Boston United 1-3 Brackley Town

The Pilgrims were undone by a quickfire double in the first half, with Shane Byrne netting directly from a corner and Connor Hall scoring a rebound after rattling the crossbar.

Impressive substitute Jordan Slew reduced the arrears midway through the second half but Byrne wrapped up Brackley's victory in stoppage time.

Brackley were on the front foot from the outset and Salford City loanee James Jones produced a fantastic last-ditch challenge to ward off Lee Ndlovu in only the sixth minute.

Sebastian Malkowski, making his second start for the Pilgrims, palmed a Matt Lowe effort over the bar but he was soon culpable after allowing a 26th minute corner from BYRNE to creep over the line at the near post.

Matters got worse for Malkowski and the Pilgrims seven minutes later when Byrne delivered another corner into the United box and after crashing his first effort against the bar, HALL reacted quickest to force the loose ball over the line.

It should have been three when Ndlovu seized on more hesitance in the United rearguard but Jones produced a fantastic goalline clearance in the nick of time.

Ashley Jackson served up United’s best chance of the half with a deflected right-footer which needed touching wide by Danny Lewis as the interval loomed.

Malkowski saved superbly from Lowe after the break, while James Armson headed over from another teasing Byrne delivery.

United finally mustered a response when referee James Bell allowed a good advantage and SLEW waltzed into the Brackley area to finish with aplomb.

BYRNE and Shepherd Murombedzi cracked low efforts off target for Brackley in the closing stages but the former had the last say by beating Malkowski from distance four minutes into stoppage time.

Boston (4-4-2): Sebastian Malkowski; Ben Davies, Ryan Qualter, James Jones, Ashley Jackson; Josh Hine (Max Wright 46), Brad Abbott, Andi Thanoj, Nicky Walker (David Parkhouse 82); Gregg Smith (Jordan Slew 46), Gavin Allott. Subs (not used): David Norris, Spencer Harris.

Brackley (4-4-1-1): Danny Lewis; Shepherd Murombedzi, Gareth Dean, Connor Hall, Connor Franklin; Matt Lowe, Shane Byrne, Adam Walker, Glenn Walker (Luke Fairlamb 86); James Armson (Daniel Nti 90); Lee Ndlovu. Subs (not used): Ellis Myles, Shaun Jeffers, Mark Noon.

Referee: James Bell.

Attendance: 922 (11 visitors).