Boston United 0-2 Hyde FC

Second half goals from Shelton Payne and Danny Broadbent earned Hyde all three points, despite a solid and disciplined performance from the Pilgrims.

United had a goal ruled out when Marc Newsham was penalised for offside, but the Pilgrims otherwise found Hyde in determined defensive form.

The result brought United’s first home defeat since early September and left the Pilgrims firmly embedded in the mid-table region.

With Newsham preferred to Jordan Burrow up front, the Pilgrims closed their visitors down from the outset — and completely dominated the opening 10 minutes.

United were bright and vibrant and pushed Hyde back — with keeper David Carnell producing routine stops to deny Newsham and Chris Hall from distance.

Hyde gradually found their feet and Paul Bastock had to save well to keep out Tom Fisher’s fierce drive.

Bastock was then involved in a scare when he made contact with Payne in the box, but referee Guy Stretton waved away the sprawling winger’s penalty claims and awarded a corner instead.

United closed the half on top, with Newsham’s angled drive flying marginally too high following Ryan Semple’s cross, while Newsham had another drive tipped wide by Carnell.

Hyde took the lead three minutes after half-time. Andrew Pearson sprayed a long ball over the top and PAYNE evaded Alan White to rifle home an excellent low effort from 18 yards.

Boston responded with Danny Sleath’s angled drive flashing agonisingly wide, while Ben Milnes’ deep free-kick was nodded down by Jason Lee and Newsham applied a terrific finish — albeit from an offside position.

Hyde got themselves back on the front foot and Lee Canoville had to block a Broadbent effort on the line, after Payne had rounded Bastock to seemingly kill the game.

Stretton waved away handball shouts against Hyde defender Danny Hall following White’s header, but the visitors were soon two goals to the good.

David Birch returned a deep ball into the box and BROADBENT lashed an instinctive finish past a stranded Bastock.

Boston threw bodies forward in search of a route back into proceedings, but Hyde came close to extending their lead in stoppage time when Birch rattled the post and Chris Worsley’s follow-up flew to safety off the crossbar.

Boston (4-4-2): Paul Bastock; Lee Canoville (Jordan Fairclough 76), Alan White, Kevin Austin, Gareth Jelleyman; Ryan Semple, Ben Milnes, Danny Sleath, Chris Hall (Tyrone Kirk 64); Jason Lee, Marc Newsham (Jordan Burrow 76). Subs (not used): Ben Fairclough, Tom Ward.

Hyde (4-4-2): David Carnell; Andrew Pearson, Danny Hall, Gianluca Havern (Joel Richardson 50), Adam Griffin; David Birch, Tunji Moses (Chris Worsley 60), Callum Byrne, Shelton Payne; Tom Fisher (David Poole 77), Danny Broadbent. Subs (not used): Sean Williams, Nathan Martin.

Referee: Guy Stretton