Boston United 1-1 Brackley Town

The Pilgrims trailed to Sam Whittall's 17th minute header and were indebted to Newsham's 74th minute tap-in to rescue a point following a scrappy encounter.

United will sense two points dropped, but having lost Greg Tempest to injury in the warm-up and already missing Scott Garner, Dayle Southwell and Conor Marshall ahead of kick-off, the Pilgrims at least stretched their unbeaten run to seven.

Having named an unchanged line-up for six successive matches in November, Dennis Greene was forced into two alterations with Garner and Southwell ruled out through suspension and injury respectively and a third change was added into the equation when Tempest withdrew because of a knee problem.

United took a while to find their feet against a side boasting a good defensive record despite their lowly league position.

An early chance presented itself with Michael Hollingsworth's header from a Kyle Dixon corner blocked by a combination of Tom Sharpe and his own team-mate Mark Jones.

Brackley's first real chance resulted in the game's opening goal. Ebby Nelson-Addy delivered a corner from the Town left and Cambridge United loanee WHITTALL stooped to score with a firm header.

United gradually responded and Jones met Dixon's corner, but the ball hit his shoulder and ballooned behind. Zeph Thomas then slammed an effort wide following Jones' cross from the right.

There was a glorious chance for Jones at the beginning of the second half, but his header flew off target following Kaine Felix's deep cross. David Fallah's downward header was subsequently blocked in front of goal by Dwayne Samuels.

Newsham was introduced six minutes into the half and soon fired in a shot-on-the-turn which was brilliantly tipped wide by Dean Snedker.

Town had a chance to kill the contest but Ryan Rowe's glancing header flew off target following Chris Carruthers' left-wing cross.

United's leveller arrived with 16 minutes to play when sub Jamie McGhee's cross was turned home on the line by NEWSHAM for his first goal since February 4 at Histon.

McGhee was then close with a drive from 20 yards which cleared Snedker's crossbar.

United thought their winner had arrived deep into stoppage time, but Jones' free header flew wide from Zak Mills' dinked cross.

Boston (4-4-2): Joel Dixon; Liam Marrs, Zak Mills, Carl Piergianni, Rene Steer; Kaine Felix, Michael Hollingsworth, Kyle Dixon, David Fallah (Jamie McGhee 65); Zeph Thomas (Marc Newsham 51), Mark Jones. Subs (not used): Louis Saebe, Sam Vince (gk).

Brackley (4-4-2): Dean Snedker: Dwayne Samuels, Ryan Austin, Tom Sharpe, Chris Carruthers; Ebby Nelson-Addy, Sam Whittall, Eddie Odhiambo, Kyle Patten (Eric Odhiambo 60); Connor Waldon (Ryan Rowe 60), Will Green. Subs (not used): Michael Built, Greg Kaziboni, Greg Pearson.

Referee: Alf Greenwood.

Attendance: 909 (16 visitors).

PIC: Tim Hoff.