The Pilgrims led through Preston's 22nd minute strike, but saw a second Preston effort ruled out for offside moments later, with Jaanai Gordon equalising with a brilliant header in the 32nd minute.

United's cause was hampered by Jake Wright Jnr's red card for two bookable offences, meaning the sides were forced back to Warwickshire on Tuesday for a replay.

With George Sykes-Kenworthy recalled and Jake Wright Snr handed a first start of the season, United took the game to their Step 3 opponents.

They edged ahead when PRESTON was fouled 22 yards from goal before stepping up to dispatch the resulting free-kick beyond the reach of keeper Liam O'Brien.

Preston arrowed home a second six minutes later, but was denied by an offside flag which deemed Paul Green was interfering with O'Brien.

Ashley Sammons blocked heroically to deny Tom Platt, but the Bards levelled when Will Grocott's corner delivery was bulleted home by the head of GORDON.

Wright Jnr was introduced at half-time in place of the injured Shane Byrne and while Danny Elliott was denied by a fine O'Brien save, the half's main talking point surrounded the dismissal of United's interval substitute.

Wright Jnr was booked for a foul in the 65th minute and received his second yellow card 10 minutes later following an aerial challenge - and subsequent tangle - with O'Brien.

Boston (4-3-3): George Sykes-Kenworthy; Keenan Ferguson, Luke Shiels, Jake Wright Snr, Jake Leake; Paul Green (Luke Spokes 85), Tom Platt, Shane Byrne (Jake Wright Jnr 46); Fraser Preston (Jordan Burrow 81), Danny Elliott, Joe Leesley. Subs (not used): Scott Duxbury, Scott Garner, Jordan Preston, Peter Crook (gk).

Stratford (4-5-1): Liam O'Brien; Daniel Vann, Joe Magunda, Jordan Williams, Kynan Isaac; Ahmed Obeng (Will Dawes 90), James Fry, Will Grocott, Ashley Sammons, Owen James (Enoch Andoh 75); Jaanai Gordon. Subs (not used): Daniel Lafferty, Amar Awadh, Caine Elliott, Jack Turner, Louis Beresford (gk).

Referee: Sam Mulhall.

Attendance: 1,627 (46 visitors).

PIC: Russell Dossett.