Holbeach United beat Boston United Under 23s to win the Pete Cousins Memorial Cup
Holbeach United secured some early silverware with victory in the Pete Cousins Memorial Cup match on Wednesday night.
The Tigers were 3-1 winners against Boston United Under 23s thanks to goals from Sam Carter, Ryan Cook and Josh Ling.
The Pilgrims brought a young side to Carter's Park which provided a useful test for the Tigers ahead of their Thurlow Nunn League season starting at the end of this month.
It was the second staging of the memorial match for Tigers legend Pete who had served the club for 75 years until he passed away in 2022.
Holbeach had been beaten by Boston Town in last year's match but they made a dream start to Wednesday's contest.
The Pilgrims lost possession in the middle of the park which caught their rearguard out of position and Carter took full advantage by clipping a sublime finish into the Boston net from just inside their half.
It was to his final involvement in the game as an early injury scare forced the goalscorer to be replaced by Alex Richardson.
Holbeach continued to offer the greater attacking threat in the opening exchanges with winger Ryan Cook prominent in their lively raids.
He delivered a couple of dangerous crosses which Boston were forced to scramble clear before pulling the ball back into the path of Kyle Compton who steered a decent opening wide of the Pilgrims' goal.
Cook then doubled Holbeach's advantage midway through the first half as he latched onto a through ball before rounding the Boston goalkeeper and slotting home.
Ling came close to adding a third as he rattled the upright after meeting a John Yambasu corner at the back post before Boston started to grow more into the game as the half wore on.
They started the second half the stronger of the two teams and home goalkeeper Brad Waters had to tip an early effort to safety.
Ling and skipper Luke Nicholson both made vital last-ditch blocks to keep Boston at bay before the Pilgrims broke Holbeach's resistance as a surging run and cross down the right was swept into the home goal.
That sparked Holbeach back into life as they restored their two-goal advantage shortly after when Boston cleared a corner only out as far as Ling who guided his shot into the roof of the Pilgrims' net from just outside the area.
Both sides continued to push to create chances as an open contest came to an end with neither team able to add to their tally with Holbeach edging the match overall to take the trophy triumph.
