Jordan Burrow's 17th minute opener and Shane Byrne's stoppage time penalty sealed the deal for Craig Elliott's side, who dug deep to earn three more crucial points.

Huddersfield Town loanee Loick Ayina was selected as the sponsors' man-of-the-match, as Hereford enjoyed plenty of territory and hit the post in the closing stages through Miles Storey.

The match was delayed until 3.30pm, following Hereford's late arrival after traffic problems on the M5.

The Pilgrims, with debutant Ayina replacing the injured Jake Wright Snr, took the lead when BURROW finished neatly from close-range after Fraser Preston had seen an initial drive charged to safety.

Hereford's best chance to equalise before half-time fell to Tom Owen-Evans, but he could only blaze across goal and narrowly wide.

Danny Elliott and Burrow both sent glancing headers off target at the beginning of the second half - but it was the visitors who continued to enjoy the majority of the play.

The Bulls thought they had levelled with seven minutes to play - but Storey's angled shot hit the inside of the post and Scott Duxbury made a magnificent goalline block to deny substitute Victor Sodeinde on the follow-up.

United took full advantage and with Jake Wright Jnr upended by Ben Pollock right on 90 minutes, BYRNE stepped up to fire home his second spot-kick in as many matches to settle any home nerves.

Boston (4-4-2): Peter Crook; Matt Tootle, Scott Garner, Loick Ayina, Scott Duxbury; Fraser Preston (Milan Lalkovic 81), Shane Byrne, Tom Platt, Joe Leesley; Jordan Burrow (Jake Wright Jnr 79), Danny Elliott (Paul Green 60). Subs (not used): Keenan Ferguson, Jordan Preston.

Hereford (4-2-3-1): Jordan Wright; Patrick Fini, Ben Pollock, Levi Andoh, Jared Hodgkiss; Maziar Kouhyar, Luke Haines; Daniel Smith, Harry Pinchard (Victor Sodeinde 82), Tom Owen-Evans (Ryan McLean 70); Miles Storey. Subs (not used): Krystian Pearce, Pasulay Njie, Jaden Charles.

Referee: Michael Barlow.

Attendance: 1,602 (78 visitors).

PIC: Russell Dossett.