Two goals inside the opening half-hour from Fleetwood marksman Tom Peterson ensured all three Football Conference Youth Alliance points headed back to the Fylde coast.

United were presented with a glorious chance to get themselves back into the game on the stroke of half-time — but captain James Tricks saw his weak penalty saved by keeper Christian Thewlis.

Showing five changes from the side which had defeated Mickleover Sports in the FA Youth Cup on Thursday, the Pilgrims looked disjointed for long stages of the first half — with Fleetwood’s middle threesome controlling the game.

The dangerous Ryan Brooks had already seen a long-range effort well saved by Marc Hipwell by the time Fleetwood took the lead in the second minute.

Brooks outstripped Sam Towell down the Fleetwood right before cutting the ball back to PETERSON to finish with aplomb from 10 yards.

The Pilgrims created their first chance in the ninth minute with Tricks heading wide following Niall Delahoy’s right-wing cross.

Fellow striker Charley Sanders then dragged an effort across goal and wide following decent play from Joe Briers.

Hipwell kept the Pilgrims in the contest with a terrific save to deny Ellis Messham from distance, but Town were soon further ahead.

PETERSON seized upon hesitancy in the United defence to drift into space and with Hipwell indecisive too, the Fleetwood striker had the simple task of firing the ball home from inside the box.

Sanders freed Tricks as United sought a quick response, but Thewlis saved at his near post, while Hipwell had to make decent stops to deny Peterson and Jake Parker.

The Pilgrims were handed a lifeline when Luke Wilson was fouled in the box — but Tricks fired his low spot-kick straight at the diving figure of Thewlis.

Hipwell made another good save to deny Jamie Allen at the beginning of the second period, but the Pilgrims soon came close to cutting the deficit.

Sanders worked hard to create an opening down the left and Briers crashed the ball wide at the back post following the resultant cross.

Hipwell made a brilliant save to stop Brooks making it three, while Todd Devlin produced a last-gasp goalline clearance to deny Parker a near certain goal in the last minute.

United created two late chances, with Sanders’ cutback just unable to present Tricks with a tap-in, while Wilson headed over the bar following Jake Beauchamp’s corner, as Boston’s afternoon ended in frustration.

Boston (4-4-2): Marc Hipwell; Niall Delahoy, Jordan Nuttell, Todd Devlin, Sam Towell (Scott Langan 67); Joe Briers (Tom Owen 86), Jake Beauchamp, Luke Wilson, Jake Platten (Jonny Butler 69); Charley Sanders, James Tricks. Subs (not used): Lewis Sturman, Stewart England (gk).

Fleetwood (4-3-3): Christian Thewlis; Matt Garrity, Kane Dreuncourt (Sam Webster 65), James Cairns, Liam Fitzsimmons; Ellis Messham, Jake Parker, Richard Wright; Ryan Brooks, Tom Peterson (Ben Cartwright 65), Jamie Allen (Greg Peel 56).