The Pilgrims were 4-0 victors over Sunderland’s under-21s at the Jakemans Community Stadium, with a Lenell John-Lewis brace and a Jordan Cropper strike laying the foundations before half-time.

Kieren Donnelly added United’s fourth after the break as the Pilgrims made it three wins from three, as they once again respected the rules - and spirit - of the competition with a strong team selection.

Manager Graham Coughlan had opted to make five changes ahead of kick-off, with goalkeeper Bobby Jones earning a rare start, with goalscorers John-Lewis, Donnelly and Cropper joining Matty Carson in the XI.

The Pilgrims' first goal arrived in the 24th minute when Carson got into a great crossing position from the left for JOHN-LEWIS to touch the ball on to visiting defender Ben Kindon to beat keeper Isaac Allan at his near post.

Sunderland cheaply surrendered possession four minutes later, with JOHN-LEWIS spinning sharply to beat Allan with another low drive.

Allan denied John-Lewis his hat-trick in the 38th minute, but CROPPER was on hand to crash home with aplomb at the beleaguered Sunderland keeper's near post.

The scoring was wrapped up seven minutes after the break, with Carson threading a lovely throughball into the path of DONNELLY to stab the ball beyond Allan.

United's own under-21s players Finley Ging and Billy Bradley played their entire second half for the Pilgrims.

Boston (3-4-1-2): Bobby Jones; Ben Grist, Connor Teale (Finley Ging 46), Alex Lankshear; Jordan Cropper (Billy Bradley 46), Jordan Richards (Greg Sloggett 59), Rocco Coyle (Dylan Hill 72), Matty Carson; Owen Hampson; Lenell John-Lewis, Kieren Donnelly (Manni Norkett 59). Sub (not used): Luca Alonzi, Rhys Lovett (gk).

Sunderland (4-2-3-1): Isaac Allan; Finlay Holcroft (Joe Neild 70), Marshall Burke, Ben Kindon, Archie Lightfoot; Zak Johnson (Rio Grant 45), Ben Middlemas; Jenson Jones, Jaydon Jones (Finn Geragusian 70), Jack Whittaker (Felix Scott 70); Ethan Moore (Charles Dinsdale 89). Subs (not used): Bayley Hester, Ben Metcalf (gk).

Referee: Aaron Bannister.

Attendance: 486.

PIC: Chris Bray.