The Pilgrims were good value for their resounding victory at The Citadel, with Leesley scoring before the break and then adding a second once Fraser Preston had netted himself at the beginning of the second half.

Jay Rollins added a late fourth as the Pilgrims inflicted a first home defeat of the season on Farsley to move up to third in the process.

With influential skipper Luke Shiels declaring himself fit to start, United manager Craig Elliott named an unchanged XI and United were soon on the front foot in West Yorkshire.

Connor Dimaio smacked the crossbar inside 11 minutes and Shiels headed narrowly wide from a Leesley corner shortly later.

United took a 25th minute lead when home keeper Sam Kelly misjudged a long clearance from his opposite number Ross Fitzsimons and LEESLEY hooked home an angled effort to break the deadlock.

Kelly made a flying save to keep out Tom Platt as half-time edged closer.

Jordan Richards was well-positioned to hack Pierce Bird’s header off the line from a Leesley corner but United increased their lead eight minutes after the break with PRESTON driving home a fine left-footer beyond Kelly from inside the box.

Terry Hawkridge saw a low free-kick deflect a fraction wide before United added their third goal with LEESLEY lifting home a rising drive from an improbable angle in the 58th minute.

Farsley’s only chances of the afternoon saw Adam Barton head wide from a Richards corner, before Richards himself forced Fitzsimons into a save from a 25-yard free-kick.

United applied the icing to their cake with Preston turning provider for substitute ROLLINS to sweep the ball home at the near post to complete the rout with seven minutes to play.

Farsley (3-4-3): Sam Kelly; Adam Clayton, David Syers (Ben Atkinson 65), Adam Barton; Jordan Richards, Carl Johnston, Chris Atkinson, Will Hayhurst (Ashley Smith-Brown 46); Paddy Lane, Jake Charles, Luke Parkin (Tyler Walton 46). Subs (not used): Elliot Goldthorp, Mark Bower (gk).

Boston (4-4-2): Ross Fitzsimons; Matt Tootle (Tyrell Warren 85), Luke Shiels, Pierce Bird, Scott Duxbury; Terry Hawkridge, Connor Dimaio, Tom Platt, Joe Leesley; Jordan Burrow (Jay Rollins 75), Fraser Preston (Scott Garner 87). Subs (not used): Paul Green, Peter Crook (gk).

Referee: David McNamara.

Attendance: Behind-Closed-Doors.

Photography: Oliver Atkin.