Boston Town host historic first Step 4 matches after securing FA Cup success
Boston Town have a double header of home matches as they host Step 4 football for the first time in their history.
Following their opening fixture in the Northern Premier League Midlands Division away at Corby Town, they have back-to-back games at the Mortgages For You Stadium.
The first of those is against Loughborough Students on Saturday (15 August), kick-off 3pm. Then on Tuesday 18 August they'll entertain Wellingborough Town, kick-off 7.45pm.
Club historian Simon Ashberry said: "Last season's title win and first ever promotion was a memorable achievement - but now the hard work begins.
"It would be fantastic to see football fans in Boston coming down to support the club in greater numbers. We know it will be tough on the field - but there's also been a tremendous amount of hard work that's gone on behind the scenes to make sure we comply with everything's that's required at this higher level.
"We're grateful to everyone who's helped with ground improvements and admin over the summer. It would be brilliant to see big crowds at these first two historic Northern Premier League home matches."
The Poachers enjoyed a victory in their first ever competitive game as a Step 4 club as they squeezed through to the next round of the FA Cup by beating Daventry Town away 2-1.
Boston got off to a fast start in this extra preliminary round tie when Harry Limb delivered a good corner after nine minutes and last season's top scorer Matt Cotton poked it over the line after a scramble.
After 19 minutes Limb squared a dangerous ball from the right but Harvey Graves swung and missed a great chance from 12 yards out.
The visitors should have been further ahead but were hit by a sucker punch as Daventry equalised agaisnt the run of play after 39 minutes through Nathan Bobowicz.
The Poachers were boosted just before the interval when the hosts were reduced to 10 men. Defender Merston Styles had been given a torrid time by Limb and, just minutes after being booked for fouling him, he received a second yellow for speaking out of turn to the officials.
The visitors forced a string of corners early in the second half, keeper Josh McAdoo denying Jordan Tate with a point blank save after 52 minutes. But a minute later Zak Munton fed Cotton, who turned his man and blasted home from 12 yards for his second of the game.
McAdoo tipped a Limb shot over the bar and Cotton missed a golden chance for a hat-trick when he headed a deep Limb cross over from close range.
An offside flag saved Daventry’s blushes after a free-kick was charged down after 84 minutes and Fraser Bayliss scored into an empty net.
But by now the home side were also starting to create chances of their own as they threw everything forward in a nerve-jangling finish.
Daventry forced three corners but the visitors counter-attacked from one of them through Bayliss on the right. He set up debutant Tom Siddons seemingly for a tap-in but the home side managed to clear it off the line.
And deep into injury time keeper Josh Wilson, another debutant, made a flying save to keep out an overhead kick and allow the Poachers to hang on for a 2-1 win.
Boston Town will now play Sherwood Colliery at home in the next round on Saturday 22 August. The league trip to Coventry United scheduled for that day will be rearranged.