Hapless trialist Brad Piercewright suffered torment in triplicate in Scarborough's Bank Holiday 2-2 share-all with visiting Boston.

Defender Piercewright conceded not one, nor two, but three penalties in the 39 minutes he was on the Athletic ground turf.

He had only come on after half-time, replacing stricken Frenchman Romain Faure. But the next 40 minutes were completely bewildering for the defender, two of the three penalties he gave away were scored by Boston to erase the Seadogs' 2-0 goal advantage forged in the first 20 minutes.

Jamie Burt raced away from a square defence to score his first goal for Boro with a superb shot.

When Gareth Williams picked out David Pounder to score his tenth of the season from close range, it looked as though it was all over bar the shouting.

But Boston manager Steve Evans, who had been sent from the dugout in the first half by referee Lee Mason, must have blasted his side during the interval because the second half was one of Boston domination.

Boro goalkeeper Andy Woods saved the first penalty after Piercewright had tripped Peter Costello - guessing the right way to deny Ken Charlery.

He later saved well from Andy Stanhope, but then Piercewright bundled over Costello and the midfield man scored from the spot.

Nine minutes from time, Piercewright inexplicably handled a long ball and once again Costello obliged with his second penalty kick.

Said Boro player-manager Neil Thompson: "We threw away the points and I cannot argue with any of the penalties, but we had some tired legs out there."

Williams nearly secured all three points with a late angled drive which forced Paul Bastock into his only action of the second half.

But the second half showing by Piercewright cannot have helped his chances of getting a contract for next season before he was finally replaced by ex-York City player Martin Reed six minutes from time.

Scarborough: Woods, Atkinson, Rennison, Faure (Piercewright 46) (Reed 84), Ellender, Brunton, Stoker, Pounder, Blunt, Williams, Burt (Jordan 62).

Boston: Bastock, Rusk (Stanhope 46), Gowshall, Howarth, Lucas; Costello, Weatherstone, Dick, Cook (Lodge 77); Town (Eldine 84), Charlery.

Referee: Lee Mason (Bolton).Crowd: 1,279.

Updated: 12:51 Tuesday, April 17, 2001