Boston United 3-3 Harrogate Town: Winning run halted in thriller

Boss Simon Weaver was without leading goalscorer Brendon Daniels through suspension, while Jack Emmett was left at home through illness.

In came Louie Swain on the left-hand side, with Cecil Nyonu returning to the bench from his one-game ban.

Town began in control and should have taken the lead when Jerry Yates got goalside of Grant Roberts, only to rush his effort and place it wide of Henrich Ravas’ far post.

Ravas was then forced into a low save, fingertipping Swain’s volley round his post.

But from the resultant corner Harrogate took a 10th minute lead. Joe Colbeck’s corner was headed goalwards by Dominic Knowles, where Yates got the final touch on the line.

Dayle Southwell looked to get Boston back on level terms when he cut inside from the left, skipped past two markers but saw his effort saved by Peter Crook. But that was only a brief escape from the tide of Town pressure.

Ravas made sure that Lloyd Kerry’s 20-yarder landed off target before having to stand firm and beat away Yates’ near-post blaster.

By the half-hour mark the Pilgrims were enjoying their first real spell on top, and their pressure paid off in the 36th minute as Southwell levelled things up.

Dylan McEvoy’s free kick was headed across goal by Piergianni, where the former Town loanee was on hand to nod home his 12th of the season.

Harrogate could have led before the interval when a quickly-taken free kick put Yates through, but he dragged his effort wide.

Seconds after the re-start Knowles came within a whisker of putting Harrogate back in front. Collecting Ravas’ scuffed kick he returned a 25-yard curler which struck the Pilgrims’ post before being cleared.

McEvoy then brought a save from Crook as Boston looked to edge in front. But it was Harrogate who struck next in the 57th minute, Knowles finishing a route one goal kick and flick on beyond Ravas.

Town were handed the chance to extend their lead from the penalty spot after Piergianni was adjudged to have brought down Lewis Turner, but Ravas guessed right to push away Knowles’ low strike.

It was all level again in the 63rd minute when Piergianni grabbed his fifth goal in as many matches, heading home Garner’s flick on from Jordan Richards’ cross.

The topsy-turvy contest continued with the away side taking the lead for a third time when Swain was set free and slotted beyond Ravas just four minutes later.

But in the 82nd minute United were level for the third time as Robbins chased down Kyle Dixon’s poked through ball and slammed beyond Crook despite the best efforts of Turner.

Boston pushed on for the winner and Richards slammed a drive against the woodwork before seeing another effort deflected wide.

Harrogate, themselves weren’t done and Paul Clayton turned well in the Boston box, only for Ravas to block well.

Weaver said: “We’re quite happy because it was so much of an emotional rollercoaster.

“To go away on a Tuesday night in front of 1,000 fans and come away with a points, that’s a good point.

“We created more and easier opportunities to score than they did.

“When you look back, you do think we should have put more away, but that’s still with scoring three goals, so we can’t be too unhappy.

“It was disappointing to concede those three goals but the last was a ricochet, so we were a little bit unfortunate.”

Boston United: Ravas, Marrs, McEvoy, Richards, Garner, Piergianni, Roberts (Dixon 74), Mills, Southwell, Simmons (Robbins 56) Walker (Felix 56); Subs (not used): Sarpong, Johnson.

Harrogate Town: Crook, Turner, McWilliams, Thirlwell (Nyoni 72), Shiels, Ellis, Colbeck, Kerry, Yates (Clayton 87), Knowles, Swain (THewlis 79); Subs (not used): Bloomer, McGurk.

Ref: Tom Bramall.

Att: 1,074 (40).