Boston 2 City 2

City's third defeat in a row looked a certainty with 86 minutes on the clock when Pilgrims substitute Lee Thompson doubled his side's lead, given to them by Tony Crane after three minutes.

But not even a Hollywood script writer could have penned the drama that unfolded in the final few frenetic minutes.

First, Emeka Nwadike, who had already had an effort denied by the assistant's flag, pulled one back for the visitors with a neat lob seconds after the re-start.

Next, Patrece Liburd's strike was turned against the post by goalkeeper Chris Wright.

Then, Boston's Matt O'Halloran managed to get himself sent off for two yellow cards in a matter of seconds. His views on the decision to award City a free-kick deep into injury-time earned him a caution and the midfielder then encroached at the set-piece by blocking George Clegg's kick.

And when O'Halloran had departed, Clegg swung over a cross and substitute Troy Wood glanced a header past the dive of Wright to send the visiting fans barmy.

It was nothing less than City deserved in a week that had seen history created off the pitch and came following a marked improvement on the performances at Tamworth and Alfreton.

As expected, manager Andy Preece made one change from the team beaten in both those games, handing a first start of the season to Nick Colley in midfield in order to rest Graham Ward.

Until the stunning scenes at the end it had looked as though the game was going to be decided by a quick free-kick barely three minutes into the contest.

The referee appeared to signal for a corner following Liburd's challenge on Kieran Leabon but a free-kick was awarded in a central position on the edge of the area.

With Danny McDonnell still organising his wall, Crane was in no mood to wait and calmly struck the ball past the static keeper. It could have been even worse for the visitors four minutes later when new Boston signing Jon Rowan got on the end of Matt Bloomer's cross but McDonnell was alert to the danger.

Fifteen minutes had elapsed before City registered their first effort on goal, captain Chris Smith firing high and wide following a corner. Nwadike also glanced a header wide from Clegg's left-side free-kick six minutes later.

However, Preece's side did survive a couple of scares as the hosts looked to extend their lead. An Ashley Nicholls through ball almost found Rowan 12 yards out on 23 minutes and the same player was unlucky not to benefit when the lively Jon Stevenson slipped a neat ball to him 15 minutes later.

Adam Webster missed his team's best chance on 44 minutes. Peter Doran sent over a fine cross but Webster's header bounced over.

Nwadike thought he had drawn City level on 59 minutes, neatly turning Clegg's exquisite cross from the left past Chris Wright, but the assistant referee chalked it off, much to the annoyance of the travelling support behind the goal.

Their nerves were tested again when McDonnell held O'Halloran's drive and they were well and truly shredded when Craig Wilding's shot was blocked by Wright, although the Boston custodian seemed to carry the ball over the line.

Smith headed just over from Paul Barratt's corner and City then had McDonnell to thank for a fine double reaction save from Thompson.

But the Worcester keeper could do nothing about Thompson's header three minutes later when the Boston sub was left unmarked at O'Halloran's corner to head beyond the helpless McDonnell.

Within seconds, the visitors had gone up the other end and Nwadike lobbed an effort over Wright to give City hope.

Wright then produced an amazing save to deny Liburd, somehow tipping the defender's shot on the turn against the post.

O'Halloran didn't help Boston's cause with his petulence and the hosts paid the price when Wood nodded home the equaliser.