BOSTON United might be nicknamed the Pilgrims, but it’s York City fans who set off on their travels with blind faith these days.

The Minstermen suffered a fourth straight National League North away defeat at York Street, and have conceded ten goals and scored just once in that time.

It was a familiarly depressing story for those long-suffering supporters who religiously follow City on the road, with their team having won just two weekend league fixtures outside of their North Yorkshire base throughout 2018 – 2-1 triumphs over Southport in October and at Darlington back on January 6.

Not even visiting a Boston team, who had lost five league contests on their own soil this term, could provide a cure for the visitors’ travel sickness as second-half efforts from Nicky Walker and Gavin Allott secured a routine 2-0 home win.

A first half lacking in quality from both sides saw Ben Davies’ early curling 25-yard free kick pushed away to safety by Adam Bartlett, whilst Adriano Moke managed City’s first shot of the game on 26 minutes, but his diagonal edge-of-the-box effort didn’t generate sufficient pace to extend Pilgrims shot-stopper George Willis.

Allott also glanced Brad Abbott’s wayward attempt wide with his head, while the half’s best chance saw Davies beat Moke to retrieve Willis’ long free kick forward and, from close to the right byline, he then teed up on-loan Harrogate midfielder Liam Agnew for a 12-yard half-volley that he flashed narrowly off target from 12 yards under pressure from Kallum Griffiths.

The first 45 minutes was then concluded after Moke had cut in from the left and curled wide of Willis’ far post.

After the interval, a swerving Max Wright 25-yard attempt was tipped over by Bartlett, who went on to turn provider as his long ball was helped on by Burrow’s head to release Macaulay Langtsaff through the right channel.

But the former Gateshead striker’s rising angled drive was kept out at the near post by Willis.

Instead, it was Boston that drew first blood on 51 minutes went Wright went past Kennedy Digie too easily down the right flank and his low cross was bundled in clumsily by an unmarked Walker at the far post.

Three minutes later, City were again in trouble down that same side of the pitch as Allott sent in a cross following Digie’s weak header out, but Agnew cleared the crossbar from ten yards with Bartlett left vulnerable again.

Davies went on to see his far-post header saved by Bartlett from an Agnew free kick, before a buoyant Boston eventually doubled their advantage on 63 minutes.

This time, Agnew waltzed his way to the right byline, before squaring a low cross that saw Allott tap in after being left free a yard from the visitors’ goal.

City went on to create a clutch of late chances but lacked the precision or composure to make them count.

First, sub Alex Bray’s edge-of-the-box strike was deflected wide and Digie headed just over from Griffiths’ consequent corner.

On 86 minutes, Burrow was then guilty of a glaring miss, as he sidefooted wide of a gaping goal from eight yards after being teed up by Bray from Joe Davis’ right-wing cross to the far post.

In stoppage time, Burrow also shot weakly at Willis after being played through the right channel by Joe Ironside’s flick-on and Wes York aimed high and wide from 25 yards after drifting in from the left.

The subsequent final whistle meant the Minstermen have been beaten during all of their four league visits to Boston, stretching back to a first meeting in 2002.

City Ratings

Adam Bartlett 6

Joe Davis 5

Joe Tait 5

Kennedy Digie 5

Sean Newton 4

Lewis Hawkins 5

Kallum Griffiths 6

Alex Harris 4

Adriano Moke 5

Jordan Burrow 5

Macaulay Langstaff 5

Substitutes: Alex Bray 5 (for Moke, 55), Wes York 5 (for Harris, 64), Joe Ironside 5 (for Langstaff, 67).

Subs not used: David Ferguson, Josh Law.

Star man: Griffiths – demonstrated a bit of the fight that manager Sam Collins is demanding from his team

Boston: George Willis, Ben Davies, Ryan Qualter, Spencer Harris, Ashley Jackson, Brad Abbott, Andi Thanoj, Liam Agnew (Jordan Slew, 88), Max Wright, Gavin Allott, Nicky Walker. Subs not used: Jordan Slew, Sebastian Malkowski, Jay Rollins, Lewis Gibbens, Danny Rowe.

Boston star man: Wright – troubled City down their left side on several occasions

Referee: Amy Fearn 7/10 – kept her cool when trouble threatened to flare up

Booked: Davis 45+1, Griffiths 57, Abbott 71, Hawkins 90

Sent off: None

Attendance: 1,143 (108 from City)

Shots on target: Boston 6, City 3

Shots off target: Boston 3, City 6

Corners: Boston 7, City 4

Fouls conceded: Boston 7, City 14

Offside: Boston 3, City 2 Boston United 2 York City 0