The Pilgrims lost the services of their defensive lynchpin after 22 minutes following two quickfire yellow cards from referee Robert Massey-Ellis.

Liam Canavan handed the hosts the lead two minutes before the break and Wilson Carvalho killed off the tie with a second in added time at the end of the game.

With Michael Emery and Waide Fairhurst restored to United’s starting XI, the Pilgrims were determined to avoid a cup upset at Latimer Park.

Maguire was handed his first yellow card in the 16th minute when he was penalised for an apparent foul on ex-Pilgrim Spencer Weir-Daley.

Weir-Daley should have put his side in front when he headed wide from a James Brighton nod-down, but he soon played a major part in the game’s defining moment.

Maguire was penalised for another challenge on Weir-Daley and referee Massey-Ellis had no hesitation in producing another yellow card.

The Pilgrims steadied themselves, with Gregg Smith deputising at centre-half, and Jason St Juste soon rattled the crossbar with a deflected cross-shot.

Kettering took the lead two minutes before the break when Dominic Langdon’s low cross from the left was swept home by CANAVAN.

Dennis Greene re-jigged at half-time, with Joe Burgess and Lewis Hilliard introduced from the bench, and the Pilgrims deploying a 4-2-3 formation.

United’s second half response was slow to get going and the better chances fell to Kettering.

Nathan Hicks blasted wide, Emery was required to claw Anthony Howell’s header to safety and Burgess charged a Weir-Daley drive behind for a corner.

United threatened briefly when left-back Ben Gordon skewed an effort wide from 18 yards.

Kettering wrapped up the tie a minute into stoppage time when Brighton set up CARVALHO to beat an exposed Emery and seal United’s fate.

Kettering (4-5-1): Paul White; Liam Bateman (Kaid Mohamed 71), Gary Mulligan, James Haran, Dominic Langdon; Wilson Carvalho, Nathan Hicks, Brett Solkhon, Liam Canavan (Anthony Howell 75), James Brighton; Spencer Weir-Daley. Subs (not used): Ben Baker, Ethan Lee, Aaron O’Connor, Jordan Wilson, Jamie Dean (gk).

Boston (4-4-2): Michael Emery; Kalern Thomas (Lewis Hilliard 46), Joe Maguire, Joe Robinson, Ben Gordon; Jay Rollins, Liam Agnew, Marcus Marshall, Jason St Juste; Waide Fairhurst (Joe Burgess 46), Gregg Smith. Subs (not used): Lamin Colley, Courtney Wildin, Liam Adams, Ollie Price, Harry Payne (gk).

Referee: Robert Massey-Ellis.

Attendance: 628.

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