Boston United 2-3 FC United of Manchester

Agnew from the penalty spot and Rollins hauled United level on separate occasions before half-time against FC United of Manchester, who had led through a brace of Tom Greaves goals.

Substitute Jason Gilchrist won it for the visitors during a tight second half, with the Pilgrims unable to muster a response and they slipped to a sixth defeat in eight in the process.

United were straight on the front foot, with Gregg Smith looping a header over the bar following Agnew’s free-kick delivery, while the visitors’ debutant goalkeeper Jonathan Musangu almost got his FC career off to a disastrous start.

He rushed from his box and tripped Agnew, but referee Ricky Wootton played a good advantage and Rollins steered the ball wide of a gaping net.

Boston’s own debutant keeper Dion-Curtis Henry palmed aside a George Thomson free-kick but the visitors were soon in front when GREAVES tapped the ball home in the centre of the goal following Thomson’s driven cross from the left.

United lost the services of Joe Burgess moments later but did level after Dale Tonge chopped down Jason St Juste in the box and AGNEW blasted the spot-kick home to mark his return to action in amber and black.

Parity lasted only five minutes though and once Smith had slammed a piledriver down Musangu’s throat from distance, FC re-established their lead.

Henry failed to punch clear Chris Chantler’s cross from the left and the ball rebounded into the net off the head of the unsuspecting GREAVES.

Boston levelled again in the 38th minute when ROLLINS outstripped the flagging Tonge to run clear and bury the ball beyond Musangu.

Henry made crucial saves either side of the break, denying Tom Eckersley from close-range before half-time and then tipping Matt Wolfenden’s angled drive on to the post in the early stages of the second half.

FC United went in front for a third time in the 69th minute when GILCHRIST seized upon Henry’s initial save to virtually walk the ball home.

There was a further save from Henry in stoppage time to thwart substitute Kieran Glynn and the Pilgrims’ lack of second half chances were a damning indictment on their current fragile state.

Boston (4-4-2): Dion-Curtis Henry; Joe Burgess (Ollie Price 25), Joe Maguire, Joe Robinson, Courtney Wildin; Marcus Marshall (Cameron Johnson 73), Herve Pepe-Ngoma, Liam Agnew, Jason St Juste (Lewis Hilliard 73); Jay Rollins, Gregg Smith. Subs (not used): Jack McMillan, Liam Adams.

FC United (4-3-3): Jonathan Musangu; Dale Tonge, Luke Ashworth, Tom Eckersley, Chris Chantler; Sam Sheridan (Nathan Lowe 70), Scott Kay, Harry Winter; Matt Wolfenden (Jason Gilchrist 59), Tom Greaves, George Thomson (Kieran Glynn 86). Subs (not used): Jake Williams, Harry Pratt.

Referee: Ricky Wootton.

Attendance: 1,424 (303 visitors).