Boston Hit Goal Glut While Alty Apply Some Peers Pressure

We now know who will battle it out for a place in the National League next Saturday after an eye-catching afternoon.

Boston just about toppled Gateshead after a goal fest on the Lincolnshire coast.

Greg Olley’s whipped free kick was glanced in by the head of JJ O’Donnell after 19 minutes to give the Heed the lead.

Boston were level when Jake White was adjudged to have been tripped in the box and Jordan Thewlis put away the resulting penalty – his 17th goal of the season.

Thewlis then had the Pilrgrims ahead three minutes before the break when he tucked home another penalty despite Brad James going the right way.

Heed’s Alex Nicholson sparked a goal glut after the break, converting a penalty within six minutes of the restart.

But Jay Rollins edged the home side ahead once more, his low curling effort just after the hour mark doing the job.

A brace from Jake Wright then had the Pilgrims flying.

His venomous cross-cum-shot left the Heed keeper with no chance as Boston tightened their grip on a place in the final.

Wright got his second and Boston’s fifth on 79 minutes, racing away on the break before coolly slotting home.

There was just enough time for Gateshead to reduce the deficit, Ruari Keating nodding home with six minutes left but it was Boston who held on and will face Altrincham in the final in a week’s time.

Not many sides have consistently had the better of York City this season – but Altrincham certainly have.

Alty have now won three out of three meetings between the pair at Bootham Crescent this season alone, with Tom Peers netting in every game.

Josh Hancock opening the scoring inside ten minutes when he pounced on Adam Buxton’s missed interception, sliding the ball home over Peter Jameson.

Peers then did what he’s used to doing against the Minstermen now and wrapped things up on 77 minutes, nodding home the rebound off the bar – cue a semi-acrobatic celebration from the substitute.