Jayden Clarke equalised two minutes later in a breathless start to the contest - but United prevailed courtesy of Cursons' 52nd minute spot-kick and Wheeldon's close-range effort 15 minutes from time.

United boss Paul Hurst had made four changes ahead of kick-off, with CURSONS among the players coming into the starting XI. His impact was immediate, latching on to Connor Teale's powerful header through to run on and angle a drive beyond the reach of Ethan Ross.

Forest Green levelled two minutes later when CLARKE cracked home a brilliant effort from 20 yards to restore parity.

United needed a brilliant save from Louis Chadwick to deny Tate Campbell, following a cheap turnover of possession in the United middle ground. Clarke then rattled Chadwick's crossbar with a stinging long-range drive.

D'Mani Mellor missed a gilt-edged header for Forest Green two minutes after the break - and United soon seized control of the contest. CURSONS was upended by Gabriel Kircough in the box and calmly picked himself up to convert from 12 yards.

Filozefe Mabete made a sensational block to deny Wheeldon, while Chadwick produced a huge stop to deny Mabete at the other end, with Kircough crashing the rebound too high.

Cursons then teed up Wheeldon for a close-range finish, but the ball squirmed agonisingly wide.

United put the game to bed in the 75th minute when Georgie Gent's corner was stabbed home at close-range by WHEELDON.

Forest Green (4-3-3): Ethan Ross; Kyle Kelly (Nick Haughton 56), Filozefe Mabete, Gabriel Kircough, Freddie Sass (Omari Patrick 75); Tate Campbell (Preston Fearon 62), Jayden Clarke, Kelvin Abrefa (Tre Pemberton 62); Kyle McAllister, D'Mani Mellor (Mees Rijks 56), Sean Etaluku. Subs (not used): Oli Ewing, Luke McNicholas (gk).

Boston (4-3-2-1): Louis Chadwick; Connor Teale (Sai Sachdev 72), Jake Rooney, Jamie Grimes, Georgie Gent; Gavan Holohan, Terrell Agyemang, Nicholas Pozo (Levi Sutton 59); Ken Aboh (Ollie Bostock 85), Tom Cursons (Lenell John-Lewis 85), Lennon Wheeldon. Subs (not used): Niall Canavan, Connor McBride, Luke Faxon (gk).

Referee: Jason Richardson.

Attendance: 1,945 (131 visitors).

PIC: Chris Bray.