Boston's five year stay in the Football League is hanging by a thread.
A draw at home to already doomed Torquay left the Pilgrims still rooted in the drop-zone and knowing that effectively only a win from their final day trip to Wrexham will give them a chance of survival.
Despite dominating the first half and seeing their visitors reduced to 10 men when Lee Thorpe was sent off in the 42nd minute, Boston failed to raise their game until the dying stages when a Drewe Broughton header cancelled out Lee Mansell's breakthrough goal.
The 12th minute almost yielded a Boston goal when a swerving 20-yard drive by David Galbraith forced Torquay keeper Simon Rayner into a flying tip-over save.
Then, from the resultant corner, the ball dropped for Ernie Cooksey whose low shot was booted off the line by Mark Robinson.
Torquay threatened only sporadically, their best early effort being a horrid shot wide of the mark by Mansell.
The 24th minute brought another opening for Boston when Cooksey picked up a knock-down by Broughton but his 18-yard snap-shot was held by Rayner.
There was another close effort for the home side on 33 minutes when Broughton saw a 10-yard angled drive bounce away off an upright, and moments later Robinson cleared off his line again to deny Cooksey.
Torquay's best effort came on 38 minutes when Matt Hockley drilled goal wards from the edge of the area but ex-Gulls keeper Andy Marriott pushed the ball away.
The visitors were reduced to 10 men on 42 minutes when Thorpe was dismissed for striking out at Cooksey following an aerial challenge between the pair.
Moments later Francis Green fired goal wards for Boston but Rayner tipped the ball onto the bar.
Torquay took the lead on 49 minutes when, following a build-up down the right, the ball broke for Mansell who fired beyond the reach of Marriott from just inside the box.
The visitors almost grabbed a bizarre second goal on 64 minutes when from a free-kick on the half-way line Steve Woods spotted Marriott off his line and his ballooning set-piece hit the top of the bar.
Seconds later Gull's substitute Reuben Reid saw a swerving 25-yard drive smack away off a post.
Boston drew level and kept their slim survival fight alive seven minutes from time when Brad Maylett broke down the right and crossed for Broughton to net with a firm header.