FC United of Manchester 1-1 Boston United

The Pilgrims drew 1-1 with FC United of Manchester despite leading at half-time courtesy of Gregg Smith's 24th minute header.

The hosts levelled in the 73rd minute through George Thomson and a draw was arguably fair on the balance of play at the end of a second half which contained 15 minutes of stoppage time after a brief floodlight failure.

The Pilgrims, boasting a 100 percent record on previous visits to FC United, started well and Smith headed wide after Lewis Hilliard’s corner had only been partially cleared.

Hilliard himself was then denied by a terrific block from Tom Brown as the visitors threatened to edge in front.

Marcus Marshall’s header was blocked on the line before United made their breakthrough with SMITH cleverly looping home a header following good play from Jay Rollins and Callum Chippendale.

Rollins thought he had doubled the lead four minutes later when he touched home Smith’s header from a Chippendale cross, but the offside flag was promptly raised.

The Pilgrims suffered an injury blow when Chippendale was stretchered off with a suspected knee problem. Ben Clappison deputised from the bench.

Ross Durrant and Charlie Gatter were both making their Pilgrims’ debuts and the former produced a fine save three minutes before the break to deny Luke Ashworth for the hosts.

Home keeper David Carnell produced a fine stop on the stroke of half-time to repel Smith, with Gatter heading wide from the next corner delivery from Hilliard.

The Red Rebels were a different animal after the break and Durrant had to be alert to grab Jason Gilchrist’s header within moments of the restart.

Durrant subsequently excelled to claw Thomson’s thunderous drive on to the post and to safety as the home side cranked up the pressure.

Play was halted in the 59th minute with one floodlight pylon malfunctioning, but proceedings resumed seven minutes later.

FC’s leveller had been coming, particularly after Gilchrist produced a glaring miss, with THOMSON firing home a fine effort from 22 yards which took a deflection to help it beyond a stranded Durrant.

Substitute Lamin Colley, back from a loan spell at Scarborough Athletic, headed a late chance wide, while Smith’s header was kept out by a combination of keeper Carnell and captain Jerome Wright.

Fifteen minutes were added at the end of the regulation 90 minutes, but the hosts failed to craft a meaningful chance to ensure the points were shared.

FC United (4-2-3-1): David Carnell; Jake Williams, Scott Kay, Luke Ashworth, Jerome Wright; Sam Sheridan, Harry Winter; Jason Gilchrist, Tom Brown (Kieran Glynn 90), George Thomson; Tom Greaves (Gareth Arnison 90). Subs (not used): Sam Baird, Michael Jones, Kisimba Kisimba.

Boston (4-1-2-1-2): Ross Durrant; Kalern Thomas, Josh Robinson, Joe Maguire, Ben Gordon; Charlie Gatter; Callum Chippendale (Ben Clappison 36), Lewis Hilliard (Lamin Colley 77); Marcus Marshall (Jason St Juste 88); Jay Rollins, Gregg Smith. Subs (not used): Waide Fairhurst, Michael Emery (gk).

Referee: Paul Newhouse.

Attendance: 2,393.