Boston United 1-1 Tamworth

Southwell fired the Pilgrims into a 41st minute lead at The Jakemans Stadium, but the visitors levelled inside the first minute of the second half when Ross Dyer netted from close-range.

Visiting goalkeeper James Belshaw made terrific late saves to deny Southwell and his hard-working strike partner Mark Jones, but the Pilgrims had to settle for a share of the spoils.

Jason Alexander, Carl Piergianni and Kaine Felix were restored to the United line-up and the Pilgrims tried to make the early running on a playing surface with plenty of zip.

United did need an early intervention from Liam Marrs to deny Danny Newton, 12 yards from goal, with Tamworth poised to take the lead inside the first minute.

Ross Dyer and ex-Pilgrim Shane Clarke were then inches away from converting Elliott Durrell's deflected cross.

United carved out a presentable opening with Jones unselfishly picking out Jay Rollins on the run, but his angled drive never looked like troubling Belshaw.

Visiting defender Steve Tomassen made a terrific block to deny Southwell the opening goal, diverting the ball to safety following Rollins' cross from the right.

Southwell's subsequent effort skidded off the wet turf and forced a decent save from Belshaw. Felix blasted a later shot over the bar before being denied by a terrific Andrew Burns block.

United took the lead four minutes before the break when a terrific slide rule pass from Jones freed SOUTHWELL down the United right and his firm angled drive was too strong for Belshaw.

Tamworth levelled inside the first minute of the second half with DYER on hand to fire home from a couple of yards after United had failed to cut out a cross from the right.

Alexander was forced to save well from Connor Taylor, who had wriggled through to blaze goalwards from 20 yards, before United created a host of chances.

Southwell's drive deflected through to Belshaw, after Jones had nodded down a long clearance to create the opening.

Belshaw made a great save to tip Jones' header over the bar following Kyle Dixon's fizzing cross, while Southwell ran on to slide a firm shot into the side-netting with Belshaw committed.

Belshaw made another excellent save, high to his left, to claw Southwell's header to safety from underneath the crossbar following a Dixon corner.

Scott Garner's low drive from 20 yards was gathered in by Belshaw late on, while Jones' header was clutched by the Tamworth keeper following United's swift break and Grant Roberts' cross from the right.

Boston (4-4-2): Jason Alexander; Grant Roberts, Lionel Stone, Carl Piergianni, Liam Marrs; Kaine Felix, Scott Garner, Kyle Dixon, Jay Rollins; Dayle Southwell, Mark Jones. Subs (not used): Jay Dowie, Harry Limb, Jack Friend, Jordan Deacey, Aziz Deen-Conteh.

Tamworth (4-2-3-1): James Belshaw; Andrew Burns, Steve Tomassen, Dan Preston, Curtis Strong; Paul Green, Shane Clarke; Connor Taylor (Luke Hubbins 72), Elliott Durrell, Danny Newton (Andy Morrell 80); Ross Dyer. Subs (not used): Owain Warlow, Sean Wilkins, Jed Davies.

Referee: Declan Ford.

Attendance: 1,187 (74 visitors).