Ian Culverhouse celebrates a good week for Boston United

The Pilgrims followed a 1-1 draw at leaders Tamworth with a 2-1 win at South Shields following a brace by Jacob Hazel.

“ It was a very good win, it is a big week for the club,” said the United boss.

“We pressed really well in the first half and created lots of chances. We were excellent in the first half.

“Jacob (Hazel) took his goals really well. It was a really important second goal for us.

“Numbers are coming back so we can make use of the full squad which is very important at this stage of the season.

“We came overnight and it really helped. We had good togetherness at our evening meal and we had no travel in our legs.

“We were excellent at Tamworth and to back that up with three points on the road is very important to us."The Pilgrims opened like an express train and Keziah Martin's ninth minute drive nestled narrowly wide.

Jimmy Knowles then rifled agonisingly wide from range, before Martin Woods squared for Hazel to roll United into the lead.

United failed to deal with Mackenzie Heaney's 29th minute corner and Dillon Morse headed home to level for Shields.

The home side should have gone in front when Martin Smith sprung the offside trap but fluffed his lines in attempting to tee up Martin, rather than shooting himself.

Miles Boney made a pair of incredible saves to keep out Hazel and Knowles before the break.

United were undeterred though - with Brad Nicholson teeing up Hazel to cleverly dink the ball over Boney and squeeze it blissfully underneath the crossbar to hand the visitors a half-time lead.

Blackett was denied an equaliser five minutes after the break by a fine Aaron Chapman save. Newcastle United loanee Dylan Stephenson, making his Shields debut, subsequently hit the post in the 70th minute.