AFC Telford United 2-1 Boston United

Marc Newsham bagged his 100th goal in United colours to hand the Pilgrims a half-time lead, but he missed a stoppage time penalty to equalise after Tony Gray and Robbie Booth had turned the tables in Telford's favour.

It stretched the Pilgrims' winless run in Skrill North to five, but there was plenty to be positive about in a good performance against a fellow promotion chaser.

Manager Dennis Greene had made three changes ahead of kick-off, with Stefan Galinski, Indy Aujla and Jake Hall replacing Conor Marshall, Ian Ross and Netan Sansara.

The early stages were tight and cagey although the Pilgrims did receive a let-off when Mike Grogan guided his header against his own player Sean Clancy.

United threatened for the first time with Fairclough heading wide at the back post following Ben Milnes' deep corner delivery.

Boston took the lead four minutes before half-time. Liam Marrs sent a throughball into the path of NEWSHAM who expertly dinked the ball over the advancing Ryan Young to reach his milestone in Pilgrims' colours.

The lead could have been doubled but Neill Byrne scrambled Hall's effort off the line.

Telford levelled within 40 seconds of the restart when GRAY was afforded too much space to cut infield on his left foot and beat keeper Lewis King.

The Pilgrims had a glorious chance to re-assert their lead moments later, but Milnes arrived late to plant his header over the bar following Marrs' delicious cross from the right.

Telford took the lead in controversial circumstances on 68 minutes. Carl Piergianni was clearly fouled by Gray, but referee Ryan Johnson allowed play to continue and BOOTH crashed home the loose ball.

Keeper King was booked for his protests but the Pilgrims soon went in search of an equaliser. Fairclough angled a drive across goal and fractionally wide before Galinski's header flashed over the bar following Ross' cleverly-worked free-kick. Newsham then headed wide from Fairclough's terrific cross.

King made an excellent save to keep out Booth's late rasping drive, before the real drama unfolded deep into stoppage time.

Fairclough went down in the box and referee Johnson controversially pointed the spot, but Young brilliantly denied Newsham from 12 yards to ensure the Boston's striker big afternoon ended on a sour note.

AFC Telford (4-4-2): Ryan Young; Wes Baynes, Neill Byrne, Chris Lever (Dan Preston 46), Matty McGinn; Robbie Booth, Charlie Barnett, Mike Grogan, Sean Clancy (Andy Owens 46); Adam Farrell, Tony Gray (Russell Benjamin 85). Subs (not used): Mike Phenix, Andy Pryce (gk).

Boston (3-5-2): Lewis King; Stefan Galinski, Scott Garner, Carl Piergianni; Liam Marrs (Ian Ross 78), Ben Milnes, Indy Aujla (Conor Marshall 65), Jake Hall, Rene Steer; Marc Newsham, Ben Fairclough. Subs (not used): Charley Sanders, Gary Mills, Sam Vince (gk).

Referee: Ryan Johnson

Attendance: 1,659 (80 visitors)

PIC: James Baylis