Boston United 3-1 Chorley

The Pilgrims chalked up a notable 3-1 home win over play-off chasers Chorley, who led through Jake Cottrell's 24th minute strike.

United came back strongly after the break with Chapman's penalty levelling proceedings before decisive contributions from Yeomans and man-of-the-match Hilliard.

Chances were at a premium during a cagey opening from both sides, played out on Valentine’s Day in front of the lowest crowd of the season at The Jakemans Stadium.

Jay Rollins had a couple of fruitless forays forward for the Pilgrims but it was the Magpies who edged in front when Josh Robinson failed to clear Dale Whitham’s cross from the right and COTTRELL pounced with a curling left-footed effort from 12 yards.

United responded with Alex Simmons firing a 25-yard free-kick a fraction wide while Robinson drove an effort off target following Yeomans’ knockdown.

The Pilgrims started the second half brightly and drew level after referee Richard Wild had penalised Kieran Charnock for a foul on Robinson. CHAPMAN confidently stepped up from the spot to beat Ritchie Branagan, who dived the wrong way.

Tom Batchelor had already seen one header clawed away by Branagan following Simmons’ corner and having again been denied by the Chorley keeper in a like-for-like move, YEOMANS swooped to mark his debut with a close-range goal with 63 minutes played.

United made the game safe 11 minutes later when Karl Hawley clipped HILLIARD into the clear and he checked back inside Adam Blakeman before dispatching a firm 20-yard drive beyond Branagan’s grasp.

Boston (4-3-3): Ross Durrant; Charlie Gatter, Josh Robinson, Tom Batchelor, Jan Yeomans; Shane Clarke, Adam Chapman, Lewis Hilliard (Callum Chippendale 90); Alex Simmons (Kalern Thomas 80), Karl Hawley, Jay Rollins. Subs (not used): Ben Gordon, Joe Fitzpatrick, Nat Brown.

Chorley (3-5-2): Ritchie Branagan; Andy Teague, Scott Leather (Robbie McDaid 64), Kieran Charnock; Matt Challoner, Dale Whitham (Josh O’Keefe 76), Adam Blakeman, Jake Cottrell, Will Beesley; Marcus Carver, Jack Sampson (Louis Myers 83). Subs (not used): Waqas Azam, Adam Roscoe.

Referee: Richard Wild.

Attendance: 807 (32 visitors).