Boston Town 1-3 Pilgrims

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Boston United began their pre-season campaign with a 3-1 victory against local opponents Boston Town. The game had been arranged as part of Town's 40th Anniversary celebrations and also saw the launch of a new book about the history of the club: Come and Sit With Us, written by Boston born journalist Simon Ashberry. The win was somewhat less convincing than the scoreline would suggest after an entertaining first half display saw the Pilgrims go in 1-0 down at half-time. With chances being created at both ends, the Poachers had taken the lead when a threaded pass put Town's new Swineshead signing Danny MATSON in a one-on-one situation with Paul Bastock and he calmly lobbed the ball over the keeper into the top corner.

United had a few triallists on show in the side, including former Nottingham Forest star Jason Lee, who was playing up front in place of new signing Derek Lilley who has returned to Scotland to sort out some personal problems. It wasn't until the second half was twenty minutes old that United equalised, when last season's player of the year Paul ELLENDER made the most of a mistake by Town's keeper. A few minutes later, United finally went in front when one of the traillists - Lincoln born Matt O'HALLORAN - got his name on the scoresheet. Five minutes from the end Simon RUSK completed the scoring when he was able to attack a tiring Town defence as he finished off a great run, beating three players, by firing in a rasping shot that gave the Town keeper no chance.

United team: Bastock, Beevers (O'Halloran), McCann (Bernard), Melton (Raynor), Greaves, Strong (Clarke), Rusk, Noble (Ellender), Lee (Norris), Kirk (Thompson), Staff (Thomas).