The Pilgrims twice rattled the crossbar in the second half through Greg Sloggett and Frankie Maguire, but the hosts held on for a crucial win to take them back to the top of the table with four matches to play.

United boss Paul Hurst had made four changes ahead of kick-off, with Dylan Hill among those coming into the starting XI after a knee injury.

After a cagey opening period, York were first to threaten, but Josh Stones was pushed wide and Dan Cameron was presented with a routine save.

Maguire saw a 25-yarder nick off a York defender for a United corner, before Cameron produced an excellent save on the stroke of half-time to deny Brookes.

BROOKES was not to be denied much longer - steering the ball home three minutes after the break following Cameron's initial save to deny Ollie Banks, after Malachi Fagan-Walcott's burst down the right-hand side.

Sloggett subsequently headed Maguire's corner against the crossbar, while Maguire himself cracked an effort against the woodwork 17 minutes later.

Cameron repelled efforts from Brookes and leading scorer Ollie Pearce as York threatened to score a second - but their defensive work in the closing stages was enough to secure a potentially monumental win in the title race.

Boston (4-2-3-1): Dan Cameron; Connor Teale (Marcel Lavinier 80), Jake Rooney, Jamie Grimes, Alex Lankshear; Jordan Richards, Greg Sloggett (Arjan Raikhy 80); Luca Barrington (Jordy Hiwula 68), Frankie Maguire, Dylan Hill (Tom Cursons 78); Lenell John-Lewis. Subs (not used): Jacob Hazel, Oisin Gallagher, Louis Chadwick (gk).

York (3-4-1-2): Harrison Male; Malachi Fagan-Walcott, Zak Johnson, Mark Kitching; Jeff King, Alex Hunt (Dan Batty 88), Hiram Boateng, Ben Brookes (Ryan Fallowfield 88); Ollie Banks (Joe Grey 72); Josh Stones, Ollie Pearce. Subs (not used): Callum Howe, Greg Olley, Alex Newby, George Sykes-Kenworthy (gk).

Referee: Andrew Miller.

Attendance: 3,198 (707 visitors).

PIC: Chris Bray.