FA Cup qualifying: Boston Town 2 Hednesford Town 0

The hosts – who play in the United Counties League Premier Division, equivalent to the Midland Premier – are yet to win a league game this season, but had already progressed through two FA Cup ties.

And they made light work of the two-division gap to the Evo-Stik Premier Pitmen, who went into the game on the back of a derby win against Stafford Rangers, but were missing winning goalscorer Matt Dodd, who left the club for Stourbridge on Friday.

Hednesford kicked the game off and started the better side, passing the ball about against a nervous-looking Boston, but against the run of play Town scored after just five minutes as Fraser Bayliss netted from a cross from the right.

Hednesford passed the ball around to try find a way through the Boston midfield, but couldn’t make any chances.

Boston were getting into the game more and after 26 minutes scored a second, again a cross went across the area and was smashed in by Simon Ashton, giving them a two-goal lead.

The Pitmen now needed the spark to get them back into the game, but they couldn’t break down the Boston defence to create any real chances, although just before the break Devarn Green blazed one over the bar.

The second half started with the Pitmen knowing they need at least two goals.

Good chances were proving hard to find, but Kris Taylor hit one just over the bar.

Boston were trying to slow the game down, as the Pitmen found another gear, with Taylor hitting a 30-yard free-kick just wide of the post and moments later Green striking one wide.

The hosts, meanwhile, had two penalty shouts for handball turned down while Danny Glover had a few shots which came to nothing as the Pitmen were dumped out at the first qualifying round stage for the second season in succession.