Words John Edwards | Pictures Jonathan Moore

Boston United 2 Altrincham 2

Altrincham were left ruing a 93rd-minute Boston equaliser that left them with only a point to show for a spirited second-half fightback that so nearly yielded a fourth win in five games at a windswept Jakemans Community Stadium.

Trailing 1-0 at the end of a low-key first half, and indebted to Luke Hutchinson for not falling further behind, Alty came storming back after the break and deservedly led through well-taken goals from Declan Howe and Jimmy Knowles.

Boston looked to have run out of steam, with the points seemingly in the bag for Neil Gibson's in-form side, only for substitute Tom Cursons to head home a corner with 70 seconds left to deny the Robins a win that would have kept them moving up the table.

Alty struggled to make much headway, playing into a swirling wind in the early stages, and they found themselves trailing in the 12th minute to a goal that was tinged with controversy.

A Boston player seemed to handle as he leaned into a ball that bounced up against his upper arm inside the Alty area, only for the apparent transgression to go unpunished.

The sense of grievance in the Robins ranks became more acute in a matter of seconds as Greg Sloggett teed up Luca Barrington for a curling left-foot shot that flew into the top left corner beyond the reach of the diving Hutchinson.

It was the lift the home side needed, and they would have extended their advantage but for two outstanding saves in quick succession from Hutchinson.

When Jordy Hiwula found himself in space and unleashed a powerful drive after quarter-of-an-hour, it took exceptional reflexes from the on-loan keeper to prevent a second Boston goal, as he shot out an arm to tip it over.

Five minutes later, the same Boston player was again left shaking his head as Hutchinson once more excelled with a full-length save that diverted a well-struck shot round the post.

It's the sort of eye-catching form the Bolton Wanderers prospect has been producing on a regular basis, and it meant Alty were able to see out the half with damage kept to a minimum

Indeed, they may have gone in on terms but for Kahrel Reddin ballooning a chance high over the bar after Boston failed to clear an Alty free-kick on the right in first-half added time.

The Robins were on terms soon enough at the start of the second half, as a nonchalant finish from Howe made it 1-1 in the 47th minute.

A long ball out of defence was cleverly dummied by Jimmy Knowles to leave Howe with a clear run on the Boston goal. Alty's on-loan marksman still had plenty to do, but enacting it was made to look simplicity itself as he timed a lofted finish over the advancing keeper to perfection.

It was much more like it from Alty, and they threatened again in the 53rd minute when Sam Barnes chested down a ball into the box and made space for a volley that flew narrowly wide.

Ten minutes later, there was another timely and welcome reminder that Alty now have two clinical goal-poachers in their ranks in Howe and Knowles

It was the latter's turn to apply a cutting edge on this occasion, though Howe had a hand in the build-up as he combined with Liam Humbles to feed the ball out to Tylor Golden on the left.

With typical tenacity, Golden forced his way past a challenge and cut in along the bye-line before threading the ball towards the edge of the six-yard box, where Knowles met it with an unerring first-time shot into the back of the net.

What a fightback by the Robins in the second half, and with the weather deteriorating and rain lashing down, some heroic defending kept the lead intact - right up until the third of four added minutes, that is.

Hutchinson appeared to have seen off the last Boston threat with another flying save, but, from the resulting corner, he was unable to hold on to the ball, and substitute Tom Cursons headed home from point-blank range.

The Alty keeper argued that the goal should not have stood, seemingly claiming the ball had gone out of play before reaching him, but the referee was having none of it and booked him for his troubles.

Boston Cameron; Teale, Sloggett, Barrington (Aboh, 69'), John-Lewis (Cursons, 75'), Carson, Hiwula, Richards, Grimes (c), Gallagher, Lavinier. Subs not used: Lovett, Mills, Hazel, Lankshear, Raikhy.

Altrincham Hutchinson; Grant, Marriott, Howe (Cooper, 90'), Knowles (Weaver, 85'), Reddin (Kirk, 75'), Crawford (c), Golden, Barnes (Sassi, 75'), Humbles (Reed, 85'), Jones. Subs not used: German, Fallon.

HT 1-0

Goals Barrington 12', Cursons 90'+3 | Howe 47', Knowles 64'

Yellows Gallagher 45'+1, Carson 52', Richards 57', Lavinier 68', John-Lewis 71', Grimes 89' | Golden 18', Crawford 57'

Reds None | None

Referee Richie Watkins

Assistants Alex Shipp & Joseph Karram

Fourth Official Mehul Karia

Attendance 1,465 (35 away fans)

Next Up

We head to Solihull Moors on Saturday afternoon for a Non-League Day clash (kick-off 3pm).

General admission tickets for this Enterprise National League game are available online from our hosts here.