A solitary headed goal from a Kettering Town centre back saw Boston United lose their third successive Blue Square North home game, after defeats to Harrogate Town and Burscough before.

The Pilgrims did hit the bar through a Tony Crane early header, as United played the ball around on the floor and more than matched their promotion-chasing opponents for much of the first half.

However, defender John Dempster nodded in a corner with returning goalkeeper Chris Wright nowhere to be seen, giving the veteran the easiest of chances. The corner had came about after skipper Paul Ellender had fluffed an attempted pass back to Wright.

Kettering had many shots on the United goal in the second period, and are unlucky to have only won the match by the single-goal margin. Wright was alert on numerous occasions to thwart the Poppies' attack.

The attendance at York Street was 2,003, with 665 from Kettering.

Boston-United.com Man of the Match: Tom Matthews