Macclesfield Town 2-2 Pilgrims

Coca-Cola League

Boston United staged a great second-half recovery at Macclesfield to come back from two goals down and snatch their first away point of the season. New signing Lawrie Dudfield went straight into the starting line-up and Mark Greaves and Ben Futcher returned in a side that saw three changes to that which had lost at Northampton on Bank Holiday Monday. Julian Joachim and Brad Maylett, although not fully recovered from injury, had places on the bench. The first chances of the match came from Boston's on-loan midfielder Ian Ross, who first saw a shot deflected, then a later effort go just wide. Macclesfield went in front on 21 minutes with their first shot on target. Kevin MCINTYRE heading home John Miles' cross from the right. Eleven minutes later Macclesfield increased their lead when Ben FUTCHER powered a header past his own keeper to notch up his second own goal of the season. The goal knocked the wind out of Boston's sails and they went in at half-time visibly deflated. Steve Evans made two changes for the second half, bringing on Maylett and Joachim for Canovile and Greaves respectively.

The new attacking formation with Joachim, Lee and Dudfield upfront seemed to unsettle Macclesfield. The tactic paid off just three minutes into the half when MAYLETT latched on to a through ball from Joachim before picking his spot with an accurate finish. Boston kept piling on the pressure. Macclesfield's 'keeper Alan Fettis was kept busy, first saving a header from Lee, then a shot from Ross. Boston got their equaliser on 75 minutes when substitute Noel WHELAN volleyed home Maylett's cross to score his first goal for the club. Boston came close to taking all three points but Fettis made a fantastic save to deny Joachim, then kept out a great drive by Maylett. Right at the death Joachim fired over as the game ended in an unlikely draw. After the match Steve Evans said: "Some teams might be happy to come here and get a point. We're not because we've not had a win. If we can play like we did in the second half then we will do alright."

United team: Nathan Abbey, Lee Canoville (Brad Maylett 46), Paul Ellender, Alan White, Ben Futcher, Mark Greaves (Julian Joachim 46), Ian Ross, David Noble, Lawrie Dudfield (Noel Whelan 66), Jason Lee, Danny Thomas. Subs not used: Stewart Talbot, Chris Wright.