The Pilgrims defeated Teversal 5-2 at The Jakemans Stadium, with Louis Saebe netting a hat-trick, as both sides finished with 10 men.

Kurtis Clegg had scored an early own goal for the Pilgrims, who doubled their lead through Miles Lynch, with Teversal’s replies provided by Oscar Govan-Greenacre and Lewis Weaver.

United edged in front on nine minutes, seconds after Jake Crunkhorn had rattled the post for Teversal. Saebe worked some space on the right and his driven cross was turned into his own net by CLEGG.

Crunkhorn and strike partner Joshua Radford both had further chances, but were denied by a combination of a Jamie Bradley save and a wayward finish across goal.

United made them pay by doubling their lead on 23 minutes with LYNCH firing neatly into the far corner from 18 yards.

Boston went further in front five minutes before the break when SAEBE created a yard of space before stroking the ball home from the edge of the box.

Teversal handed themselves a lifeline three minutes after half-time when GOVAN-GREENACRE waltzed through unopposed to drill the visitors back into contention.

United’s fourth goal arrived from the penalty spot after Saebe had been chopped down by Lewis Ford, who was cautioned. SAEBE picked himself up to dispatch the spot-kick with aplomb.

Lynch rattled the Teversal bar from a Saebe cross before referee Duncan Robertson produced a second yellow card for Ford — but no red card! The official realised the error of his ways a couple of minutes further on and duly sent Ford on his way.

United’s own red card arrived on 77 minutes with substitute Daniel Moulds, only on the field for 10 minutes, dismissed for hauling down Crunkhorn as Boston’s last defender. Lewis WEAVER fired home the resulting penalty.

The game’s third penalty was awarded with six minutes to play, following a needless foul from keeper Timothy Cuff on United’s Bradley Easey. It was left to SAEBE to step up and blast home his third of the night to claim the matchball and book United’s safe passage into a second qualifying round trip to Matlock Town.

Boston (4-3-3): Jamie Bradley; Daniel Worthington, Billy Hodgkiss (Daniel Moulds 67), Joe Cain, Jack McCallum; Miles Lynch, Liam Moran, Corey Newman; Steven Dovey (Alex Dempster 82), Louis Saebe, Bradley Easey (Scott Floyd 85). Subs (not used): Jack Dykes, Dominic Goddard.

Teversal (4-4-2): Timothy Cuff; Kurtis Clegg, Regan Archer, Ashley Wilson (Sean Butler 75), Lewis Ford; Lewis Weaver, Joe Patrick (James Weaver 75), Oscar Govan-Goodacre, Samuel King (Rhys Williams 45); Joshua Radford, Jake Crunkhorn. Subs (not used): Luke Bacon, Joseph Darby.

Referee: Duncan Robertson.

Attendance: 186.