Bishop's Stortford 0-1 Boston United

Newsham swivelled to fire the ball home after Mickey Stones and Alan White had combined to turn Ben Milnes’ deep free-kick into the game’s defining moment.

The goal earned maximum spoils for a United side who had ridden their luck at times, with Stortford attackers Dwight Gayle and Michael Bakare in particularly prominent form for the hosts.

Stortford ended proceedings with 10 men after left-back Phil Anderson was dismissed for lashing out at a grounded Ryan Semple.

The Pilgrims were not at their best at Woodside Park and Gayle and Bakare caused a number of problems early on.

Paul Bastock was forced to tip over Gayle’s drive in the first couple of minutes, while United responded with Newsham sailing a shot on to roof of net following Stones’ nod-down.

Gayle produced another piece of magical footwork to outfox Jordan Fairclough and Tom Ward — but slie the ball across Bastock and inches wide.

Gayle turned provider to slip Junior Dadson into the clear but Bastock replied with a brilliant diving save.

Nicky Eyre grabbed Chris Hall’s stabbed shot from 18 yards, following right-wing excellence from Semple.

Bastock made another sprawling save to deny Gayle after the usually-reliable Alan White had been robbed by Bakare.

White then met Semple’s corner with a firm header at the near post and although Ade Cole appeared to handle the ball, United’s penalty shouts were waved away.

Semple then sent a rising drive too high following good play from Kevin Holsgrove, while Newsham and Holsgrove combined to free Semple once again and he dragged an effort wide across the face of goal — when he should have scored.

United had chances after the break with Ward heading wide from Semple’s corner and Holsgrove’s cheeky chip was beaten away by Eyre.

Stortford were a threat on the break and Bastock had to deny substitute Alex Read, who then curled a second effort marginally wide.

The flow of the game was interrupted by a steady flow of yellow cards during the second half — before and after Anderson had been given his marching orders for attempting to strike Semple after a tussle between the pair.

Sub Mikel Suarez headed over from Milnes’ free-kick, while Newsham whistled an effort too high from distance.

With six minutes of stoppage time on the clock, Milnes floated a free-kick into the box after Suarez had been chopped down by Connor Essam. Stones nod the ball down, White flicked it on and NEWSHAM applied the finishing touch in front of the hordes of jubilant travelling fans.

Bishop’s Stortford (4-4-2): Nicky Eyre; Ritchie Jones, Mo Habu, Connor Essam, Phil Anderson; Ade Cole (Mitch Hahn 57), Scott Shulton, Reece Prestedge, Junior Dadson (Dean Rance 64); Dwight Gayle, Michael Bakare (Alex Read 80). Subs (not used): Ali Abdullahi, Ben Davison.

Boston (4-4-2): Paul Bastock; Jordan Fairclough, Tom Ward, Alan White, Gareth Jelleyman; Ryan Semple, Chris Hall (Ben Milnes 63), Danny Sleath (Ben Wilkinson 81), Kevin Holsgrove (Mikel Suarez 57); Mickey Stones, Marc Newsham. Subs (not used): Kevin Austin, Jason Field.

Referee: Ian Crouch