Scott McLean was the unlikely hero as Spennymoor claimed a statement victory at Boston United in front of a crowd of 1,852 at the Jakemans Community Stadium.

McLean ran through from a Brad Abbott pass to secure a deserved win after Glen Taylor and Danny Elliott exchanged spot-kicks.

Tommy Miller, in his first competitive game in charge as permanent manager, stuck with his favoured 5-3-2 formation which he opted for throughout pre-season.

James Curtis, entering his sixth season at the club, captained the side from central defence along side fellow experienced duo Joe Tait and Carl Magnay.

There were starts for Scott McLean and John Lufudu, while Brad Abbott and Adriano Moke partnered Jamie Chandler in midfield, with the latter starting a game for the first time since February 2020.

Miller chose to utilise Rob Ramshaw in an attacking position alongside Glen Taylor, with new signing Harry Flatters on the bench.

Both sets of players emerged to a raucous and jubilant atmosphere as fans returned to full capacity for the first time since March 2020, with Boston’s new Jakemans Community Stadium making its competitive debut with supporters.

Former Pilgrims midfielder Abbott was heavily involved in the opening stages, first finding Taylor from a short corner which was blocked, before picking up a yellow card for a late challenge.

The first fifteen minutes was dominated by Moors, with Taylor’s long range free-kick zipping marginally wide of the post, before the striker’s left footed effort was well saved by Peter Crook.

Boston continued to allow Taylor opportunities, with Moors number nine taking a cross down on his chest before volleying straight at Crook.

Spennymoor continued to assert their dominance on the occasion, looking the more assured side in and out of possession, and came within inches of opening the scoring when Taylor struck the bar following a slice from Curtis.

The pace of Lufudu became more evident as the half wore on, and after Curtis released the full back down the right, his teasing cross was inches away from Taylor.

A frustrated home crowd had nothing to cheer about for 35 minutes, but Boston came alive momentarily when Jordan Burrow looped a header on to the roof of the net and Fraser Preston stung the palms of Dale Eve.

Miller was forced into a change at the break, with the injured Magnay being replaced by Ryan Hall, meaning Lufudu played the second half as right sided central defender.

The opening period of the second half lacked the intensity of the first, with both sides struggling to carve out meaningful opportunities.

That all changed just shy of the hour mark when former Pilgrim midfielder Abbott was brought down in the area, allowing Taylor to convert a confident spot kick from twelve yards in front of the travelling 104 Moors supporters.

Moors remained in charge of the occasion following the opening goal, with the home side only managing to create two half chance headers for the isolated Elliott.

However, just as Moors looked to be on the way to securing a deserved opening day victory, a tangle of legs and bodies in the penalty area saw the referee point to the spot, this time for the home side.

Elliott, who cut a frustraed figure throughout the game, found the bottom corner with Eve unable to stretch and keep it out.

That did nothing to deter Moors who came back from a disappointing blow to find a winner one minute from time.

Abbott, who was heavily involved throughout the afternoon, played a pinpoint pass through to the onrushing McLean, and the full back kept his cool to slip the ball past Crook and send the travelling Moors wild.