Moors were held to a goalless draw at home as a resolute Boston United side celebrated a share of the spoils on a drab day at The Brewery Field.
Lewis Dickman’s men were the more likely to find a winning goal but came up against a resolute Pilgrims outfit who looked keen to address their inconsistent away form this season.
The Moors boss was forced to reshuffle his pack due to a combination of injury and suspension, so Reece Staunton was nudged inside to play centre-back and Owen Gallacher was drafted in to play left-back. New loan signing Ben Hockenhull was on the bench after arriving from Tranmere Rovers.
Moors started promisingly enough and Mark Anderson – fresh from his wonderful goal at Darlington last week – stung a shot just wide from 25 yards within five minutes of kick-off.
However, the first half failed to deliver much more in the way of goalmouth excitement – Glen Taylor volleyed over at the far post and Will Harris saw a venomous drive well blocked as the visitors set their stall out.
Moors were on the back foot for a short spell after the break and were thankful to James Montgomery for standing tall and blocking a thunderous 20-yard free-kick from Martin Woods.
At the other end, Boston keeper Cameron Gregory made an excellent save with his feet to deny Taylor after a wonderful through ball from Danny Greenfield.
The Pilgrims stopper made an even better stop on 74 minutes when a corner from the right landed at Sam Fielding’s feet and he unloaded with a powerful drive which was brilliantly turned away by Gregory at full stretch.
Anderson fired a shot over from 20 yards as Moors continued to probe but Boston could have nicked a goal on the counter when Jordan Richards saw his close-range effort well blocked by Keenan Ferguson.
There was nearly drama in injury time when Fielding whipped a cross in from the left which was flicked on by Taylor and inadvertently cannoned into a defender to wrong foot Gregory before falling agonisingly wide of the post.
And there was even time for Brad Nicholson to clear off the line right at the death when Anderson’s in-swinging cross looked to be creeping in at the far post.
Full Time: Moors 0 Boston United 0
Moors: Montgomery, Ferguson, Mbeka, Staunton (Hockenhull 89), Gallacher, Anderson, Fielding, Ramshaw, Greenfield (McKeown 89), Taylor, Harris.
Subs not used: Ross, Atkinson, Mouat.
Boston United: Gregory, Rowe, Mills (Leak 55), Bostwick, Nicholson, Hill; Richards, Woods, Martin, Ward (J Knowles 63), Hill; Mooney.
Subs not used: Edge, Essien, T Knowles.
Referee: James Bancroft
Attendance: 1,236
