Boston United 6-0 Gainsborough Trinity

The rampant Pilgrims, who led 4-0 at the break, secured a crushing victory over their Lincolnshire neighbours to consolidate their position in the top five of Skrill North.

Ricky Miller from the penalty spot, Ryan Semple and Scott Garner also got in on the goalscoring act.

United were clearly favourites ahead of kick-off, but few would have predicted the punishment the Pilgrims handed out to their struggling county rivals.

Dennis Greene had made one change to his starting XI ahead of kick-off with Jamie McGhee handed his first United start in the place of the injured Liam Marrs.

Miller was buoyant after being named as the Skrill North player of the month for January in the hours leading up to kick-off.

The match survived three pitch inspections, with both goalmouths heavily sanded, and United were soon on the front foot, with Newsham's angled drive flashing into the side-netting following Kyle Dixon's lofted throughball.

United's breakthrough arrived on eight minutes, with Semple linking well with Conor Marshall down the right before delivering a teasing low cross which was steered between the near post and keeper Phil Barnes by NEWSHAM.

The Pilgrims doubled their lead on 20 minutes. Sam Vince's towering clearance evaded Callum Howe and NEWSHAM ran on to stroke the ball through Barnes' legs and over the line.

Gainsborough's only chance of the first half fell to Brad Barraclough, whose well-struck shot was gathered by Vince following a rare Rene Steer slip.

United took a three-goal lead just before the half-hour mark when Michael Leary felled McGhee in the box and MILLER, on penalty duties following Newsham's recent setbacks from the spot, sent Barnes the wrong way.

The Pilgrims' fourth goal arrived on 34 minutes with SEMPLE seeing his angled free-kick from 20 yards evade everybody in the box, including the predatory Miller, to leave Barnes unsighted and kill the contest there and then.

Miller had further chances before the break when he toe-poked over the bar after beating the advancing Barnes to the ball before being denied by a spectacular save from the Trinity custodian.

Gainsborough threw on Darryn Stamp and Jamie Wootton after the break and the visitors displayed a marked improvement.

It was still United who created chances though, with Miller slamming the ball wide following Newsham's assist, while McGhee and Liam Agnew both whizzed efforts off target too.

Gainsborough threatened when Wootton found some space in the box, but his drive flashed into the side-netting.

United added goal number five when GARNER touched the ball home for his seventh of the season following Miller's driven cross from the left on 75 minutes. Marshall had rattled the crossbar seconds earlier.

NEWSHAM then completed his first-ever league hat-trick with a neat effort on the turn following Ian Ross' delightful assist from the right.

Boston (4-3-3): Sam Vince; Conor Marshall, Scott Garner, Carl Piergianni, Rene Steer; Jamie McGhee, Kyle Dixon, Liam Agnew (Spencer Weir-Daley 79); Ryan Semple (Ian Ross 66), Marc Newsham, Ricky Miller (Ben Fairclough 79). Subs (not used): Stefan Galinski, Lewis King (gk).

Gainsborough (4-3-3): Phil Barnes; Dominic Roma, Taylor McKenzie, Callum Howe, Josh Lacey; Simon Russell, Michael Leary, Ciaran Toner; Alistair Taylor (Darryn Stamp 46), Brad Barraclough, Caine Winfarrah (Jamie Wootton 46). Subs (not used): Ashley Burbeary, Adam Martin, Lynton Karkach.

Referee: Simon Barrow

Attendance: 1,255 (56 visitors)