Boston United staged a remarkable comeback as they overturned a two-goal deficit with only 10 men at Altrincham on Saturday afternoon.
Despite bossing the territory and chances at 0-0, United were reduced to 10 men after 50 minutes when goalkeeper Cameron Gregory was dismissed for clattering Justin Amaluzor.
Alex Newby and Regan Linney fired the hosts into a quickfire 2-0 lead, but Keaton Ward and Cameron Green struck late on to secure a fabulous result on the road for the Pilgrims.
Barring Tom Crawford’s fifth minute header which dropped wide for the hosts, the first half chances were predominantly United’s. Sam Osborne saw a drive parried behind by Ethan Ross, who subsequently saved a Jacob Hazel effort, with Jake Cooper charging Tony Weston’s follow-up to safety.
Ross made his best save of the half two minutes before half-time to keep out an angled Frankie Maguire drive. Ross excelled again after the break to thwart Weston.
The game swung decisively in Altrincham’s favour in the 50th minute when Gregory dashed from his box, collided with the onrushing Amaluzor and received a red card. The facial injury sustained in the process ensured he would have been unable to continue regardless, with teenager Ellis Craven handed his debut.
Craven immediately kept out the subsequent Newby free-kick, before Elliot Osborne rattled the crossbar from 25 yards.
Craven was powerless to stop Altrincham taking the lead through NEWBY from 20 yards – with LINNEY waltzing through to angle home Alty’s second a minute later.
Craven made a huge save to deny Amaluzor, as the Robins surged through three-on-one, and it proved to be the catalyst for United’s rousing finale.
WARD played in Hazel to shoot and was on hand to lash home the rebound after Ross had made the initial save.
Jai Rowe then hacked Cooper’s header off the line as Altrincham sensed a killer third goal – and United took full advantage two minutes later when GREEN moved on to Pemi Aderoju’s throughball to thump a low drive beyond the despairing dive of Ross.
There were 11 minutes of added time, mainly due to Gregory’s six-minute stoppage, but United put their bodies on the line to preserve their hard-earned point. Substitute Jake Bickerstaff came the closest when he spun on the edge of the box to lift an effort marginally too high.
Altrincham (4-2-3-1): Ethan Ross; Lewis Banks, James Jones, Jake Cooper, Tyler Golden; Tom Crawford, Elliot Osborne; Justin Amaluzor (Olly Crankshaw 87), Alex Newby, Kahrel Reddin; Regan Linney (Jake Bickerstaff 76) Subs (not used): Eddy Jones, Matty Kosylo, Liam Humbles, Joe Nuttall, Harvey Randle (gk).
Boston (4-3-3): Cameron Gregory; Jai Rowe, Michael Bostwick (Tom Leak 81), Zak Mills, Cameron Green; Frankie Maguire, Jordan Richards, Dylan Hill (Ellis Craven 56); Sam Osborne (Keaton Ward 40), Jacob Hazel (Adam Marriott 81), Tony Weston (Pemi Aderoju 67). Subs (not used): Dan Mooney, Harvey Tomlinson.
Referee: Aaron Bannister.
Attendance: 2,031 (222 visitors).
PIC: Chris Bray.
