Incredible Brad James saved two penalties as Moors clinched a second away win succession with a battling 2-1 triumph over Boston United at The Jakemans Community Stadium.

The goalkeeper produced the heroics during an astonishing second half as Graeme Lee’s side held on for three more points against a Boston side who had lost just two of their previous 15.

Moors have now won five of their last seven and are on the brink of moving into National League North’s top half after putting some breathing space between themselves and the danger zone.

Lee had made three changes to his starting line-up with Ben Pollock coming back into start against his former club, while Dan Myers was in to replace the injured Reece Staunton and Isaac Fletcher was handed a full debut.

However, it was the home side who started the better. The Pilgrims looked keen to make up for their surprise home defeat to Buxton in midweek and should have gone in front when Jai Rowe laid a low ball into the box from the right, but Adam Marriott somehow failed to convert.

The home crowd were encouraged and vocal – but 12 minutes they were silenced. A ball forward fell kindly for Corey McKeown 25 yards from goal, and he cut inside from the left before bending an unstoppable shot right into the top corner for 1-0.

Sam Smart should have levelled on 25 minutes when he won possession the right and drove into the penalty area only to blaze a wild shot into the near side netting.

Moors were coping comfortably with the Boston attempts to get back on level terms, though Deji Sotona did find space from shoot just before the break, but James was easily able to collect.

The second half began in similar style to the first, with the hosts looking the most dangerous, and Jimmy Knowles went clean through on the right to drill a shot across goal which crashed back off the post.

Brad Nicholson also had an opportunity to equalise when he got on the end of Martin Woods’ free kick from the left, but he was denied by another decent save from James.

And just like in the first half, Moors made the home side pay for their missed chances. A Danny Greenfield corner from the left was not deal with by the Boston defence and Pollock was in the right place to steer home the second goal.

The Pilgrims were handed a lifeline just after the hour when the ball was flashed across the Moors goal and John Lufudu was adjudged to have fouled his man on the line and a penalty was awarded. Woods stepped and whipped the spot-kick towards the corner, but James sprung athletically across to parry before somehow jumping back to his feet to deny Smart on the rebound.

Remarkably, Boston were awarded a second penalty ten minutes later when Pollock was harshly adjudged to have handled. This time Sotona took the responsibility from the spot but again James produced an incredible save before the ref awarded a Moors free-kick as the rebound was bundled into the net.

The double blow seemed to deflate the hosts who struggled to make inroads after that. However, they gave themselves hope in injury time when Jai Rowe headed home from Ethan Sephton’s deep cross.

Moors held firm though and collected another eye-catching result on the road and continue their march up the National League North table.

Full Time: Boston United 1 Moors 2

Boston United: Gregory, Rowe, Sephton, Nicholson, Bostwick, Woods, Knowles, Sotona (Gyasi 78), Richards, Smart (Martin 73), Marriott (Mooney 59).
Subs not used: Ward, Mooney, Hill.

Booked: Richards (40), Bostwick (90).

Moors: James, Lufudu, Mbeka, Pollock, Myers, Dolan (Fielding 81), Fletcher (Shrimpton 74), McKeown, Ramshaw, Greenfield, Harris (Moyo 77).
Subs not used: Ledger, Chimalilo.

Booked: Fletcher (35), Greenfield (57), Lufudu (62), Myers (63)

Referee: Darius Bradley

Attendance: 1,570 (42 Moors)

Photo Credit: Tim Hoff (Boston United)