Boston United 2-3 Bradford Park Avenue

The Pilgrims looked set to be cut adrift when a dazzling opening spell from Avenue had them two goals to the good inside 10 minutes through Alex Davidson and Paul Walker.

Marc Newsham cut the deficit after the break, only for Steve Mallory to re-assert Avenue's two-goal lead shortly afterwards. Newsham struck from the penalty spot with eight minutes to play, but despite a frenetic ending, the visitors held on.

The Pilgrims were rocking as early as the fifth minute. Chib Chilaka, a forceful presence down the Avenue right all evening, slipped DAVIDSON in and he did the rest with an excellent angled finish across Ashley Timms.

Further damage was inflicted five minutes later, with Chilaka crossing from the right for WALKER to drill home at the back post.

The Avenue onslaught continued with Richard Marshall blasting wide from distance, while Timms did well to parry another Marshall shot and although Chilaka buried the rebound, the offside flag was promptly raised.

United threatened seriously for the first time when Spencer Weir-Daley’s dipping drive was fumbled to safety by keeper John Lamb.

Avenue continued to create. Scott Garner blocked bravely to deny Nicky Boshell, before blocking a shot, in conjunction with Netan Sansara, to deny Chilaka.

Another Boshell drive was parried to safety by Timms, while Davidson fired wide following Nathan Hotte’s forceful run.

The tables were turned after the break, with United forcing their visitors back from long periods and twice coming close to reducing the deficit within the opening five minutes of the half.

Firstly the hard-working Ricky Miller fired against the inside of the post and then Weir-Daley slammed a dipping snapshot a fraction wide.

United got the reward for their incessant pressure at the beginning of the second period when Weir-Daley picked out NEWSHAM to brilliantly lob Lamb from 25 ayrds.

Lamb then excelled by diving high to his left to keep out Ian Ross’ dipping free-kick, with Stefan Galinski drilling the rebound over the bar.

With United’s tails firmly up, they were hit by the classic sucker-punch on the hour mark. Walker delivered a corner, Ross swung and missed his clearance at the near post and MALLORY was presented with the simple task of tapping the ball home on the line.

United were visibly deflated by Avenue’s third goal but gradually re-asserted their earlier second half pressure and got themselves on the scoresheet again with eight minutes to play.

Miller was upended in the box by Mallory and NEWSHAM buried his spot-kick low to Lamb’s right.

The United bombardment started in earnest with Conor Marshall crashing a 20-yarder wide, substitute Ben Fairclough seeing an effort from a similar distance deflect behind for a corner, while Lamb had to be alert to tip Newsham’s audacious flicked effort over the bar.

United’s final chance unfolded deep into stoppage time with substitute Charley Sanders firing a decent chance a foot wide of Lamb’s right-hand post.

Boston (4-3-3): Ashley Timms; Peter Bore, Scott Garner (Ben Milnes 73), Carl Piergianni, Netan Sansara; Conor Marshall (Charley Sanders 89), Stefan Galinski, Ian Ross; Spencer Weir-Daley (Ben Fairclough 81), Ricky Miller, Marc Newsham. Subs (not used): Ngoni Dongo, Sam Vince (gk).

Bradford (4-2-3-1): John Lamb; Chris Howarth, Steve Mallory, James Knowles, Jamie Price; Richard Marshall, Nathan Hotte; Chib Chilaka, Alex Davidson (Tom Corner 86), Paul Walker; Nicky Boshell (Ross Daly 35). Subs (not used): Charlie Clamp, Jason St Juste, Dermott McMurray (gk).

Referee: Ricky Wootton

Attendance: 999 (19 visitors)