Christian Doidge and Liam Sercombe both scored twice as promotion favourites Forest Green Rovers proved too hot to handle for Boston United on Saturday afternoon.
The Pilgrims found themselves 1-0 down inside three minutes courtesy of Doidge’s clinical finish, with Sercombe sequently scoring from the centre circle and then from closer range on 21 and 42 minutes respectively.
Doidge completed the scoring 12 minutes after the break, with Jacob Hazel’s 89th minute penalty being saved by Jed Ward to compound United’s misery.
Martin Woods had been preferred to Frankie Maguire in the only change to United’s starting XI following the opening day defeat to Rochdale.
United’s afternoon began to unravel within seconds of the first whistle. Cameron Gregory made a fine back post save to keep out Doidge’s header, having cheaply surrendered possession himself. From the resulting corner, United failed to clear their lines and DOIDGE was threaded through to beat Gregory with a low finish.
The Pilgrims responded positively, but after a spell of home pressure, United found themselves two goals down. SERCOMBE picked up the ball in the centre circle and dispatched it over the head of a back-peddling Gregory for an early goal of the season contender.
Dan Mooney carried United’s greatest threat during the first period, while Pemi Aderoju fired across goal and wide following a Mooney throughball.
Rovers wrapped up the points three minutes before half-time when SERCOMBE waltzed through to blast past Gregory from 18 yards.
The misery continued for the hosts in the 57th minute when Jamie Robson delivered from the left and DOIDGE planted home a free header.
Ward made a terrific save to keep out Richards’ late header and then stood tall to beat away Hazel’s penalty after Richards had been upended in the box.
Boston (3-4-2-1): Cameron Gregory; Zak Mills, Michael Bostwick (Dylan Hill 63), Mitch Roberts; Jai Rowe, Jordan Richards, Martin Woods (Frankie Maguire 74), Cameron Green; Dan Mooney (Sam Osborne 74), Tony Weston (Adam Marriott 74); Pemi Aderoju (Jacob Hazel 63). Subs (not used): Tom Leak, Keaton Ward.
Forest Green (4-2-3-1): Jed Ward; Sean Long, Ryan Inniss, Ben Tozer, Jamie Robson (Marcel Lavinier 77); Emmanuel Osadebe, Adam May (Teddy Jenks 73); Kyle McAllister, Liam Sercombe (Charlie McCann 65), Tom Knowles (Harvey Bunker 62); Christian Doidge (Tyrese Omotoye 77). Sub (not used): Jamie Searle (gk).
Referee: Lauren Impey.
Attendance: 1,830 (97 visitors).
PIC: Chris Bray.
