The Pilgrims plugged the gap in their fixture list left by Morecambe's suspension to bring forward their Group D match against Boro from November - and went on to pocket £8,000 in prize money.

United trailed to Max Howells' 50th minute opener, but equalised 12 minutes later through Lenell John-Lewis' penalty. Substitute Kieren Donnelly scored the winner in the 73rd minute.

Manager Graham Coughlan handed six players their competitive United debuts - with a further four stepping off the bench during the second half.

Bobby Jones was United's starting keeper for the day and made an excellent 15th minute save to deny Luke Woolston from 25 yards.

Frankie Maguire cracked a 20-yarder narrowly wide for the Pilgrims, but received a knock to his knee in the process and did not play on much further into proceedings. Greg Sloggett was his replacement from the bench.

John-Lewis saw a header deflect wide, after Connor Teale had nodded a Michael Kelly cross back across goal, while Boro keeper Owen Foster did well to deny Rocco Coyle from close-range.

Boro took the lead five minutes after half-time, with Rio Patterson-Powell and Prince Acheampong linking up superbly for HOWELLS to touch the ball home at the back post.

The lead was cancelled out in the 62nd minute when referee Matthew McQuillan pointed to the spot, following a Boro handball, and JOHN-LEWIS scored his first United goal, despite Foster's best efforts.

The Pilgrims scored their winner 11 minutes later, with DONNELLY swivelling to hook the ball home from close-range, after Sloggett's cross had been nodded down at the back post.

Ben Grist should have made sure with a third goal, but fired wide of the far post, while United finished with 10 men after Michael Kelly limped off with a hamstring twinge.

There was still time for Boro sub Eric Hamelberg to fire off target when well-placed, but United survived 10 minutes of added time to record their opening win of the season.

Boston (3-4-2-1): Bobby Jones; Connor Teale (Ben Grist 68), Zak Mills, Alex Lankshear; Rocco Coyle (Jordan Cropper 57), Jordan Richards, Arjan Raikhy (Kieren Donnelly 57), Michael Kelly; Dylan Hill, Frankie Maguire (Greg Sloggett 30); Lenell John-Lewis (Manni Norkett 68). Sub (not used): Rhys Lovett (gk).

Middlesbrough (4-2-3-1): Owen Foster; Rio Patterson-Powell, Archie Baptiste, Jack Daley, Oliver Samuels (Isaac Greenup 88); Luke Woolston, Brayden Johnson; Finlay Cartwright (Eric Hamelberg 75), Max Howells (Hazeem Bakre 54), Prince Acheampong (Cruz Ibeh 88); Jayden Carbon (Frankie Coulson 54). Subs (not used): Daniel James, Nathan Fisher (gk).

Referee: Matthew McQuillan.

Attendance: 733.

PIC: Chris Bray.