Brackley Town’s wily marksman got his head on the end of Martin Woods’ free-kick five minutes before half-time - 10 minutes after Jordan Cullinane-Liburd had been sent off for a forearm smash on Jake Wright.

United applied plenty of second half pressure but the closest they came to an equaliser was Glenn Walker’s frantic goalline clearance to deny Jordon Crawford at the death.

United had made one change ahead of kick-off, with Will Atkinson restored to midfield, as Ian Culverhouse opted to go back to four in defence.

Tom Platt, once again wearing the captain's armband, had to divert a Rooney header off the line in the fourth minute following a rare misplaced punch from keeper Sam Long.

Danny Lewis in the home goal made a decent stop to keep out Scott Pollock before Long dived to his right to keep out Callum Stead's long-range drive.

United were seemingly handed a major boost when Cullinane-Liburd received a straight red card for a forceful arm in Wright's face on the half hour mark - but it was the hosts who took the lead 10 minutes later with ROONEY planting a free header past Long following Woods' free-kick delivery.

Boston ramped up the pressure in the second half, with Lewis finger-tipping Scott Pollock's free-kick over the bar for a corner, while Lewis excellent to deny Crawford.

Crawford was denied by a brilliant Walker goalline clearance with a minute to play - with Scott Pollock sending the rebound wide.

Brackley (4-4-2): Danny Lewis; George Carline, Jordan Cullinane-Liburd, Gareth Dean, Glenn Walker; Cosmas Matwasa, James Armson, Martin Woods, Wes York (Riccardo Calder 33); Adam Rooney (Josh Flanagan 75), Callum Stead. Subs (not used): Fabio Lopes, Jeff Putz, Twariq Yusuf.

Boston (4-1-2-1-2): Sam Long; Keenan Ferguson (Jean Leroy Belehouan 83), Jake Hull, Ben Pollock, Alex Brown; Tom Platt (Tom Solanke 68); Sam McLintock, Will Atkinson; Scott Pollock; Jake Wright (Ellis Myles 60), Jordon Crawford. Subs (not used): Zak Mills, Rhys Davies (gk).

Referee: Matthew Scholes.

Attendance: 552.

PIC: Glenn Alcock.