Jai Rowe scored a dramatic stoppage time winner as Boston United claimed a decisive three-point haul at Aldershot Town on Tuesday evening.
The Pilgrims trailed at half-time following Tyler Frost’s strike at the end of the first half.
Substitute James Gale levelled in the 72nd minute and Rowe won it at the death with a shot which left the imperious ex-Pilgrim Marcus Dewhurst powerless.
United had looked set to be denied by their former loanee Dewhurst, following a string of fine saves, until Rowe’s last-gasp and crucial intervention.
Frankie Maguire and Brad Nicholson were involved in two early chances for the Pilgrims, with the former’s snapshot flying wide from the latter’s long throw. Roles were then reversed with Nicholson forcing Dewhurst into his first save of the night following Maguire’s corner delivery.
Hazel was presented with a decent opening eight minutes before the break, but saw his angled effort beaten aside by the legs of Dewhurst.
The Shots inched in front in the final minute of the first half when FROST broke the deadlock which gave Cameron Gregory no chance at his near post.
United were resolute at the start of the second period, making sure they did not fall two goals behind, and continued to create their own openings, with Dewhurst saving well to deny Hazel and Cameron Green.
GALE emerged as a 69th minute substitute and promptly drew United level within three minutes with a close-range strike which finally left Dewhurst exposed.
Dewhurst resumed his one-man crusade to keep United at bay, clawing aside Green’s powerful header before producing a routine stop to deny substitute Keaton Ward.
Ward duly turned provider as the board for a quartet of added minutes was hoisted, playing in ROWE to beat Dewhurst at his near post with a deflected drive which sparked jubilation among the 173-strong travelling support in Hampshire.
Aldershot (3-4-1-2): Marcus Dewhurst; Will Armitage, Dan Ellison, Luca Woodhouse; Tyler Frost, Cameron Hargreaves, Keane Anderson, Kai Corbett; James Henry (Emmanuel Maja 71); Kwame Thomas, Ollie Bray (Maxwell Mullins 78). Subs (not used): Theo Widdrington, Brad Dolaghan, Tariq Uwakwe, Zion Nditi, Jordi Van Stappershoef (gk).
Boston (3-4-2-1): Cameron Gregory; Connor Teale, Zak Mills, Brad Nicholson; Jai Rowe, Jordan Richards, Greg Sloggett, Cameron Green; Dylan Hill (James Gale 69), Frankie Maguire (Keaton Ward 82); Jacob Hazel (Jacob Scott 90). Subs (not used): Adam Marriott, Noah Wadsworth, Olly Green, Jake Lovelace (gk).
Referee: Sam Mulhall.
Attendance: 1,738 (187 visitors).
PIC: Chris Bray.
