Boston United 0-0 Stockport County

Ormson denied the Pilgrims on numerous occasions, including a first half penalty save to deny Marc Newsham, while Newsham and Ricky Miller also rattled the woodwork after half-time.

Stockport also hit the goal frame through Phil Jevons, but United keeper Sam Vince was otherwise untroubled.

Vince had been preferred to Lewis King ahead of kick-off in an otherwise unchanged United starting XI.

Chances were few and far between in the opening stages as both sides struggled to make the early running on a sticky playing surface.

An angled lob from Newsham cleared Ormson’s crossbar, while a mazy run from Miller from inside his own half resulted in his rising drive flashing too high from distance.

Newsham then drove straight at Ormson following Ryan Semple’s right-wing cross.

United were presented with a golden opportunity to take the lead on 35 minutes when Jordan Fagbola upended Miller in the box, but Ormson guessed correctly to make a save to keep out Newsham’s tame spot-kick, with the Stockport keeper recovering brilliantly to block Kyle Dixon’s follow-up.

United stepped up a gear after half-time and Fagbola did brilliantly to nip in and deny Miller a tap-in following Conor Marshall’s driven cross.

Miller’s drive then flashed to safety off the post as the game’s opening goal seemingly edged ever closer.

Ormson made another crucial save to keep out a Newsham effort — before United’s joint top goalscorer headed against the post following substitute Jamie McGhee’s deep corner delivery.

Stockport created chances for the first time on the night with the dangerous Kristian Dennis blasting wide from 25 yards, Jevons seeing an effort bounce back off the post and then Dennis glancing a header wide from Nicky Platt’s corner.

There were further chances for United, with Ormson saving well at his near post to keep out McGhee’s stinging drive, before producing a sprawling stop to keep out Newsham at the death.

Boston (4-3-3): Sam Vince; Liam Marrs, Scott Garner, Carl Piergianni, Rene Steer; Kyle Dixon, Conor Marshall (Stefan Galinski 86), Liam Agnew (Ian Ross 86); Ryan Semple (Jamie McGhee 66), Marc Newsham, Ricky Miller. Subs (not used): Ben Fairclough, Lewis King (gk).

Stockport (4-4-2): Ian Ormson; Kyle Jacobs, Mark Lees, Jordan Fagbola, Scott Duxbury; Adriano Moke (Liam Dickinson 76), Nicky Platt, Chris Churchman, Iain Howard; Phil Jevons, Kristian Dennis. Subs (not used): Bobby Lofthouse, Stephen O'Halloran, James Washburn.

Referee: Anthony Tankard

Attendance: 917 (54 visitors)