Curzon Ashton 4-2 Boston United

The lacklustre Pilgrims were handed a first half lifeline when Daniel Shaw scored an own goal on the stroke of half-time to cancel out Jonathan Hunt's 22nd minute opener.

A mad six-minute spell after the break, however, saw Matt Warburton score twice and Ryan Hall once as the Pilgrims imploded, with Karl Hawley cutting the deficit three minutes from time.

United had failed to heed the early warning signs, with Niall Cummins striking the crossbar with a looping header and Warburton’s shot from distance hitting both posts in the same move before being gathered on the line by Ross Durrant.

The visitors took the lead with almost half the first period played when HUNT ghosted round the back to power home a header from Warburton’s inviting cross.

United levelled in first half stoppage time with SHAW skewing the ball into his own net following decent build-up play involving Lewis Hilliard and Liam Adams.

Hilliard was culpable for Curzon’s second goal on 50 minutes when he gifted possession to WARBURTON who ran on and chipped the onrushing Durrant to restore the hosts’ advantage.

It was virtually game over a minute later when Nat Brown was caught in possession by Cummins and his cross was stroked home by strike partner WARBURTON.

Matters got even worse on 56 minutes when HALL waltzed through several United challenges to drive home Curzon’s fourth of the afternoon.

Cummins and Warburton fluffed further chances to extend the hosts’ advantage but United did finally reduce the arrears with three minutes to play when HAWLEY got on the end of Adams’ fine cross from the right to ensure slightly more respectability in the scoreline for the visitors.

Curzon (4-4-2): Hakan Burton; Oliver Thornley, Jonathan Hunt, Daniel Shaw, Joe Guest; Ryan Hall, Jordon Wright, Alex Brown (Ryan Jennings 79), Chris Rowney; Matt Warburton (Tyrell McKenzie 88), Niall Cummins (James Baillie 75). Subs (not used): Paul Ennis, Cameron Mason (gk).

Boston (3-4-2-1): Ross Durrant; Charlie Gatter, Nat Brown, Tom Batchelor; Joe Burgess (Louis Briscoe 46), Adam Chapman, Jack Broadhead, Jan Yeomans (Kalern Thomas 46); Liam Adams, Lewis Hilliard; Mani Dieseruvwe (Karl Hawley 60). Subs (not used): Shane Clarke, Colby Bishop.

Referee: Peter Gibbons.

Attendance: 390.