Pilgrims secure FA Cup progress

Goal number three

Boston United powered into the third qualifying round of the FA Cup following a decisive 4-1 victory over Buxton at the Staffsmart Stadium on Saturday.

Goals from Kieran Leabon (two), David Galbraith and Jon Froggatt secured the Pilgrims' safe passage, despite a Paul Ellender own goal after United had surged into an early two-goal lead.

The Pilgrims will now await Monday's third qualifying round draw, as they celebrated their first home cup win since November 2005.

Going into the match against their UniBond Premier League opponents, Boston boss Tommy Taylor made three changes to his starting line-up, with Leabon, Adam Smith and Stewart Talbot replacing injury victim Jon Stevenson and Tom Matthews and Mbiyeye Medine, who both dropped to the bench. Lee Crockett was preferred between the sticks and got the nod over Chris Wright, who was also on the bench.

Boston were the first to threaten and after picking up possession on the right, Matt Bloomer cut in to drift a cross-shot into the arms of Scott Hartley.

Matt O'Halloran's outswinging corner was then only partially cleared by the Buxton defence and Talbot cracked the rebound wide from 25 yards.

The Pilgrims took the lead in the eighth minute when Bloomer's long-range shot deflected into the path of Leabon and he had the simple task of firing home from close-range.

Leabon rises high

A minute later, the lead increased after O'Halloran was hauled down in the box by Dan MacPherson. Referee Neil Hair had no hesitations in pointing to the spot and Galbraith confidently drilled the ball home to give his side a 2-0 lead.

Buxton's first opening arrived when Michael Towey picked the ball up 20 yards from goal, but sent his curling effort high and wide. The visitors threatened again when MacPherson glanced a header just wide from Steve Ridley's inswinging free-kick.

The deficit was halved in the 22nd minute when Ellender sliced the ball past Crockett from close-range, following Ridley's driven left-wing cross.

Boston were straight back on the attack though and Leabon's ball from the left found Froggatt in the middle and his shot was blocked, before Hartley saved well from Ashley Nicholls' rebound. Hartley made another good save to deny Froggatt's downward header from Bloomer's deep cross.

However, the Pilgrims re-established their two-goal lead when Froggatt powered a back-post header into the roof of the net, after debutant Smith had done brilliantly to get round the back and send over a pinpoint cross.

Boston suffered an injury blow in the 38th minute when Talbot crumbled in a heap on the edge of the box. Medine was his replacement from the bench.

In the final throes of the half, Towey was in the right place at the right time to nod Tony Crane's header off the line, following O'Halloran's probing corner. At the other end, Crane did well to throw himself in the way of Anton Foster's goalbound effort, with the ball diverting just over Crockett's bar.

Boston increased their lead within seven minutes of the restart, when Leabon fired the ball under Hartley, following a right-wing cross from O'Halloran.

Talbot wins the ball

Crockett made a terrific double save in the 57th minute when he palmed Ridley's fierce drive on to the top of the post, before getting up and flinging himself the other end to turn aside Paul Walker's follow-up. Crane was again in the right place at the right time to hack Walker's drive off the line, after a melee in the Boston box.

Leabon's break down the right culminated in him drilling the ball across the box and Hartley made a wonder save to palm away Galbraith's fierce drive, before Leabon himself drilled the rebound wide.

A fantastic move involving Leabon, Froggatt, Nicholls and substitute Lee Thompson resulted in the latter drilling just over from 20 yards. Nicholls then won possession inside the Buxton half, but after racing through, he fired tamely at Hartley.

Leabon almost completed his hat-trick, but slipped over at the back post, following Liam Green's inviting left-wing centre. More excellent play down the right involving Nicholls and Leabon resulted in the latter squaring the ball across for Froggatt, who was only denied by Grant Black's goal-saving block.

Crockett then made a good parrying save two minutes from time, when he palmed Foster's angled drive over for a corner, but the Pilgrims deservedly progressed into the next round.

Boston (4-4-2): Lee Crockett; Matt Bloomer, Tony Crane, Paul Ellender, Adam Smith; Matt O'Halloran (Lee Thompson 62), Ashley Nicholls, Stewart Talbot (Mbiyeye Medine 38), David Galbraith (Liam Green 69); Jon Froggatt, Kieran Leabon. Subs (not used): Tom Matthews, Chris Wright (gk).

Buxton (3-5-2): Scott Hartley; Scott Maxfield, Dan MacPherson, Tommy Agus; Tony Lennon (Grant Black 46), Jordan Hall, Anton Foster, Michael Towey (James Turley 63), Steve Ridley; Anthony Bingham (Paul Walker 46), Mark Reed. Subs (not used): Alvyn Riley, Ashley Foyle.