Hednesford Town 1-2 Boston United

The Pilgrims bagged an important three-point haul following Piergianni's ninth minute header and Southwell's cool 63rd minute finish to wipe out Marvin Robinson's 25th minute leveller.

United had to ride out some late pressure from the hosts but saw several chances go begging on the break to secure a more comprehensive victory.

It was the Pilgrims' third win in four league visits to Keys Park and boosted Dennis Greene's side's hopes of extending their season beyond April 25.

Deploying three centre-halves, United took the lead with the clock reading nine minutes. Zak Mills' first long throw was cleared but his second, from the other side of the pitch, saw PIERGIANNI head home low to Dan Crane's left.

By this time, Robinson's third minute drive had been clutched by Max Stryjek after the big Hednesford striker had held off Mills to turn and shoot.

The Pitmen equalised when Ben Bailey's towering throw-in was powered home by former Lincoln City striker ROBINSON.

Town's tails were up after their leveller and Glenn Walker's near post drive trickled narrowly wide of Stryjek's upright following a mazy run infield from the left-footer.

Kaine Felix did brilliantly at the other end to get away from Walker and cross from the left but Kyle Dixon's header at the back post lacked power and dropped wide.

Stryjek made routine saves either side of the break to deny Bailey and Tom Thorley, while United's Mills headed off target following a Dixon free-kick.

The game's defining moment arrived 18 minutes into the second period when Dixon and Mark Jones combined to free SOUTHWELL and he composed himself to pick his spot and fire past Crane from 12 yards.

There was almost an instant response for Hednesford but Walker rolled an effort across goal and wide.

United carried a threat on the break in the closing stages, with Jones' volley brilliantly blocked by Andy Todd on the end of another Mills throw, while Southwell beat three challenges but rounded Crane and drilled into the side-netting. Crane then produced a terrific stop to deny a clean through Felix.

Town cranked up the pressure late on and full-back James Hurst shuffled an effort over the bar following Thorley's corner while major handball shouts against Piergianni were waved away in a frantic finale.

Hednesford (4-3-3): Dan Crane; James Hurst, Andy Todd (Steve Diggin 74), Ben Bailey, Darren Campion; Jamey Osborne, Tom Thorley, Richard Batchelor (Lloyd Kerry 68); Glenn Walker, Marvin Robinson (Nick Rushton 56), Adam Thomas. Subs (not used): Thomas Strain, Chris Westwood.

Boston (3-5-2): Max Stryjek; Liam Marrs, Zak Mills, Carl Piergianni; Kaine Felix, Grant Roberts, Scott Garner, Kyle Dixon, Rene Steer; Dayle Southwell (Nicky Walker 88), Mark Jones (Marc Newsham 90). Subs (not used): Michael Hollingsworth, Louis Saebe, Ollie Price.

Referee: Andrew Scregg.

Attendance: 636.

PIC: Tim Hoff.