Colwyn Bay 2-3 Boston United

Southwell scored a close-range header and a coolly-taken penalty to seal United's victory after Aaron Rey had earlier cancelled out Scott Garner's first half opener.

Obi Anoruo cut the deficit for Bay with virtually the last kick of the game, but the Pilgrims were soon able to celebrate a hat-trick of victories for the first time at the start of a season since 2010-2011.

The result left United second in the early standings ahead of a testing Bank Holiday weekend double-header against North Ferriby United and Tamworth.

With Zak Mills back from suspension and David Fallah handed a first start, United showed two changes to the side which had won 1-0 at Brackley Town on Tuesday.

Sam Vince made an early save to deny Louis Moss' 20-yard free-kick before parrying Chris Noone's follow-up with his legs.

United responded with Chris Dickinson seeing his near post drive tipped wide by keeper Josh Ollerenshaw.

Ollerenshaw then produced an excellent reaction save to parry Carl Piergianni's header following Mills' hooked cross.

Danny Meadows did brilliantly to get down the United left but his eventual cross narrowly evaded Dickinson in the centre of goal, while Fallah chipped an effort wide for the Pilgrims after Meadows had done well to win possession in midfield.

United wasted a glorious chance on the half-hour mark when Meadows scooped Michael Hollingsworth's pinpoint cross over the bar from close-range before Vince made a brave save at the feet of Rey as the Bay attacker latched on to a ball over the top.

United edged in front after 38 minutes when GARNER found the bottom corner of the net after Bay had failed to clear Mills' long throw-in.

Piergianni's header then deflected wide following another Mills throw.

Chances were scarce at the beginning of the second period, but Anoruo soon rattled the top of Vince's crossbar with a header following Moss' cross from the left.

Bay levelled on the hour mark when REY had the simple task of tapping the ball home after Anoruo had squared a quick free-kick.

Noone was subsequently in the right place to hack Piergianni's header off the line following Meadows' corner but the Pilgrims re-established their lead in the 76th minute when SOUTHWELL stooped to head home Mills' long throw.

United almost killed the contest but substitute Niall Doran fired agonisingly wide from 25 yards.

The Pilgrims added their third goal with nine minutes to play when SOUTHWELL sent Ollerenshaw the wrong way from the spot after sub Kaine Felix had been upended in the box by Tom Clarke.

Southwell was denied a hat-trick by the post when he crashed his free-kick against the upright after Doran had been fouled on the edge of the box.

Bay added their second goal with seconds left on the clock when ANORUO was afforded space to latch on to a long punt over the top to slam the ball past Vince although thankfully for United it was too late to make a difference to the outcome.

Colwyn Bay (4-4-2): Josh Ollerenshaw; Lanre Olapade, Joel Bembo-Leta, Tom Clarke, Louis Moss; Obi Anoruo, Tom Buckley, Chris Noone (Adam Hodgson 82), Aaron Rey (Jake Parker 70); Rob Hopley (Prince Haywood 58), Marc Williams. Subs (not used): Denislav Pilliner, Josh Clark (gk).

Boston (4-3-3): Sam Vince; Zak Mills, Scott Garner, Carl Piergianni, Rene Steer; Conor Marshall (Niall Doran 65), Michael Hollingsworth, Danny Meadows; Dayle Southwell, Chris Dickinson (Kaine Felix 65), David Fallah (Stefan Galinski 77). Subs (not used): Duran Reynolds, Andy Hewitt (gk).

Referee: Matthew Corlett.

Attendance: 259.

PIC: Media Image.