Brackley Town 3-2 Boston United

United keeper Ashley Timms had a half to forget as Steve Towers, Izak Reid and Ben Mills fired the hosts into a 3-0 interval lead, but it was a different story after the break.

With Sam Vince on for Timms, Scott Garner and Marc Newsham fired the Pilgrims back into contention, but they came up marginally short despite goalkeeper Billy Turley's red card five minutes from time.

Both sides had made four changes from the FA Cup meeting between the teams three weeks previously, with Sunderland loanee Liam Marrs handed a debut at full-back for the Pilgrims.

United were eager to keep things tight in the face of a swirling wind, but their afternoon was a little over 120 seconds old when it took a dramatic turn for the worse.

TOWERS lofted a hopeful punt over the top for the run of Mills but with the Brackley debutant unable to reach it, Timms misjudged the flight and allowed the ball to creep into the top corner in bizarre fashion.

United struggled to make headway against the conditions and an organised Brackley rearguard and Ricky Miller cut infield to fire over from 20 yards.

Brackley doubled their lead on 26 minutes. Garner was penalised for a foul on Mills outside the box and REID whipped a free-kick into the far top corner with Timms unable to keep it out.

Boston responded and Turley made a brilliant low save to turn Ian Ross' drive around the post for a corner.

Brackley added their third goal five minutes before the break and it was Timms who again applied a helping hand. He booted a clearance straight at Brett Solkhon, who had the simple task of squaring the ball for MILLS to fire home a debut strike.

Timms was taken out of the firing line at half-time, with Vince making his league debut in the process.

Within six minutes, United were back in contention when Ross delivered a free-kick from the right and GARNER headed the ball goalwards and into the net via a massive deflection off Ryan Austin.

With the wind and momentum firmly in their favour, United cut the deficit further on 69 minutes with NEWSHAM swivelling neatly to finish Ross' clever lofted assist.

The barrage continued with Spencer Weir-Daley seeing a shot blocked, with Charley Sanders' headed follow-up nodded off the line by Reid.

Brackley had a couple of rare breakaways and Vince had to save well at his near post to deny Glenn Walker.

Turley soon made a great save after Kevin Roberts had inadvertently diverted the ball towards his own goal but the Brackley keeper soon blotted his copybook by launching a foul-mouthed tirade at referee Alan Young.

Turley was dismissed with five minutes to go, with outfielder Elliot Sandy deputising in goal and he was twice called upon to deny Sanders and then Indy Aujla as United peppered the Brackley box with the rain lashing down.

Carl Piergianni's crashing drive flew wide off his own team-mate Newsham as the Pilgrims ran out of time to force what would arguably have been a deserved leveller.

Brackley (4-2-3-1): Billy Turley; Izak Reid, Ryan Austin, Tom Sharpe, Kevin Roberts; Brett Solkhon, Steve Towers; Owen Story (Danny Newton 68), Elliot Sandy, Glenn Walker; Ben Mills (Charlie Griffin 88). Subs (not used): Eddie Nisevic, Eddie Odhiambo, Steve Diggin.

Boston (4-3-3): Ashley Timms (Sam Vince 46); Liam Marrs, Scott Garner, Carl Piergianni, Rene Steer; Ian Ross, Conor Marshall (Indy Aujla 81), Jake Hall; Spencer Weir-Daley, Ricky Miller (Charley Sanders 66), Marc Newsham. Subs (not used): Ben Milnes, Stefan Galinski.

Referee: Alan Young

Attendance: 364

PIC: Brian Martin