Hurst backs strong United response

Paul Hurst

Boston United boss Paul Hurst believes Stamford were worthy winners over the Pilgrims on Tuesday evening, but is confident of seeing a positive response ahead of Saturday’s trip to Belper Town.

United’s opening sequence of three pre-season victories was ended by a 2-1 defeat at the Vic Couzens Stadium on Tuesday evening.

The Pilgrims are back in action on Saturday and Tuesday with respective trips to Belper and Loughborough Dynamo and Hurst is eager to see better performances than the one delivered at Stamford.

Speaking after Tuesday’s defeat, Hurst told bufc.co.uk: “We will be back together for the first time at training on Thursday for more hard work. We will work on one or two things and we are hoping for a reaction at Belper because although it is only pre-season and we are looking at fitness levels, we should be doing better than what was produced on Tuesday night.

“We are in July, albeit at the end of the month and it is a little bit early for a wake-up call, but if the players needed one, that was certainly it.

“We did well for the first 15 minutes, but from then on we were poor all night. Credit to Stamford though — they worked extremely hard and I had no qualms about their victory.

“Saturday (at Sheffield) was a dip from our first two games and that carried over into Tuesday. Players can say they are tired, but that is no excuse. Maybe we think we are a bit better than we actually are at times.”

Danny Davidson limped off with an injury on Tuesday evening — but Hurst is hoping the talismanic striker will soon be back in action.

“Danny reported a tight groin,” added Hurst. “We are hoping it is nothing too much to worry about. His goal on Tuesday was one of the few positives to take from the night.

“It should fill Danny with confidence and all his hard work in pre-season will stand him in good stead. Danny has looked really fit so far and has started to get goals.”

Gareth Clayton

Gareth Clayton appeared at left-back for the Pilgrims in Tuesday’s match at Stamford, but Hurst was unsure what the future holds for the former RRFC Montegnee defender.

Hurst said: “It is evident Gareth is not fit, but he is somebody we know from Rotherham and he has a good left foot.

“He needs to be fitter, having been playing over in Belgium, but it was hard to judge him because he was playing in a bad team performance.

“We do not really want to bring trialists into a settled squad, but if the right person becomes available, that is always going to be an option.”