PILGRIMS v MINSTERMEN: Boston United show promotion credentials after coming from behind to beat York City

(Frank Mulhern 38, Brad Abbott 52, Andi Thanoj 79; Kurt Willoughby 7)

Boston United’s promotion hopes received a huge boost as the Pilgrims came from behind to beat York City 3-1.

In a battle that was often robust, sometimes fiery, Frank Mulhern, Brad Abbott and Andi Thanoj scored the vital goals to cancel out Kurt Willoughby’s early effort.

United remain third and York second, but that gap has now been closed to just six points, and Craig Elliott’s side have the luxury of two games in hand.

Leaders King’s Lynn are seven points ahead of Boston, but United now have momentum after recording their fifth win in a row - Elliott’s best-ever winning sequence.

The manager opted replace flair with solidity as third hosted second, Scott Garner and Abbott replacing Jordan Thewlis and Jay Rollins as Boston lined up in a 3-5-2 formation.

There was no place in the squad for Jake Wright, unable to face his parent club as part of his loan deal, but new signing Simon Heslop, who joined from the Minstermen in midweek, was named on the bench.

Heslop was one of four former York players in the match day squad, Alex Whittle, Tom Platt and Martyn Woolford the others, while ex-Pilgrims Jordan Burrow and David Ferguson both started for City.

It took just seven minutes for Willoughby to put the Minstermen ahead.

Adriano Moke’s cross-field pass released Willoughby and, with the onrushing Peter Crook checking his run as he reached the edge of his box, the York striker hooked his effort over the Boston number one and beyond the reach of the backtracking Simon Ainge.

United responded with Dominic Knowles volleying wide after connecting at full stretch with Alex Penny’s deep cross.

In a half of few chances - York looking impressive on the break but struggling to wear down United’s three-man back line and things not quite falling for Boston in the final third - Penny saw a long-range effort clear the Town End before Mulhern equalised out of nowhere.

Knowles set his strike partner free before he bullied his way into the penalty area, his speculative strike deflecting off Steve McNulty and looping over Peter Jameson.

Seven minutes after the re-start and United were in front.

Jameson tipped Thanoj’s 20-yard effort onto his bar and, as the keeper pulled himself back to his feet, Abbott was in the right place to collect the ball and slot home.

York’s Sean Newton couldn’t repeat his goal against Boston from last season as his free kick cleared the Pilgrims’ bar before substitute Dan Maguire pulled an effort wide of Crook’s far post.

Andy Bond went even closer when his 20-yard fizzer smashed against the United bar and over.

It was, however, Boston who scored the fourth goal.

Thanoj’s corner was cleared back to him and, at the second attempt, he delivered a cross... but this one found the net at the far post.

UNITED: Crook, Penny, Whittle (Jackson 90), Garner, Ainge, Shiels, Platt, Abbott, Knowles (Rollins 76), Mulhern, Thanoj (Heslop 88); Subs (not used): Thewlis, Woolford.

YORK: Jameson, Griffiths, Ferguson, Newton, McNulty, Tait, Moke (Bond 55), McLaughlin (Kempster 64), Burrow (Maguire 55), Green, Willoughby; Subs (not used): King, York.

REF: John Matthews.

ATT: 2,155 (400).