Tom Cursons bagged his first professional hat-trick as Boston United recorded an extraordinary away victory on Saturday afternoon.
The Pilgrims thumped Lincolnshire neighbours Scunthorpe United 6-3 at Glanford Park, having led 3-0 inside 23 minutes through Cursons, Matty Carson and Jake Rooney.
Rooney scored again once Callum Roberts had reduced the arrears for the hosts and Danny Whitehall’s penalty ensured the Pilgrims led 4-2 at the break. Two further Cursons goals at either end of the second half sandwiched a Roberts spot-kick to seal one of United’s most memorable away days on record.
There had been little signs of things to come, with Scunthorpe only beaten once at home so far this season – but the Pilgrims were soon in full control at the Attis Arena.
They took a seventh minute lead when CURSONS glanced the ball home from close-range after meeting Connor Teale’s cross from the right.
The visitors doubled their advantage in the 21st minute when Frankie Maguire pulled a corner delivery back outside the box and CARSON took a touch before letting fly into the top corner from 25 yards.
United added their third goal two minutes later when ROONEY saw his header creep over the line after meeting Maguire’s cross from the right.
Scunthorpe cut the deficit in the 29th minute when ROBERTS angled home a lovely left-footed effort from inside the penalty area – but the first half action was far from done and dusted.
On the stroke of 45 minutes, ROONEY planted a free header beyond Rory Mahady after connecting with Maguire’s free-kick delivery. The goal celebration and subsequent stoppages saw two minutes of additional time reach a fifth minute when Oisin Gallagher was adjudged to have fouled WHITEHALL – who picked himself a minute further on to send Andrew Wogan the wrong way from the spot.
Scunthorpe were on the front foot after the break and substitute Alfie Beestin rattled the post, before the Pilgrims added their fifth goal five minutes into the half when Jordy Hiwula teed up CURSONS to beat Mahady with a cheeky chip.
The Iron still remained in contention and gave themselves another sniff when ROBERTS survived a tight offside call to be fouled by Carson and beat Wogan from the penalty spot.
Mahady made a brilliant save to deny Hiwula, as the hosts enjoyed plenty of territory, but the Pilgrims had the final say when Kieren Donnelly set CURSONS clear eight minutes into stoppage time and he coolly rolled home his hat-trick goal and United’s sixth of a thoroughly brilliant afternoon.
Scunthorpe (4-2-3-1): Rory Mahady; Joe Starbuck, Will Evans, Branden Horton (Andrew Boyce 89), Tyler Denton; Zain Westbrooke (Carlton Ubaezuonu 66), Joe Rowley; Callum Roberts, Oli Ewing (Alfie Beestin 46), Connor Smith (Aidan Dausch 46); Danny Whitehall. Subs (not used): Kyle Hurst, Ross Barrows, Louis Jones (gk).
Boston (4-2-3-1): Andrew Wogan; Connor Teale, Jake Rooney, Jamie Grimes, Matty Carson; Jordan Richards, Oisin Gallagher; Jordy Hiwula (Greg Sloggett 72), Frankie Maguire (Ben Grist 90), Ken Aboh (Kieren Donnelly 79); Tom Cursons. Subs (not used): Alex Lankshear, Liam Waldock, Marcel Lavinier, Rhys Lovett (gk).
Referee: Richard Aspinall.
Attendance: 5,421 (645 visitors).
PIC: Oliver Atkin.
WORDS: Craig Singleton
