Boston United got off to a losing start under Paul Hurst’s management – as the Pilgrims suffered a fourth successive single goal reversal at the hands of FC Halifax Town.
Following three consecutive 1-0 defeats to the Shaymen, the Pilgrims were beaten 2-1 despite Ken Aboh’s spectacular 25th minute equaliser.
Owen Bray’s 18th minute header and Cody Johnson’s close-range effort five minutes after the break sealed the deal for Adam Lakeland’s play-off chasers.
Hurst had made three changes to the final side selected by Graham Coughlan a week earlier – with the departed Adam Crowther and the injured Lenell John-Lewis among those replaced.
Halifax took the lead when Angelo Cappello found space to cross from the left and BRAY headed back across goal and beyond the reach of keeper Rhys Lovett.
United’s response was strong and they were level within seven minutes – with Dylan Hill retrieving Marcel Lavinier’s deep cross for ABOH to rifle home powerfully from 16 yards.
The Pilgrims should have led at half-time, but Jordy Hiwula’s downward header was kept out by Sam Johnson at the back post.
Halifax re-took the lead five minutes after the break when Cody JOHNSON touched home from close-range after the Pilgrims had failed to deal with a Town corner.
Aboh rattled the crossbar with a deflected strike, while Sam Johnson made another crucial intervention to deny Hiwula.
FC Halifax (4-2-3-1): Sam Johnson; AJ Warburton, Will Smith, Shaun Hobson, Thierry Latty-Fairweather; Will Hugill (Florent Hoti 78), Cody Johnson; Owen Bray (Max Wright 78), Jay Turner-Cooke, Angelo Cappello (Adam Adetoro 90); Will Harris (David Kawa 86). Subs (not used): Jevon Mills, Nat Ford (gk).
Boston (4-2-3-1): Rhys Lovett; Marcel Lavinier, Oisin Gallagher, Connor Teale, Alex Lankshear (Matty Carson 71); Jordan Richards, Greg Sloggett (Arjan Raikhy 79); Ken Aboh, Frankie Maguire, Dylan Hill (Liam Waldock 79); Jordy Hiwula (Kieren Donnelly 83). Subs (not used): Ben Grist, Finley Ging, Bobby Jones (gk).
Referee: Kavan Hurn.
Attendance: 1,441 (219 visitors).
PIC: Chris Bray.
