Boston United 2-1 Oxford City

Miller netted a 68th minute penalty after being fouled by Lee Henderson, with Marshall heading the winner nine minutes later, following Zac McEachran's 40th minute opener for the hosts.

It was far from a vintage United performance, but maximum spoils represented a case of 'job done' for Dennis Greene's promotion-chasing Pilgrims.

The result was United's 12th home win of the Skrill North campaign and helped banish the memories of defeat at bottom side Workington seven days previously.

Jay Dowie was handed his first United start, while fellow newcomer Junior Konadu was named on the bench.

An early talking point unfolded with seven minutes on the clock. Oxford's debutant keeper Matthew Bulman flattened Marc Newsham as he lobbed goalwards, but the City stopper escaped with a yellow card.

Newsham should have scored moments later, but headed over the bar following Ben Fairclough's inviting cross from the right.

Oxford gradually seized control with Birmingham City loanee Viv Solomon-Otabar at the heart of their best moves.

He sailed one effort wide, before clipping the stanchion at the back of Lewis King's net following a forceful run past David Ferguson.

City skipper Darren Pond then flashed a drive off the post with Scott Garner producing a stupendous block to deny Tom Winters on the follow-up.

United fell behind five minutes before the break, with Solomon-Otabar's cross drilled home, off the post, by McEACHRAN.

The Pilgrims eventually found their feet after half-time but were almost 2-0 down when Mike Symons' header bounced back off the post and into King's grateful arms.

Boston cranked up the pressure, with Carl Piergianni's header nodded off the line by Michael Pook before Jamie McGhee had a drive beaten away by Bulman and a second Piergianni header flew over the bar. The United centre-half then headed wide from McGhee's free-kick.

United equalised when Henderson was adjudged to have tugged back MILLER, who stepped up to blast home the subsequent spot-kick and hand the Pilgrims renewed hope.

The turnaround was completed 13 minutes from time when MARSHALL arrived in the nick of time at the back post to power home a diving header following Bulman's acrobatic save to deny Miller.

Boston (4-3-3): Lewis King; Conor Marshall, Scott Garner, Carl Piergianni, David Ferguson; Jamie McGhee (Stefan Galinski 89), Jay Dowie, Liam Agnew (Ian Ross 85); Ben Fairclough (Junior Konadu 59), Marc Newsham, Ricky Miller. Subs (not used): Spencer Weir-Daley, Ben Milnes.

Oxford (4-4-1-1): Matthew Bulman; Lee Henderson, Mark Preece, Chris Willmott, Paul Stonehouse; Viv Solomon-Otabar (Declan Benjamin 64), Darren Pond, Michael Pook, Tom Winters (Callum McNish 73); Zac McEachran; Mike Symons (Steve Basham 64). Subs (not used): Andy Ballard, Kayden Jackson.

Referee: Guy Stretton

Attendance: 1,023 (12 visitors)