Boston United 1-3 Nuneaton Town

The Pilgrims started brightly but wasted a number of chances before Ashley Chambers fired the visitors in front two minutes before half-time.

Further strikes from Jordan Nicholson and Joe Ironside sandwiched a red card for Boro's Exodus Geohaghon as the Pilgrims were unable to capitalise on their numerical advantage. Alex Simmons eventually cut the deficit in stoppage time.

United’s collapse was all the more galling given their bright start at a soggy Jakemans Stadium, with Karl Hawley testing Tyrell Belford early on and Charlie Gatter’s inviting cross from the right narrowly evading Colby Bishop in the centre of goal.

The Pilgrims suffered an injury blow when Jay Rollins limped off after 13 minutes but they continued taking the fight to Boro, with Belford saving well from Adam Chapman’s 20-yard free-kick and then Ben O’Hanlon hacking off the line to deny Jan Yeomans.

United’s best chance arrived with 26 minutes on the clock but Bishop somehow blazed wide across goal after meeting Yeomans’ cross.

Nuneaton took the lead after Ironside had badly miscued a header on goal. The ball was partially cleared but CHAMBERS took full advantage to arrow a fine effort beyond Ross Durrant’s grasp two minutes before the break.

Boro edged two goals in front 10 minutes after half-time when Chambers picked out an unmarked NICHOLSON to steer the ball past an exposed Durrant.

A flashpoint developed following Josh Robinson’s foul on Ironside on the hour mark. The United defender was cautioned but was subsequently head-butted by Geohaghon as the resulting free-kick prepared to be taken.

Referee Garreth Rhodes promptly hoisted the red card after the eagle-eyed intervention of assistant Nicholas Hawksby.

The numerical disadvantage did not deter Boro though and they add their third goal on 66 minutes in comical circumstances.

Gatter’s back header to Durrant was undercooked and IRONSIDE nipped in to slam home a second effort after seeing his first heroically blocked by Robinson.

Ironside later rattled the post in search of his second but the Pilgrims finally got themselves on the scoresheet when SIMMONS neatly steered home substitute Joe Fitzpatrick’s cross from the right with a minute of added time played.

Boston (4-4-2): Ross Durrant; Charlie Gatter (Lewis Hilliard 71), Josh Robinson, Tom Batchelor, Jan Yeomans; Jay Rollins (Kalern Thomas 13), Shane Clarke (Joe Fitzpatrick 55), Adam Chapman, Alex Simmons; Karl Hawley, Colby Bishop. Subs (not used): Ben Gordon, Callum Chippendale.

Nuneaton (3-5-2): Tyrell Belford; Jimmy Mutton, Exodus Geohaghon, Kelvin Langmead; Devon Kelly-Evans, Tom Elliott, David Morgan, Jordan Nicholson (Conor Anderson 63), Ben O’Hanlon; Joe Ironside, Ashley Chambers (Greg Mills 77). Subs (not used): Greg Tempest, Kristian Scott, Christian Dibble (gk).

Referee: Garreth Rhodes.

Attendance: 956 (51 visitors).