The Pilgrims led on 10 minutes through debutant Pollock's header, only to trail 2-1 at half-time following Kettering strikes through Callum Stead and Connor Johnson.

United levelled through Ferguson in the 68th minute, with Johnson and Gary Stohrer subsequently sent off for the visitors either side of Shiels' 81st minute winner, with Kettering assistant manager Paul Bastock and coach Joe Simpson both dismissed during a bad-tempered finale.

A crowd of close to 2,000 watched on as the old rivals served up a classic in the first match between the sides with supporters at the Jakemans Community Stadium.

United's afternoon got off to the dream start when James Hanson flicked Danny Elliott into the clear down the left-hand side and his pinpoint delivery was powered home by the head of Northampton Town starlet POLLOCK.

The visitors levelled two minutes later when Ty Deacon seized upon Marcus Dewhurst's uncharacteristic poor clearance to tee up STEAD to run on and drive home the equaliser.

Visiting keeper Jackson Smith excelled to keep out Ferguson, while Shane Byrne cracked the inside of the post on the follow-up, but United found themselves behind in the 34th minute when JOHNSON got up highest to glance home Rhys Sharpe's huge throw-in from the Kettering right.

Dewhurst redeemed himself with a fine save to deny Johnson - and Deacon somehow turned the rebound against the crossbar.

United's equaliser arrived in the 68th minute when FERGUSON bagged his first goal for the club after running into space created by Elliott to arrow home a low effort.

Johnson received his marching orders for a second bookable offence but Dewhurst was again called into action to deny Stead, while opposite number Smith excelled to deny Elliott.

Boston's winner arrived nine minutes from time when SHIELS scored his fourth goal in four home matches under Paul Cox's management with a close-range header from a wicked Joe Leesley corner delivery.

There was still bedlam to unfold, with Dewhurst getting a crucial touch on Jordon Crawford's curling drive, which rattled the underside of the crossbar, before Stohrer was shown red for kicking through the back of Pollock.

Bastock and Simpson followed from the Poppies' bench - before Tom Platt preserved United's winning position with a brilliant headed clearance off the line from Alex Brown in the ninth additional minute.

Boston (3-4-1-2): Marcus Dewhurst; Scott Garner, Luke Shiels, Scott Duxbury; Keenan Ferguson (Brad Abbott 86), Tom Platt, Shane Byrne, Joe Leesley; Scott Pollock; James Hanson (Ntumba Massanka 72), Danny Elliott. Subs (not used): Andi Thanoj, Fraser Preston, Ben Sault.

Kettering (3-4-2-1): Jackson Smith; Conor Johnson, George Cooper (Chris Smith 57), Rhys Sharpe; Connor Barrett, Jack Smith (Gary Stohrer 46), Connor Kennedy, Alex Brown; Callum Stead (Decarrey Sheriff 86), Jordon Crawford; Ty Deacon. Subs (not used): Charlie O'Connell, Saul Milovanovic.

Referee: James Westgate.

Attendance: 1,959 (332 visitors).

PIC: Tim Hoff.