Boston United 2
Gloucester City 0
Gloucester City six-match unbeaten streak came to a halt as Boston United proved too strong at York Street.
Liam Agnew's sensational first-half strike before Ricky Miller's stoppage-time penalty put the match out of sight for Tim Harris' men.
The Tigers were thoroughly in the contest and could have easily taken a point away from Lincolnshire with half chances going begging, the best of which saw Matt Groves head across goal only for two City players to miss the ball.
On a balmy day, City started with reckless abandon as Groves tore down the left-hand side and both both Nat Jarvis and Charlie Griffin saw shots blocked in a penalty area mêlée.
The Pilgrims burst into action shortly after but Miller's dragged effort from the left failed to trouble Mike Green.
Spencer Weir-Daley, who tormented the Tigers in the same fixture last season, turned and shot from 25 yards but the effort was lacking quality.
The Lincolnshire side continued to threaten and after a good delivery by Junior Konadu, Carl Piergianni came bursting through but fell short of the ball.
Tim Harris' troops began to see more of the ball and the Boston defence looked uncomfortable.
The Tigers' constant pressure saw Lewis Hogg pick up the ball and punt straight at Lewis King.
The deadlock was broken on 27 minutes as Agnew picked up the ball in midfield and unleashed a thunderbolt into the bottom corner with Green only a spectator to put the hosts ahead.
This was quickly followed by Carl Piergianni causing a nuisance in the area, although his overhead kick attempt was tame.
City were gifted an opportunity to equalise with a poor defensive header falling to Jarvis, but Conor Marshall lunged to brilliantly thwart the Tigers forward at the crucial moment.
To end a testing half for the Tigers, Ben Milnes powered an attempt along the floor that Green managed to palm around the woodwork.
The Tigers conjured up the first moment of danger in the second period as Jake Gosling volleyed into the side netting from a teasing Joe Hanks corner.
Striker Miller was proving to be a handful, but Green was more than a match to his strong attempt.
It became about survival for City as Boston continued to push forward for a second goal, with Matt Coupe and Jack Harris clearing ball after ball and eventually riding out the storm.
Against the run of play City attacked and should have scored as Groves' header flashed across the face of the goal but behind Charlie Griffin and just ahead of Joe Parker as York Street breathed a sigh of relief.
A combative match started becoming a tight and tense affair with City looking to upset the play-off chasers.
Miller, a nuisance throughout the game, should have put the contest out of reach after Piergianni's knockdown, but Coupe managed to knock the striker of his stride to blast wide.
Once again Miller found an inch of space outside the area and hammered the ball at goal forcing Green into a stunning save to tip over the crossbar.
The game was put out of reach at the beginning of stoppage time with Will Morford tripping Miller in the area and the latter drilled the penalty home to double Boston's lead.
Boston United: L King, J McGhee, C Marshall (S Galinski 69), J Dowie, S Garner, C Piergianni, B Milnes, J Konadu (I Aujla 70), R Miller, S Weir-Daley (B Fairclough 81), L Agnew. Subs not used: I Ross, A Hewitt.
Gloucester City: M Green, R Winters, M Giglio (W Morford 83), M Coupe, J Harris, J Hanks, L Hogg, M Groves, N Jarvis (J Parker 60), C Griffin, J Gosling (E Williams 77). Subs not used: M Roome, T Webb.
Attendance: 1,208
