Elliott preparing Boston United for a marathon, not a sprint

Craig Elliott, left, with coach Lee Stratford.

It's a marathon, not a sprint. That is the message from Boston United boss Craig Elliott as the Pilgrims prepare to face AFC Telford.

Defeat at New Bucks Head would see Boston slip out of the play-off spots as they would be leapfrogged by their hosts.

However, Elliott believes that there are still plenty of plot twists to come this National League North campaign.

“It’s a long season, we have to make sure we’re learning and not making the same mistakes,” he said.

“We’re slowly getting a bit better. There are a few bumps, like Brackley, but I think Telford are on a similar sort of level to us.”

Had Boston not conceded a late goal at Ashton at the weekend they would find themselves three points behind leaders Chorley.

As it stands, five points separate the Pilgrims and eighth-placed Telford from the Magpies.

With the divsion being so evenly-poised, and a number of eyebrow-raising results occurring, such as struggling Southport winning 4-1 at title-challengers Kidderminster on Saturday, Elliott is refusing to be anything but upbeat.

“I think it gives you balance (seeing the other results),” he said. “You come away and think ‘you’ve got to be winning at Ashton’ but, no disrespect to them, it’s a good away point.

“I think we need to keep getting points on the board and see where we are after Christmas, and see where everyone else is.

“Then we see what we can do moving forward.”

Saturday’s kick off at New Bucks Head will be at 3pm.