Hyde FC 4-1 Boston United

Goals from David Poole, Danny Broadbent, Scott Spencer and Shelton Payne sealed Hyde’s transformation from relegation fighters to champions inside one year.

Ian Ross had halved the deficit at one stage as the Pilgrims, who finished with 10 men after Ben Milnes’ red card, staged a strong rally.

The final outcome was harsh on United, but Hyde merited the victory which crowned the Tameside club as champions following Guiseley’s 1-0 home defeat to Bishop’s Stortford.

United had hoped to keep things tight against the champions-in-waiting but the match got off to a disastrous start. Paul Bastock spilled Broadbent’s tame cross and POOLE rammed the loose ball home from close-range.

Hyde’s early breakthrough lifted any nerves around Ewen Fields and top goalscorer Spencer cut in from the left to drill marginally wide across the face of goal.

The lively Reece Gray then flashed an effort wide as the home side sought to strengthen their grip on proceedings.

Boston threatened meaningfully for the first time when Nathan Stainfield headed wide from a Ross free-kick, but Hyde were soon two goals to the good.

Bastock failed to connect tellingly with an Adam Griffin corner and BROADBENT bundled the ball home despite Josh Burge’s best efforts on the line.

United cut the deficit on 31 minutes. ROSS lined up a free-kick 25 yards out and lifted home a brilliant effort, over the wall, and low to David Carnell’s right.

Boston started to believe in their play and Lee Canoville volleyed wide following a Ross corner, while full debutant Kallum Smith’s brilliant, dipping 25-yarder was palmed wide by Carnell.

After the break, Bastock saved well to keep out Gray, while Broadbent sent a snapshot a fraction wide from 25 yards.

Boston fashioned another presentable chance when Spencer Weir-Daley combined with Smith to free Milnes, but the midfielder’s shot was too high from 18 yards.

Ben Fairclough and Ryan Semple were introduced with a quarter of the match to play and United remained strongly in contention until referee Ricky Wootton awarded Hyde a penalty — despite a brilliant Stainfield challenge.

SPENCER stepped up to calmly fire home Hyde’s third goal and all-but secure the league title for the home side.

United’s woes were compounded when penalty shouts were waved away against Marc Newsham at the other end and referee Wootton produced a second yellow card for Milnes — presumably for voicing his displeasure at the official’s quickfire penalty decisions.

Hyde applied the icing to the cake in stoppage time when substitute PAYNE exploited gaps in the United defence to break clear and finish with aplomb across Bastock.

Hyde (4-4-2): David Carnell; Josh Brizell, Andy Pearson, Gianluca Havern, Adam Griffin; David Poole (Shelton Payne 76), Chris Worsley, David Birch, Reece Gray (Tunji Moses 85); Danny Broadbent (Godwin Adabaki 81), Scott Spencer. Subs (not used): Danny Hall, Callum Byrne

Boston (4-3-3): Paul Bastock; Conor Marshall, Lee Canoville, Nathan Stainfield, Gareth Jelleyman; Ben Milnes, Ian Ross, Josh Burge; Marc Newsham, Spencer Weir-Daley (Ben Fairclough 66), Kallum Smith (Ryan Semple 66). Subs (not used): Tom Ward, Kevin Austin, James Reed.

Referee: Ricky Wootton