Adam Marriott and Sam Osborne both scored after emerging from the bench, but Boston United were forced to settle for a share of the spoils on Saturday afternoon.
The Pilgrims trailed Ebbsfleet United courtesy of Aaron Cosgrave’s 22nd minute opener, but Marriott struck six minutes before the break to level, having replaced the injured Dan Adshead.
Osborne put United on course for all three points after finishing Tony Weston’s unselfish assist with real aplomb midway through the second half, but George Moncur levelled for the visitors with six minutes to play.
Pilgrims’ boss Graham Coughlan handed debuts to Tom Donaghy and Oisin Gallagher, following their respective loan arrivals from Fleetwood Town and Lincoln City.
Jacob Hazel had the ball in the net inside 12 minutes, but the offside flag cut short United’s early celebrations.
Donaghy was forced to beat aside a cross-shot from Moncur, before Tom Leak blocked Cosgrave’s effort on the line, following another driven Moncur cross. The visitors did edge in front when COSGRAVE seized on slack Boston play to drive home from the edge of the penalty area.
Adshead sustained a lower leg injury and was replaced by MARRIOTT – and his impact was swift, firing home within nine minutes of his introduction after meeting Keaton Ward’s low corner delivery.
Another Boston sub had a quick impact after the break. On the pitch for only three minutes, OSBORNE cut inside on the end of Weston’s cross and beat Mark Cousins with a fine, angled finish.
Roles were reversed four minutes later, with Weston slamming the ball off target following Osborne’s assist, while Cameron Green’s free-kick was turned behind by Cousins.
Boston’s near misses were costly, with MONCUR scooping home Fleet’s equaliser six minutes from time.
Boston (4-2-3-1): Tom Donaghy; Jai Rowe, Tom Leak, Oisin Gallagher, Cameron Green; Dylan Hill, Dan Adshead (Adam Marriott 30); Tony Weston (Kieran Coates 79), Frankie Maguire (Martin Woods 80), Keaton Ward (Sam Osborne 64); Jacob Hazel. Subs (not used): Pemi Aderoju, Jacob Scott, Cameron Gregory (gk).
Ebbsfleet (4-2-3-1): Mark Cousins, Luke O’Neill (Rakish Bingham 78), Mustapha Olagunju, Tom Dallison, Todd Kane; Franklin Domi, Toby Edser (Maxx Manktelow 82); Callum Harriott (Alex Aoraha 61), George Moncur, Kwame Thomas (Dom Samuel 70); Aaron Cosgrave. Subs (not used): Nathan Odokonyero, Anthony Stewart, Felix Goddard (gk).
Referee: Callum Walchester.
Attendance: 1,909 (95 visitors).
PIC: Chris Bray.
