Nuneaton Town 1-1 Boston United

In front of a sparse crowd at Alfreton Town’s Impact Arena, United fell behind to James Ferry’s 21st minute opener.

United upped the ante after the break and levelled when Ryan Johnson turned home Ashley Hemmings’ low cross from the left but despite a second half bombardment, the Pilgrims could not score again and now need a mathematical miracle to reach the top seven.

The match was played 24 hours later than originally scheduled and switched to Derbyshire following power issues at Nuneaton’s Liberty Way.

The ‘home’ side went close in the 12th minute when top scorer Ashley Chambers wriggled through to lob George Willis but skipper Jordan Keane got back in the nick of time to acrobatically hook the ball off the line.

Boro edged ahead nine minutes later when Chambers delivered from the left and FERRY got up highest at the back post to steer home a close-range header into the roof of the net.

United felt they should have been awarded a penalty when Niall Heaton appeared to handle in the Boro box, while Ryan Qualter subsequently got away with a loose challenge on Kairo Mitchell as referee Barry Lamb kept himself out of the limelight.

Joel Dielna crashed a free-kick off target for Nuneaton while a Hemmings from a James Clifton cross flew wide for the Pilgrims as the first half ended with Boro holding a slender advantage.

United’s second half performance was in sharp contrast to their first half display and their dominance began to grow.

Ross Etheridge thwarted Clifton and then denied Brad Abbott with a fine save with his legs.

United equalised in the 58th minute when Hemmings delivered a low cross from the left and the ball was turned past Etheridge by his own defender JOHNSON.

The Boston onslaught gathered momentum and Etheridge made super saves to deny substitute Jake Beesley in a one-on-one situation and Abbott on two separate occasions.

Jonathan Wafula also fired off target when well-placed and Boro came close to snatching all three points in stoppage time when George Green rattled the post from distance.

Nuneaton (4-4-2): Ross Etheridge; Joel Dielna, Kelvin Langmead, Ryan Johnson, Niall Heaton; James Ferry, Tom Elliott, Daniel Nti (Adil Nabi 46), George Green; Ashley Chambers, Kairo Mitchell (Andre Wright 76). Subs (not used): Josh Steele, Ashley Elliott, Dean Lyness (gk).

Boston (4-4-2): George Willis; James Clifton, Ryan Qualter, Jordan Keane, Stephen Brogan (Gregg Smith 85); Jonathan Wafula (Ben Middleton 75), Brad Abbott, Andi Thanoj, Ashley Hemmings; Reece Thompson, Kabongo Tshimanga (Jake Beesley 62). Sub (not used): Jamie McGuire.

Referee: Barry Lamb.

Attendance: 154.