Old boys on target as Boston United secure Boxing Day victory over Alfreton Town

Boston United secured a 2-0 win over Alfreton Town as the Pilgrims climbed six places to return to the play-off spots.

Ex-Reds Joe Leesley and Tom Platt netted the vital goals while Jake Day missed a penalty for Town as United moved up to sixth in the table and the visitors remain a place above the drop zone.

Boston looked lively early on but it was Town's Adam Lund who had the first sight of goal, his free header landing inches wide.

Fraser Preston's pace and direct running was causing the visitors problems but ex-Pilgrims keeper George Willis denied him twice with a body block from a one-on-one before turning a 20-yarder away.

But when Jordan Burrow guided the ball into the attacker's path in the box he could only force wide from close range.

Town's Dan Bradley was in the right place as he headed away Tom Platt's header, which looked like it was creeping in at the far post.

A rare first-half sight of goal for the Reds saw Bradley slip Luke Rawson in but the number nine pulled his strike across goal.

Boston's Burrow saw an effort hacked off the goalline following a melee before the deadlock was finally broken, Leesley meeting Scott Duxbury's cross to loop his header over Willis in the final minute of the first half.

United doubled their advantage seven minutes after the re-start, another former Red Platt drilling a low drive beyond Willis at his near post following persistence from Leesley to reach the byline.

It was almost three as Terry Hawkridge's rising drive flew the wrong side of the Reds' crossbar.

Town were handed a lifeline as referee Dean Watson pointed to the spot after Jake Day went down under Scott Garner's challenge.

Day put force behind the spotkick which rebounded down off the bar and into play. The ball looked like it had crossed the line, but the officials allowed play to continue.

In just the fourth game at the Jakemans Community Stadium that was the seventh penalty taken by a visiting side and the fourth missed.

Day was then involved at the other end heading Garner's header off the Alfreton goalline.

The two sides will now do it all again in Derbyshire next Saturday.

UNITED: Fitzsimons, Tootle, Duxbury, Platt, Shiels (Garner HT), Burrow, Bird, Dimaio, Hawkridge (Rollins 78), Preston, Leesley (Geen 78); Subs (not used): Crook, Warren.

ALFRETON: Willis, Clackstone, Atkinson, Branson, Jones (Walker HT), Lund, Smith, Bradley, Rawson (Day 53), Johnson (Lees 45), Reeves; Subs (not used): Fox, Clarke.

REF: Dean Watson.

MORE PILGRIMS: Legends honoured at new stadium