Boston United hit five to claim FA Trophy win, while Jay Rollins makes his return

Nicky Walker and Max Wright both grabbed first half braces while Gavin Allott, who chalked up three assists in the opening 29 minutes, also got on the scoresheet.

And there was further good news for the Pilgrims as Jay Rollins made a late cameo off the bench, his first outing since March following a long injury lay-off.

Craig Elliott’s side ended their four-game winless streak in style at Hurst Cross.

A draw against Ashton in the league was the only point Boston picked up from that sequence, which included defeats to Telford, Brackley and Southport.

But after conceding a late leveller at Ashton in his previous two trips with United and Shaw Lane, Elliott made sure lightning didn’t strike a third time, his side doing the business early on.

Liam Agnew was handed a start in midfield following his return for a third stint at the club, this time on loan from Harrogate Town.

Also returning to the line-up were Brad Abbot, back from suspension, Walker, who had shrugged off an injury, and Spencer Harris and Wright, with James Jones, David Norris, Danny Rowe and Jordan Slew making way.

The Pilgrims began on the front foot and opened the scoring in the fifth minute courtesy of Wright’s finish.

Latching on to Allott’s header he buried his left-footed effort beyond the reach of Luke Pilling from edge of the Ashton box.

Prior to that, Mark Lees had somehow denied Walker a tap-in, clearing from under his own crossbar following Wright’s cross.

With the wind in their sails the Pilgrims became rampant, Walker adding two more before the interval and Wright making it 4-0.

Walker’s first, in the 18th minute, was a lob over Pilling following another Allott assist, and the same duo combined 11 minutes later, Walker applying the finishing touch from the target man’s nod down.

But Wright wasn’t to be outdone, making it 4-0 in the 33rd minute as he completed a mazy run with another left footer.

Eight minutes after the re-start it was five as Allott turned goalscorer, meeting Ashley Jackson’s cross to head home from 12 yards.

The hosts’ best chance in the opening 45 saw Luke Ashworth head over while George Willis earned his sixth clean sheet of the season by keeping out Liam Martin’s drive and also denying Liam Tomsett.

Boston almost made it six with a minute to go, but Ben Davies’ free kick rattled the woodwork.

Seconds later and Pilling denied Slew.

ASHTON: Pilling, Lees, Hill (HT), Ashworth, Chalmers, Sheridan (Roberts 57), Jackson, Regan, Martin, Tomsett, Crowther (Howarth HT); Subs (not used): Anghel, Hendes.

UNITED: Willis, Davies, Jackson, Thanoj, Harris, Qualter (Hine 82), Wright, Abbott, Allott (Slew 70), Agnew, Walker (Rollins 75); Subs (not used): Wafula, Malkowski.

REF: Aaron Jackson.

ATT: 187.