Late disaster for Boston United again as Hornchurch take the points
For the second time in five days, Boston United were beaten by late goals when close to victory as they slumped to a 3-2 home defeat by Hornchurch this afternoon.
The Pilgrims twice led through goals by Sai Sachdev and Ken Aboh, but the visitors rose to the challenge and netted twice in the last 10 minutes to make it four wins in five games and move up to third in the National League table.
Boston turned in an impressive first half display and were deservedly finally ahead through Ken Aboh's fourth goal in five games on 31 minutes after a superb home move.
However, a Jake Rooney own goal on 41 minutes had the Urchins briefly level only for Sal Sachdev to restore the home side's advantage within two minutes.
Hornchurch were much improved after the break and took control of possession.
Boston held out until the 80th minute, but Aaron Rowe's close range finish finally broke the home resistance and levelled before Bobby Kelman stole an 87th minute winner.
The Boston side showed one change from Thursday's late 2-1 setback at Boreham Wood as they were missing defender Jamie Grimes with injury, Terrell Agyemang coming into the starting XI.
Both sides wasted early corner opportunities.
Boston were then bemused to have a promising move halted to bring it back for a free kick as Aboh tried to send Cursons clear.
A loose pass from Rooney almost let in Hearn, but Teale was there to make the block.
Powell was booked for a trip on 13 minutes as he halted a promising home burst by Wheeldon.
Boston almost broke through on 21 minutes.
Rooney sent Sachdev on the overlap on the right and his cross was met on the volley by Cursons but turned over from eight yards out.
Two minutes later a home corner routine saw Agyemang pull the ball back to the edge of the box where Holohan blazed over.
Then the Urchins needed two attempts to clear a dangerous low Aboh cross as the home side continued to settle into the game and gain some control.
The visitors did threaten on 26 minutes. Boston players thought Powell had taken the ball behind for a goalkick before he crossed, but play went on and it took a combination of a fine Chadwick save and the post to deny Hearn.
Holohan warmed Nasta's hands with a 25 yard shot on 29 minutes, but it was straight at the keeper.
He was even closer two minutes later as he zipped a first time effort inches over from similar distance from a left wing pull back.
Inniss was booked on 33 minutes for a cynical trip on Wheeldon.
Yet another Holohan effort, from a free kick routine with Rooney then deflected inches wide.
Boston were getting closer and the breakthrough finally came on 35 minutes with a sublime home move.
Holohan rolled a pass to Sachdev on the right and his clever backheel sent Agyemang down the right, feeding Aboh into the box from where he smashed a rising finish past Nasta at his near post.
It was little more than the home side deserved.
Powell was too high with a free kick for Hornchurch as they looked for a quick reply.
But a defensive calamity on 41 minutes saw the visitors all square.
A Hearn free kick was launched towards goal where Rooney and Chadwick lost communication and the defender turned the ball into his own net.
Boston responded in perfect fashion as they stormed back in front two minutes later.
Aboh did well to hold up the ball in the box and feed Agyemang, who crossed low across the face of goal to set up a tap-in for Sachdev at the far post.
It was almost 3-1 in the last of the 45 minutes as Agyemang picked out Cursons on the right with a long, searching pass. And he tricked his way past Edwards before seeing Nasta beat away his finish at the near post.
There was still time for Aboh to fire another effort over the bar as the Pilgrims went in deservedly ahead.
But it was to be a game of two halves.
Three minutes into the second half, a scramble in the home box saw Edwards turn the ball against a post.
Hearn then saw a looping header deflect over for a corner while Rooney had a low shot comfortably held at the other end.
Already booked, Inniss was living dangerously with his challenge from behind on Cursons but survived a warning and, from the resulting free kick, Agyemang found the head of Canavan, whose knock down was fired over by Teale.
There was panic at the other end from a corner on 62 minutes as Chadwick could only help it onto the head of Inniss who saw his header cleared off the line by Sashdev and finally held by Chadwick.
The visitors were now enjoying some sustained possession.
A foul on Agyemang offered some respite, but his 22 yard free kick was well over.
A Hornchurch break on 79 minutes saw Chadwick forced to deny sub Rowe with his legs.
But on 80 minutes they did find the equaliser.
It stemmed from a Ling long throw from the right. The ball eventually reached Kelman who drilled it hard and low in front of goal from the left where Rowe applied the finishing touch.
Boston quickly changed their frontmen and sent on John-Lewis and McBride.
Hornchurch almost snatched it on 86 minutes as Kelman raced away one on one, despite looking clearly offside. Chadwick stood up to him superbly and Pegrum hooked the follow-up wide.
But Hornchurch did have a sting in the tail on 87 minutes.
Walker crossed low from the right to the far post where Pegrum steered the ball back towards goal and Kelman made sure from close range.
Seven minutes were added, and in the second of those Holohan forced a superb flying save from Nasta but the visitors held firm.
PILGRIMS: Chadwick, Sachdev (Ward 90+4), Shipley (Mauro 88), Teale (Holmes 88), Canavan, Holohan, Cursons (McBride 81), Aboh (John-Lewis 81), Wheeldon, Rooney, Agyemang. SUBS NOT USED: Faxon, Hammond.
HORNCHURCH: Nasta, Inniss, Powell (Pegrum HT, Dallison 90+7), Walker (Yearwood 90), Wraight, Hearn (Kelman 79), Kizzi, Ling, Poleon (Rowe HT), Edwards, Bracking. SUBS NOT USED: Byrne, Ferguson.
REFEREE: Jamie O'Connor.
ATTENDANCE: 2,047 (119 away).