Bradford Park Avenue 1-2 Boston United

Jay Rollins opened the scoring with a thunderbolt inside the first minute and then provided the ammunition for fit-again Dayle Southwell to double the lead five minutes after half-time.

Although Avenue reduced the arrears on the hour mark through Craig King, the Pilgrims deservedly prevailed once Fabian Spiess had twice saved well to deny Callum Chippendale.

Rollins and Southwell were two of the players coming into United's starting XI ahead of kick-off, with Dylan McEvoy and John Sands returning too.

The Pilgrims went in front inside 59 seconds with ROLLINS rattling home a fantastic 20-yarder off the underside of the bar.

United almost doubled their lead on 25 minutes when Southwell's low drive flashed to safety off the post following Sands' flick.

Boston closed the half on the front foot with Rollins' header flying wide at the back post following Lewis Hilliard's deep cross.

United added their second goal five minutes after half-time when Rollins rounded a wandering Jon Stewart to square to SOUTHWELL who eventually drilled the ball home low into the net.

Bradford responded 10 minutes later and cut the deficit with KING on hand to sweep the ball home after Liam Marrs had cleared off the line to deny Jason St Juste.

The home side were resurgent and Spiess twice had to deny Chippendale in quick succession to keep the Pilgrims in front. Darren Thornton's driven cross-shot then narrowly evaded Chib Chilaka at the back post.

Bradford still required a save from Stewart to deny Sands in the closing stages and United held on for three valuable points.

Bradford PA (4-4-2): Jon Stewart; Sam Patterson (Simon Ainge 88), Ryan Qualter, Billy Priestley, Darren Thornton; Craig King, Nathan Turner (Jake Scott 74), Luke Dean, Callum Chippendale; Chib Chilaka, Lamin Colley (Jason St Juste 56). Subs (not used): Richard Marshall, Michael Potts.

Boston (4-4-2): Fabian Spiess; Liam Marrs, Scott Garner, Carl Piergianni, Dylan McEvoy; Lewis Hilliard (Kaine Felix 57), Grant Roberts, Stephane Ngamvoulou (Joe Burgess 57), Jay Rollins; Dayle Southwell (Cameron Johnson 74), John Sands. Subs (not used): Mark Jones, Ioan Evans.

Referee: Scott Oldham.

Attendance: 402.