Three late goals see Boston United sign off season with win over Hartlepool United

Maxim Kouogun had headed Pools in front on 65 minutes in the bright Lincolnshire sunshine.

But Boston levelled matters through Connor Teale on 79 minutes before Frankie Maguire drilled them in front four minutes later, Tom Cursons sealing then the win with two minutes to go, ensuring Boston a top half finish in the table.

Jacob Hazel made his first start since his serious knee injury in April 2025, one day short of a full calendar year.

Also back in the side was Maguire with Luca Barrington and Lenell John-Lewis both dropping to the bench.

Reid burst in the home box in the opening seconds and went down shouting for a penalty that was never coming his way.

Boston's first attack on two minutes saw Maguire cross from the right and Hill head narrowly wide at the near post.

Hartlepool keeper Smith then made a fine save on eight minutes to keep out a rasping 20 yard drive from Richards.

Two minutes later Reid pulled a low effort wide from a promising position at the other end.

United suffered a blow on 16 minutes when captain Parkes limped off after trying to run off an earlier knock, replaced by Walker.

On 31 minutes Smith was in action again as Hill's through ball found Hazel in the box, but Smith was quickly down to smother his finish.

Grimes was then well over with an ambitious effort from 30 yards.

Reid played the ball after the whistle had gone on 39 minutes and was shown a yellow card for delaying the game.

Pilgrims keeper Chadwick had had nothing to do all game, but on 42 minutes he made a superb block to keep out Kougun's powerful far post header from a Miley corner.

Richards' foul on Sway on 45 minutes saw the referee again reach for his pocket.

There was still time for Hazel to force another save out of Smith, racing into the box on the left and getting a powerful shot on target from a tight angle as an entertaining half ended scoreless.

Smith almost gifted Boston an opener five minutes after the restart as he played a loose ball directly to Hazel.

He was quickly closed down but the ball went to Maguire who zipped a powerful effort just over the bar.

Hunter was well wide for Pools before the home side made a double change on 64 minutes with Barrington and John-Lewis on for Lavinier and Hazel with United waiting to take a corner.

On the restart on 65 minutes the deadlock was broken from that corner as Miley sent it over and Kouogun buried a bullet header from six yards out.

Teale was added to the book on 67 minutes for bringing down Benn.

The referee was uninterested in John-Lewis appeals when he felt he had been dragged down in the box as the home side pressed for a reply.

On 75 minutes Chadwick was down well to turn away a low Miley shot, then Grimes did well to block a Sway finish after a good run as the visitors looked to seal the points.

Carson put a good ball in from the Boston left, but John-Lewis couldn't get enough power on his header to trouble Smith.

But the Pilgrims were finally level with 11 minutes to go.

Teale won the ball in a challenge with Benn on the right and from just outside the box drilled a powerful low finish across Smith and inside the far post.

Boston quickly sent on Cursons for goal hero Teale as they went for the jugular.

And they were ahead on 83 minutes.

The ball broke nicely towards Maguire on the edge of the box and he dispatched an almost identical finish to Teale, low across Smith into the bottom left corner.

Boston then signed off in style wth a third on 88 minutes as sub Cursons turned well on the left and placed a superb, measured low finish inside the far post.

Smith was behind another low Cursons shot as the game entered stoppage time.

Oliver almost pulled one back on 90+2 but sent his header wide from a Sheron cross.

Two minutes later Gallagher was booked for pulling back his opponent before the final whistle saw home fans pour onto the pitch ahead in celebration as another season came to a close.

BOSTON: Chadwick, Teale (Cursons 80), Hill, Hazel (John-Lewis 64), Maguire, Carson, Richards, Rooney, Grimes, Gallagher, Lavinier (Barrington 64). SUBS NOT USED: Cameron, Grist, Lankshear, Raikhy.

HARTLEPOOL: Smith, Benn, Parkes (Walker 16), Kouogun, Campbell (Ferguson 80), Sheron, Hunter, Miley, Reid (Caton 60), Sway, Daly (Oliver 60). SUBS NOT USED: Conyard, Johnson, Folarin.

REFEREE: Paul Marsden.

ATTENDANCE: 2,969 (507 away).

Jordan Richards made a clean sweep of the player of the season awards after the game, winning the Supporters' Association, Players' Player and main Player of the Year accolades whle Frankie Maguire took the Supporters' Association Young Player of the Year award.