Boston United 1-1 Histon

Histon striker Dan Holman handed the visitors an early lead at The Jakemans Stadium but Newsham produced a classy finish to draw the Pilgrims level.

United had numerous chances to win the contest — with visiting keeper Jorg Stadelmann saving superbly to deny Newsham and Kevin Holsgrove in the first half — but the Stutes defended resolutely to take a point back to Cambridgeshire.

Adam Millson and Lawrie Dudfield were handed starts for the Pilgrims as Ben Wilkinson and Mikel Suarez missed out through injury.

The Pilgrims found themselves behind inside four minutes. Omer Riza surged past Kevin Austin to cross from the Histon left and HOLMAN had the simple task of slamming the ball past an exposed Paul Bastock from close-range.

United gradually found their feet and forced a succession of corners as they cranked up the pressure. Ben Milnes delivered 13 flag-kick deliveries during the 90 minutes and from his third set-piece, Austin headed wide.

The Pilgrims suffered another injury blow when Lee Canoville was forced off with medial knee ligament damage. Jordan Fairclough deputised from the bench.

Histon went close when Zac Mills headed wide from Matthew Breeze’s corner.

United levelled on 26 minutes when Dudfield showed his class to nod the ball down for NEWSHAM to finish with aplomb — firing high past Stadelmann from close-range.

Stadelmann was two superb saves before half-time — keeping out Holsgrove’s rasping drive and then somehow diverting Newsham’s near post drive over for a corner.

The Histon keeper denied Dudfield after the break before scampering across his goal to keep out Milnes’ cross-shot, which had looped up off Breeze.

United sensed all three points were there for the taking and Fairclough advanced on to a loose ball to crack an effort too high from 25 yards.

Holsgrove’s goalbound shot was seemingly blocked by the arm of Harri Hawkins, but referee Ricky Wootton was unmoved, while Newsham’s arrowing header flew wide from a clever Gareth Jelleyman cross, as the Pilgrims were forced to settle for a single point.

Boston (4-3-3): Paul Bastock; Lee Canoville (Jordan Fairclough 15), Liam Parker, Kevin Austin, Gareth Jelleyman; Adam Millson, Chris Hall, Ben Milnes; Marc Newsham, Lawrie Dudfield (Ryan Semple 74), Kevin Holsgrove. Subs (not used): Tom Ward, Mickey Stones, Harry Deane.

Histon (4-4-2): Jorg Stadelmann; Zac Mills, Dallas Moore, Danny Fitzsimons, Harri Hawkins (Ollie Cleaver 76); Matthew Breeze (Lewis Taaffe 64), Grant Roberts, Jim Stevenson, Daniel Sparkes; Dan Holman, Omer Riza (Jay Dowie 83). Subs (not used): Charlie Day, Calum Kitscha (gk).

Referee: Ricky Wootton