Boston United 2-1 Bradford City

The Pilgrims came from a goal down to defeat Football League opponents Bradford City at The Jakemans Stadium.

Price’s long-range bullet before the break and Reed’s well-taken second half strike booked United a home tie against Championship giants Burnley in round three.

The win was deserved following another determined and dogged performance from the Pilgrims against talented and higher-ranking opposition.

With Stuart Whitaker deemed only fit enough for inclusion on the bench, flying winger Joe Briers earned a starting position on the United left.

The Pilgrims raced out of the traps and dominated the game from the outset — although they fell behind against the run of play on 19 minutes.

After Scott Brown had crashed a 20-yarder wide for Bradford and James Tricks had a header routinely stopped by Callum Tongue following Niall Delahoy’s cross, Bradford struck. Connor Bower delivered an inviting centre from the left and Adam BAKER applied an assured finish, back across keeper Marc Hipwell, from 12 yards.

Midfield playmaker James Nanje-Ngoe went close to a second for Bradford virtually straight from the kick-off — but the Pilgrims were level within six minutes.

With the pitch opening up invitingly in front of him, PRICE advanced to dispatch a brilliant 30-yarder off the inside of Tongue’s right-hand post and into the net.

The lively Brown whistled one wide for Bradford, while Bower’s close-range deflected effort bounced to safety off the underside of the crossbar, with Jordan Nuttell completing the clearance in the nick of time.

Hipwell made good saves to deny Brown and centre-half Kyle Harrison as the Bantams upped the ante before half-time.

Bradford started strongly after the break too and Hipwell made good saves to deny Brown and Tom Marshall (twice).

The Pilgrims were presented with a glorious chance on the hour mark when Briers galloped clear to deliver from the left and Tricks planted a free header, six yards out, agonisingly wide.

Bradford cranked up the pressure with Forrayh Bass clearing the angle of post and bar by a matter of inches and Hipwell spectacularly denying Marshall from distance.

United’s second breakthrough arrived on 78 minutes. Marauding full-back Charlie Rossington whipped in a left-wing cross and after Price had seen his effort blocked by Declan McGivern, REED swivelled to drive home a near post effort which flew beyond Tongue.

The Pilgrims came agonisingly close to adding their third when Sanders met Delahoy’s deep free-kick with a rising drive, but the ball bounced to safety off the bar. Tricks crashed the rebound against the post, but the offside flag was belatedly raised regardless.

Referee Nic Evans played seven minutes of stoppage time and in the third minute of added time, full-back Nathan Lawless smashed a 20-yard free-kick a fraction wide, with Hipwell beaten.

The final whistle eventually sounded to cap another monumental effort from the United youngsters — who were able to celebrate their sixth victory in the competition.

Boston (4-4-2): Marc Hipwell; Niall Delahoy, Lewis Sturman, Jordan Nuttell, Charlie Rossington; James Reed, Elliott Price, Jake Beauchamp, Joe Briers; Charley Sanders, James Tricks. Subs (not used): Stuart Whitaker, Todd Devlin, Scott Langan, Jake Platten, Jordan Lote.

Bradford (4-3-3): Callum Tongue; Rob Hiza (Andrew Boote 53), Declan McGivern, Kyle Harrison, Nathan Lawless; Tom Marshall, James Nanje-Ngoe, Scott Brown; Connor Bower, Adam Baker, Forrayh Bass (Connor Erangey 84). Sub (not used): Alex Metcalf.

Referee: Nic Evans