Boston United 0-7 Burnley

Burnley scored seven goals without reply, five of which arrived in a mad 12-minute second half spell.

United striker Charley Sanders was sent off for apparent violent conduct amid the mayhem of the second half.

Following victories over Lincoln United, Mickleover Sports, Pinxton, Stourport Swifts, Burton Albion and Bradford City during a three-month spell, the Pilgrims were finally beaten by the npower Championship giants in front of 492 spectators at The Jakemans Stadium.

Steve Welsh and Micky Nuttell had opted to name an unchanged line-up from the one which had defeated Bradford — and the Pilgrims matched their opponents during the opening stages.

Burnley playmaker Steven Hewitt, who has appeared on the Clarets’ first team bench in Carling Cup action this season, tested Marc Hipwell early in proceedings, with Jordan Nuttell blocking a follow-up effort.

Hipwell also saved well from Shay McCartan before Cameron Howieson headed over the bar following Aryn Williams’ right-wing centre.

The Clarets took the lead after 34 minutes, with Jason GILCHRIST swivelling to fire a low effort past Hipwell from 12 yards.

Nuttell then hacked another Gilchrist effort off the line after McCartan had played his strike partner into the clear to lob Hipwell.

Burnley added their second goal four minutes before the break when HEWITT sailed home a 20-yard free-kick via a Boston deflection.

The Pilgrims had notable chances either side of the break. Sanders’ attempted chip was grabbed by keeper Josh Cook, following an initial mistake by the Burnley stopper, while Elliott Price’s lob at the beginning of the second period was headed off the line by Alex Coleman, with Cook stranded.

Burnley scored goal number three on 52 minutes. Williams delivered a cross from the right and HOWIESON finished the move with a diving header from 12 yards.

The floodgates opened thereafter. Alex Mullin’s header across goal was slashed into his own net by NUTTELL four minutes later and MULLIN himself added goal number five on 58 minutes with a crisp 12-yard finish.

The game’s main talking point unfolded on the hour mark. Sanders tried to hold off Williams in an aerial challenge, but after consultation with his assistant referee, match official Steven Meredith — who harshly dismissed Matt Bloomer in a similarly questionable incident in 2008 — once again brandished a red card for an alleged elbowing offence.

The Pilgrims were rocking and conceded again on 62 minutes when GILCHRIST planted a close-range header beyond a helpless Hipwell.

United’s misery was capped two minutes later when GILCHRIST headed home after Hewitt’s initial shot had rattled the crossbar.

Boston maintained a damage limitation exercise for the closing stages but went close to adding a consolation when skipper James Tricks whistled a 20-yarder fractionally wide following a neat piece of hold-up play.

Boston (4-4-2): Marc Hipwell; Niall Delahoy, Lewis Sturman, Jordan Nuttell, Charlie Rossington (Todd Devlin 80); James Reed, Elliott Price (Jordan Lote 80), Jake Beauchamp, Joe Briers (Stuart Whitaker 57); Charley Sanders, James Tricks. Subs (not used): Scott Langan, Jake Platten.

Burnley (4-4-2): Josh Cook; Aryn Williams (Charlie Holt 63), Alex Coleman, Tom Anderson, Luke Conlan; Alex Mullin (Adam Evans 69), Archie Love, Steven Hewitt, Cameron Howieson; Shay McCartan, Jason Gilchrist (Lewis Nuttall 67). Subs (not used): Jack Errington, Callum Jakovlevs.

Referee: Steven Meredith