Saebe settled a tight encounter with a 55th minute tap-in after City keeper Henry Smith had denied Bradley Easey.

City enjoyed large swathes of possession throughout the match but found Sam Vince in good form when he was called upon and United could have extended their advantage in stoppage time when Leon Squire rattled the crossbar.

SAEBE struck 10 minutes into the second half following keeper Smith’s save to thwart Easey, after Miles Lynch had nodded on Squire’s cross from the right.

United had carved out the game’s first real chances inside the opening 15 minutes, with Smith making routine saves to deny Saebe and then Squire. Ollie Price subsequently slammed Jacob Pease’s corner delivery over the bar.

Lincoln went close with Jordan Harper whistling a shot over the top, while Vince held a Matt Cotton free-kick before spectacularly denying Harper at the beginning of the second half.

Vince made a crucial stop to keep out Kegan Everington’s header — just moments before Saebe struck the decisive blow.

Cotton was again denied by Vince in the closing stages but despite the lion’s share of possession, City were unable to find a way through a resilient United defence.

It was indeed United who could have extended their lead deep into eight minutes of stoppage time when Squire crashed a drive off Smith’s crossbar.

The Pilgrims had done enough though and entertain Pegasus Juniors in the third qualifying round in two weeks’ time.

Boston (4-3-3): Sam Vince; Daniel Worthington, Josh Spencer, Ollie Price, Jordan Sowerby; Miles Lynch, Jacob Pease (Joe Searson 76), Aaron Eyett; Leon Squire, Louis Saebe (Liam Moran 70), Bradley Easey. Subs (not used): Billy Hodgkiss, Steven Dovey, Lewis McKue.

Referee: Trevor Basker

Attendance: 363