Lowestoft Town 1-1 Boston United

Leading through debutant Nicky Walker's first half strike, the Pilgrims looked comfortable but imploded momentarily after the break.

Rene Steer was red-carded for his part in a mass brawl after United had been denied a clear penalty and Lowestoft capitalised after being awarded their own spot-kick moments later which was converted clinically by Jack Ainsley.

Despite playing with only 10 men for the final 32 minutes, United remained the better team and were ultimately denied all three points by the excellence of home keeper Ashlee Jones.

With Walker handed a start and Lincoln City loanee Alex Simmons named on the bench, the Pilgrims were bright from the off and home keeper Jones was required to deny Kaine Felix inside 44 seconds.

Dayle Southwell's angled drive was subsequently fumbled wide by Jones, while Walker saw a 20-yard drive fly off target.

United took the lead on 20 minutes when Zak Mills' long throw eventually found its way across to WALKER and his 20-yard skidder deflected beyond keeper Jones.

The Pilgrims continued to create after half-time and Jones made a cracking save to deny Walker who had sprung the offside trap to meet Jamie McGhee's defence-splitting pass.

The home keeper continued his one-man crusade to keep United out by clawing Carl Piergianni's header to safety following McGhee's corner.

The game turned inside a five-minute spell. Southwell's shot was handled by Sam Gaughran, but the referee waved play on which kick-started a melee involving around 20 players.

Referee Michael George eventually opted to dismiss Steer for violent conduct and compounded United's woes by awarding a penalty against Piergianni for a carbon copy handball offence to Boston's appeal for a spot-kick moments earlier.

Spot-kick king AINSLEY hammered home the resulting penalty to restore parity.

Robert Eagle's drive skidded wide for Town, but United had the remaining chances. Substitute Simmons fired into the side-netting following Southwell's cutback while keeper Jones then denied Southwell with his chest.

The Town stopper saved his best for last though, blocking Mark Jones' seemingly goalbound drive on the line as the 10-man Pilgrims were forced to settle for a point.

Lowestoft (4-4-2): Ashlee Jones; Jack Ainsley, Sam Gaughran, Curtis Haynes-Brown (Erkan Okay 36), Adam Smith; Dean Mason, Rossi Jarvis, Andrew Fisk, Robert Eagle; Shaun Bammant (Bradley Woods-Garness 83), Jake Reed. Subs (not used): Joe Marsden, Dawid Radomski, Jake Jessup (gk).

Boston (4-4-2): Joel Dixon; Liam Marrs, Zak Mills, Carl Piergianni, Rene Steer; Kaine Felix (Conor Marshall 62), Scott Garner, Jamie McGhee (Michael Hollingsworth 75), Nicky Walker (Alex Simmons 75); Dayle Southwell, Mark Jones. Subs (not used): Marc Newsham, Sam Vince (gk).

Referee: Michael George.

Attendance: 720.

PIC: Eric Brown.