Boston United 2-2 Colwyn Bay

The Pilgrims had led through Jason Lee’s fourth goal in four matches, but remarkably found themselves behind at the break when Lee McEvilly netted twice in first half stoppage time.

United struck at the death though, following a second half littered with stoppages, yellow cards and a red card for Bay’s Damien Allen — with Milnes swooping to spectacularly level the contest from 30 yards.

Showing four changes to the side which had beaten Workington seven days earlier, United handed starts to Kevin Austin in defence, Milnes and Chris Hall in midfield and Jordan Burrow up front.

Boston took the lead with the game’s first meaningful attack on 10 minutes. Ryan Semple did well to skip away from Michael Lea down the right to deliver the ball and LEE did the rest with a terrific header at the back post.

Bay’s main attacking outlet was the impressive Daniel Lloyd-McGoldrick and he went close to forcing an equaliser by whizzing an effort marginally wide.

Lloyd-McGoldrick also had a drive blocked by Austin and then palmed aside by Paul Bastock as the Seagulls sought an instant riposte.

Gareth Evans then drove an effort inches too high following an Allen flag-kick.

United responded with Semple at the forefront of their best attacking moves. The flying winger’s deep cross was nodded down by Burrow and Hall squared the ball for Danny Sleath to slash an effort well wide.

Semple then produced a magical piece of skill to surge away from Lea, cut inside and test Chris Sanna from 20 yards and a decent low save followed from the Bay keeper.

The Seagulls levelled on the stroke of half-time when Lloyd-McGoldrick’s left-wing cross was bobbled past Bastock from 12 yards by man mountain McEVILLY.

Worse was to follow for the Pilgrims. Nathan Stainfield took out Karl Noon fractionally inside the box and McEVILLY blasted his spot-kick straight down the middle and over the despairing dive of Bastock.

The Pilgrims thought they had been awarded a penalty six minutes after half-time when Milnes rounded Sanna and appeared to have his heels clipped, but the United midfielder was cautioned for simulation.

Bay came close to a third goal when Lloyd-McGoldrick’s quality cross from the left evaded everybody with only a touch required to divert the ball beyond Bastock.

Visiting defender Matthew Hughes suffered a cut head — which required six minutes of treatment and an eventual bandage — following an innocuous challenge with Lee, as United’s increasing rhythm was stifled.

Luke Denson had a dipping volley clutched by Bastock when play did resume, but the Pilgrims should have been level when substitute Marc Newsham did brilliantly to sprint clear and pull the ball back for Sleath to crash an effort wildly over from 12 yards.

Sanna made a terrific save to claw Burrow’s goalbound header to safety, following a Milnes’ corner, while Bastock was called upon to keep out a late drive from Rob Hopley.

Allen was handed his marching orders after hurling obscenities at a group of young United supporters in the Fantasy Island Stand and as he eventually trudged off, eight minutes of added time were signalled.

Burrow had another header scrambled to safety by Hughes — who was forced to leave the field of play moments later with blood once again pouring from his head wound.

Boston took full advantage and with MILNES picking up possession inside the Bay half and visiting defenders backing off, the diminutive midfielder advanced to pick his spot high to Sanna’s right in the eighth added minute — sparking scenes of celebration around The Jakemans Stadium.

Boston (4-4-2): Paul Bastock; Lee Canoville, Nathan Stainfield, Kevin Austin, Gareth Jelleyman; Ryan Semple, Ben Milnes, Danny Sleath, Chris Hall (Ben Fairclough 60); Jason Lee (Marc Newsham 60), Jordan Burrow. Subs (not used): Sam Mulready, Ben Wilkinson, Andy Hewitt (gk).

Colwyn Bay (4-4-2): Chris Sanna; Luke Denson, Danny Meadowcroft, Rod McDonald, Michael Lea; Gareth Evans, Matthew Hughes, Damien Allen, Daniel Lloyd-McGoldrick (Jon Newby 82); Lee McEvilly (Rob Hopley 72), Karl Noon (Lee Davey 67). Subs (not used): Domaine Rouse, Dave Challinor.