Joe Tait scored a sensational winner as Moors collected all three points following a pulsating encounter with Boston United at The Brewery Field on Tuesday night.
The defender struck an astonishing long-range thunderbolt to settle a topsy-turvy game as Jason Ainsley’s men ran out 3-2 victors to return to winning ways following the weekend defeat at Brackley Town.
Moors had early fallen behind to their visitors during a disappointing first 45 minutes, but they roared back to score twice in as many minutes to lead. Boston thought they’d rescued a point when they brought it back to 2-2 only for Tait to have the final say 12 minutes from time.
A scrappy start to the game saw The Pilgrims settle quicker and they went in front on eight minutes when Gio Bellagambi could only half punch clear a Boston corner and Jordon Crawford capitalised to nod home the opening goal.
Scott Pollock – Boston’s weekend hat-trick hero – could have added a second when he was allowed into space on the edge of the box, but he dragged a shot wide of the post.
Moors slowly began to creep back into the game and came close to levelling midway through the first half when Boston struggled to deal with a left-wing corner, but Ainsley’s men just couldn’t force the ball home as the visitors defended with determination.
Rob Ramshaw and Glen Taylor both had half-chances to level, while at the other end some good defending from skipper James Curtis prevented Boston from extending their advantage before the break.
Ian Culverhouse’s side started the second half with a couple of good opportunities when Scott Pollock first fired over when well placed before then missing a sitter at the far post after good work from Lebrun Mbeka on the right.
That miss proved decisive because Moors were level shortly afterwards. John Lufudu showed great pace to get to the byline before standing up a cross to the far post where Reece Kendall arrived to nod home his first goal for the Club from close range.
Just a minute later and Moors were in front. A ball was kept alive in the penalty area and when it found its way across into the path of Taylor, he lashed an unstoppable low drive beyond Boston keeper Sam Long to make it 2-1.
Bellagambi then made a stunning save with his feet to deny Scott Pollock when he looked odds-on to level, before Elliott Whitehouse saw a shot blocked as the game swung from end to end.
Boston looked as though they had rescued a draw on 77 minutes when Bellagambi pulled off another wonderful save only for former Moors man Jo Cummings to react quickest to force home the rebound.
The 35 travelling fans saw their celebrations cut short a minute later though. Tait brought the ball forward for Moors and got within 30 yards when the ball sat up nicely and he decided to have a crack on goal and his shot flashed past Long to restore the lead at 3-2.
There could have been heartbreak in injury time when Boston substitute Jake Wright got in behind on the right of the area, but he dragged his shot across goal and wide.
Full Time: Moors 3 Boston United 2
Moors: Bellagambi, Lufudu, Tait, Curtis, Ledger (Cousin-Dawson 82), Kendall, Boyle, Whitehouse, Ramshaw, Allan (Blackett 70), Taylor.
Subs not used: Flatters, Thompson, McKeown.
Booked: Whitehouse, Lufudu, Bellagambi.
Boston United: Long, Ferguson (Starbuck 70), B Pollock, Pearson, Cummings, Brown, Platt, Atkinson (Burrow 73), S Pollock, Crawford (Wright 73).
Subs not used: Solanke, Lovelace.
Booked: Ferguson, Atkinson.
Referee: J Bancroft
Attendance: 1,125 (35 Boston)
