Boston United 1 Hednesford 2

It was only a couple of years ago that the Pilgrims from Boston were playing in the Football League but Hednesford produced the display of the season to send a large crowd home unhappy.

In the opening quarter of an hour, the Pitmen played the ball around the Smartstaff stadium and looked every inch a top-two side.

The only thing missing was a goal, so it came as a surprise to the travelling supporters when it was Boston who took the lead.

In the 15th minute, Kieran Leabon chipped the Pitmen defence for the Pilgrims' leading goalscorer Ollie Ryan to run on to and score.

Ross Draper was then cautioned in the 19th minute for a foul. It was his fifth caution of the season and he will now have a one-match ban which will mean he will miss the home game against Cammell Laird.

The lead lasted only seven minutes, as a Sean Platt free-kick was headed on to Ross Dyer, who chested down and hit an unstoppable volley into the far side of the net.

It was a certain candidate for goal of the season.

Boston's former Aston Villa star David Farrell had to be substituted after half an hour with what appeared a groin strain.

Dyer twice went close before half-time, the first chance coming after Mark Briggs had won the ball on the halfway line. He slipped the ball down the middle for Dyer, who turned and hit a looping shot which dipped just past the left-hand post.

Dyer went closer still with a header, after a sweeping move across the pitch saw Ant Maguire with the ball on the left. He made a run before setting up Platt to cross into the box and Dyer headed just over from the edge of the six-yard box.

The Pitmen's passing game finally reaped its reward in the 55th minute, when Tom Marshall hit a pass over the top of the back line.

Tyrone Barnett chased down the ball and managed to get between the defender and the goalkeeper to send a clever lob into the net, despite the desperate efforts of a defender on the line.

Boston players seemed to lose the plot and three home players were cautioned in a six-minute spell, then in the 75th minute Ryan Clarke was sent off with a straight red for a crude challenge on Elliott Durrell.

Barnett had a couple of firm shots late on which went just wide and would have made the final minutes of the game a little easier for the visitors.

With resolute defending and an all-round good team performance, the Pitmen held on for the three points which took them back up to second place.

Hednesford: Brock, Platt, Maguire, Gomes, Harvey, Marshall, Briggs, Durrell (Sheppard 83), Banett, Dyer, Draper.

Ref: M Chester (Lincoln).

Att: 1,090.