STALYBRIDGE CELTIC 3 BOSTON UNITED 3: Nat's entertainment! Brown nets last-gasp leveller for Pilgrims

Today’s match may have been a far cry from the 5-0 stuffing the Pilgrims inflicted upon Celtic at Bower Fold in the final game of last season.

But that wouldn’t bother Martyn Bunce one bit as a late finish saw him pick up a point in his first game in the hotseat following the departure of Dennis Greene on Monday.

Taylor Miles gave the Pilgrims a fourth-minute lead, but strikes either side of the interval from Daniels Cockerline and Wilkins saw the hosts turn the game on its head.

Boston levelled when Gregg Smith netted his eighth of the season, drawing him level with Jay Rollins at the top of the club’s scoring charts.

But Cockerline was endearing himself to his new fans with a second to give Celtic a 3-2 lead.

That was wiped out, however, when Brown forced the ball home after Grant Shenton had denied Smith.

Bunce got off to a dream strat to life in the hotseat when Miles handed Boston an early lead.

Collecting Ben Clappison’s cross he took a touch before slotting his effort home.

Celtic debutant Cockerline levelled things up in the 28th minute with a driven effort and four minutes after the break the hosts were in front, Wilkins finishing from close range after meeting Liam Dickinson’s knock down.

Smith pulled Boston level with 56 minutes played, slotting home the rebound after Grant Shenton parried Joe Maguire’s strike.

But Cockerline put Celtic in front again in the 56th minute, heading home the rebound after Aidan Chipperfield’s strike was blocked.

And it appeared that the side who began the day third-bottom of the National League North would earn a vital victory... only for Brown to have the final say.

Both sides had chances to add to their tallies.

For the Pilgrims, Brown headed wide from a corner, Rollins saw a strike fly over and Shenton denied Miles his second goal of the day.

And with Boston chasing the game, Smith almost caught out Shenton with an audacious lob, while Rollins drilled an effort into the side netting.

For the hosts, Adam Morning’s cross-shot was almost tunred home and keeper Michael Emery - in for the departed Dion-Curtis Henry - denied Cockerline.

CELTIC: Shenton, Morton, Hall, Hughes, Dickinson, Platt, Morning (Bagshaw 59), Gee, Cockerline (Hasler-Cregg 74), Wilkins (Owebs 80), Chippendale; Subs (not used): Dunbar, McKnight.

UNITED: Emery, Clappison, Josh Robinson, Brown, Gordon, Miles, Maguire (St Juste 79), Chippendale (Pugh 60), Marshall (Hilliard 60), Smith, Rollins; Subs (not used): Wildin, Joe Robinson.

Att: 414.