The Jakemans Community Stadium hosted the only National League North fixture to overcome the elements - but the Pilgrims were beaten by Jak Hickman’s 14th minute strike.

Jake Wright failed to convert Boston’s best second half chance as their four-match winning streak on home soil came to a shuddering halt.

Banbury made much of the early running on a pitch which had been covered until 6.00pm. They took the lead when Giorgio Rasulo delivered from the left and HICKMAN steered the ball home from close-range.

The Puritans went close again when Alex Babos rattled the crossbar three minutes later.

Boston's best first half chance fell to Ben Pollock on the stroke of half-time, with the centre-half's header from a Sam McLintock free-kick nestling narrowly wide.

The home side's clearest chance of the evening arrived seven minutes after the break - but Wright chipped the ball over the crossbar after surging through one-on-one against Jack Harding.

Scott Pollock crashed an effort high and wide after meeting Wright's cutback from the left - as the Pilgrims suffered an evening to forget.

Boston (3-5-1-1): Sam Long; Jo Cummings (Keenan Ferguson 46), Shaun Pearson, Ben Pollock; Joe Starbuck, Lebrun Mbeka (Will Atkinson 60), Tom Platt, Sam McLintock, Harry Lewis (Jordan Burrow 60); Scott Pollock; Jake Wright. Subs (not used): Tom Solanke, Jake Lovelace (gk).

Banbury (4-2-3-1): Josh Harding; Connor Roberts, Ben Radcliffe, Jay Williams, Sam Brown; Josh Smile, Giorgio Rasulo; Jak Hickman (Josh Dugmore 80), Alex Babos (Callum Reilly 80), Ben Acquaye; Jack Stevens (Henry Landers 74).

Referee: Jamie O'Connor.

Attendance: 890 (30 visitors).

PIC: Tim Hoff.