSHAM crashed home the loose ball via the underside of the bar.

Boston took control on 51 minutes after Rene Steer had been fouled. Ross' free-kick was met by a towering PIERGIANNI header at the near post, which left keeper Danny Hurst floundering.

The Pilgrims kept Southport at arm's length after taking the lead for the first time and came close to extending their advantage when Hurst fumbled Ricky Miller's piledriver wide for a corner.

A fantastic throughball from Newsham was then finished brilliantly by Miller but the offside flag went up as he emphatically made contact.

Southport came close to an equaliser with centre-half Matty Flynn rattling the crossbar from a Danny Hattersley cross.

Steve Akrigg and David Fitzpatrick crashed two excellently-placed free-kicks off target in the dying moments as Port ran out of time to break down a dogged United rearguard.

Southport (4-4-2): Danny Hurst; James Smith (Paul Rutherford 33), Matty Flynn, Steve Akrigg, David Fitzpatrick; Scott Brown, Jamie Hand, Jamie Milligan (Danny Hattersley 69), Joel Logan; Richard Brodie (Yamen Osawe 62), Nathan Ellington. Subs (not used): Matty Brown, Godwin Abadaki.

Boston (3-5-2): Sam Vince; Stefan Galinski, Scott Garner, Carl Piergianni; Liam Marrs, Ian Ross, Conor Marshall, Jake Hall, Rene Steer; Marc Newsham, Ricky Miller (Spencer Weir-Daley 77). Subs (not used): Ben Milnes, Indy Aujla, Netan Sansara, Ben Fairclough.

Referee: Ryan Johnson

Attendance: 496 (90 visitors)

PIC: Julia Urwin