United were rocked by a Jaanai Gordon double either side of half-time, but Leesley's strike directly from a corner and then a towering header seemingly set the Pilgrims on course for a memorable comeback victory.

However, substitute Will Dawes struck 13 minutes from time to hand the Bards a first-ever progression into the first round proper and with it a home clash against EFL League One side Shrewsbury Town.

The game had got off to an eventful start, with Danny Elliott rattling the inside of the post inside 45 seconds - literally moments before the floodlights failed. Play was halted for almost 12 minutes, with the players briefly leaving the pitch.

United's strong start continued after the resumption with a Fraser Preston drive flying narrowly wide - but it was the Bards who took a 20th minute lead when Ahmed Obeng teed up GORDON to neatly sweep home from inside the penalty area.

Preston crashed a free-kick too high towards half-time and it was the hosts who extended their lead within seven minutes of the restart, with Owen James picking out GORDON to bury his second goal of the evening.

United cranked up the pressure and James Fry, Jordan Williams and Joe Magunda made heroic blocks to deny Elliott, Luke Shiels and Preston respectively.

United cut the deficit in the 61st minute when LEESLEY fired a corner directly into the far top corner of the net. The Pilgrims levelled seven minutes later when Preston floated a ball in from the right and LEESLEY powered home a terrific header.

Stratford were rocking and keeper Liam O'Brien made a brilliant stop to deny Elliott.

It was the Bards who scored the game's decisive fifth goal with a swift 77th minute counter attack which saw Obeng pick out DAWES to finish expertly at the back post with one of his first touches after coming on.

O'Brien made another excellent save to deny substitute Jordan Preston before saving the best for last with a flying stop in the fifth minute of added time to divert Leesley's piledriver on to the crossbar.

Stratford (4-5-1): Liam O'Brien; Daniel Vann, Joe Magunda, Jordan Williams, Kynan Isaac; Ahmed Obeng (Enoch Andoh 83), WIll Grocott, James Fry, Ashley Sammons, Owen James (Lewis Wilson 64); Jaanai Gordon (Will Dawes 73). Subs (not used): Daniel Lafferty, Amar Awadh, Jack Turner, Louis Beresford (gk).

Boston (4-4-2): George Sykes-Kenworthy; Keenan Ferguson, Luke Shiels, Jake Wright Snr, Jake Leake; Fraser Preston (Jordan Preston 81), Paul Green (Luke Spokes 86), Tom Platt, Joe Leesley; Jake Wright Jnr (Jordan Burrow 62), Danny Elliott. Subs (not used): Matt Tootle, Scott Duxbury, Scott Garner, Peter Crook (gk).

Referee: Dale Wootton.

Attendance: 1,253.

PIC: Eric Brown.