A Daniel Nti volley and two goals from Tyler Weir derailed Boston United’s play-off pursuit in front of over 300 visiting supporters, and ensured City a 15th place finish in the Skrill North despite being bottom for much of the first half of the season.

The visitors were stunned by a scintillating City, with the win denying the visitors a play-off place, as United needed to win at Aggborough and hope that Guiseley lost at home to Gloucester City in order to grab 5th place.

City went into the game having already guaranteed their place in the Skrill North next season giving Carl Heeley the luxury of experimenting with his squad. Jose Veiga regained his place in goal, as Graham Hutchinson was employed at right back, with George Williams moving into central midfield and Aaron Brown starting in central defence.

City nearly inadvertently gifted the visitors an early lead as Ellis Deeney’s attempted clearance was deflected off Jamie Mcgee and flashed just past Veiga’s post with less than two minutes played.

Martin Devaney’s strike from outside the area was palmed wide at the near post by Lewis King, but that was the last action the lively City wide-man would see as he hobbled off with a groin strain minutes later with less than 10 minutes on the clock and was replaced by Ethan Moore.

City dominated much of the first half and could have taken the lead moments later, had Ethan Moore connected with his swivelling half-volley attempt after controlling Aaron Williams’s low cross.

The game began to open up after the half hour mark, and after Aaron Williams and Daniel Nti both lashed shots wide, the play-off chasing visitors came close to forcing home the opening goal after a mazy run from Renee Steer resulted in his miscued shot being flicked goal-wards by Ricky Miller, only for Veiga to deny the striker with a reaction save.

City, who had the best attacking chances of the half, hit back as George Williams’s low cross found Daniel Nti, but his powerful strike was deflected behind by Carl Piergianni.

City’s top marksman continued to cause the United defence problems and after he picked the pocket of the hesitant Piergianni, Nti’s heavy touch to round the advancing goalkeeper was recovered by Aaron Williams, but his attempted lob was denied by a back-peddling King.

It was much of the same after the restart as Daniel Nti’s cross was headed onto the roof of the net by Aaron Brown, before an unmarked Ellis Deeney dragged his shot wide from just outside the area.

City’s pressure eventually paid off as Ellis Deeney’s cross was met by Daniel Nti, who unleashed a scorching volley that flew past King and nestled in the bottom corner with 53 minutes on the clock.

City doubled their lead just seven minutes later through the unlikely source of Tyler Weir after the former Gloucester full-back picked up the ball on the edge and fired a shot that creeped past the wrong footed King.

City could have snatched a third goal at the 70 minute mark as a driving run from Ellis Deeney culminated in a well-timed through ball to Ethan Moore who blazed his attempt to curl around the ball around the goalkeeper over the bar.

After a lengthy injury stoppage to allow treatment for a linesman, Tyler Weir bagged his second goal of the game in emphatic style with the full-back unleashing a pile-driver from distance that flew into the top-corner after 75 minutes.

Boston’s misery was compounded as they had to play the final 10 minutes with ten men as Steffan Gallinski hauled down the pacey Ebby Nelson-Addy who was through on goal, dashing any hopes of an unlikely United comeback.

City boss, Carl Heeley, was delighted with his team’s final performance of the season.

“The second half is as well as we’ve played all season and I thought today, considering we’re playing against a team that’s got to beat us to get in the play-offs, we looked like the side who had more desire. I thought we bossed the game for 90 minutes all over the park and if it had been more convincing I don’t think anyone could have argued".

“We’ve come a long way since last summer. To equal our points record in such an emphatic style, we’re delighted with that. The last words we tried to press on them were “go out and out a show on for your home fans”, because they’ve been good enough to make an effort to travel across from Worcester. Today was about us putting a performance for our home fans".

The win means that City end a tough season with a final points tally of 50 points, and equal last year’s 15th place finish under much more difficult circumstances.

Attendance: 854

Report by Alex Harris