Boston United 1-1 Stockport County

The Pilgrims were a dominant attacking force throughout against the Hatters but found keeper Danny Hurst in imperious form.

United had fallen behind against the run of play to Jack Ryan's 27th minute opener and drew level four minutes before the break through Liam Marrs' first goal for the club.

The match passed a 1.15pm pitch inspection following persistent snowfall and subsequent rain and Massiah McDonald was handed his first start in amber and black, with Kaine Felix not deemed fully-fit after a bout of tonsillitis.

The match took a while to ignite and chances were very much at a premium in the opening stages. Nicky Walker came closest with a drive across goal and wide following Dayle Southwell's chipped assist.

Ryan was unable to meet Danny Glover's cross with a diving header at the other end, while ex-Hatter Carl Piergianni arrived late to nod wide from Zak Mills' long throw.

County's breakthrough arrived when Kristian Dennis worked the ball across the box for RYAN to turn neatly and rifle a low drive beyond Joel Dixon's grasp.

Dennis could have doubled County's lead moments later but cut infield from the right to drill high and wide.

United's equaliser came directly after a County corner. Dixon claimed Glover's delivery and immediately set United on the attack, with Southwell freeing McDonald to cross from the right and MARRS arrived at the back post to steer the ball past Hurst.

While Hurst had not been required to make a meaningful save before half-time, he was the central figure after the break.

The keeper's outstretched leg denied Southwell who had galloped through within minutes of the restart, while United's top scorer then dragged a shot wide from 20 yards following Grant Roberts' short pass.

Two more massive chances for United soon presented themselves. Garner's drive was beaten away by Hurst's legs and then Southwell skewed an effort wide from 16 yards.

United were laying siege to the visitors' goal and three County players were booked for hacking down Felix, who produced a lively cameo from the bench.

Garner's volley flew wide after Walker's free-kick eventually found its way across to the United skipper, while Mark Jones' sidefoot effort nestled marginally wide of the near post after meeting another Walker cross.

Piergianni's glancing header was clutched low down by Hurst following a long Mills throw before substitute Marc Newsham was denied by a terrific Hurst save following an equally brilliant Mills sliderule assist.

County's only real chance of the half arrived with Chris Churchman seeing a low drive deflect fractionally wide but the final say was left to Hurst to claim the visitors a point.

Garner let fly with a ferocious drive from inside the box which was sensationally tipped on to the bar and to safety by man-of-the-match Hurst.

Boston (4-4-2): Joel Dixon; Tom McNamee, Zak Mills, Carl Piergianni, Liam Marrs; Massiah McDonald (Kaine Felix 57), Scott Garner, Grant Roberts, Nicky Walker; Dayle Southwell (Marc Newsham 78), Mark Jones. Subs (not used): Michael Hollingsworth, Louis Saebe, Sam Vince (gk).

Stockport (4-3-1-2): Danny Hurst; Kyle Jacobs, Mark Lees, Stephen O'Halloran, Scott Duxbury (Matthew Todd 78); Richie Baker, Chris Churchman, Charlie Russell; Danny Glover; Jack Ryan (Chris Sharp 71), Kristian Dennis. Subs (not used): Nathan Woolfe, Bobby Lofthouse, Ian Ormson (gk).

Referee: Tom Nield.

Attendance: 1,072 (131 visitors).

PIC: Tim Hoff.