Boston manager slams defending in remarkable 11-goal thriller against Southampton U21s.
Boston United manager Paul Hurst said some players were even further away from his plans for the weekend after the Pilgrims and Southampton served up a midweek National League Cup classic with the Saints edging an 11-goal thriller.
United led 2-0 inside seven minutes, 3-1 and then 4-3 at half-time - but contrived to lose 6-5 on a crazy evening of football at the Jakemans Community Stadium.
Ollie Bostock, Niall Canavan (twice), Ken Aboh and Jake Rooney scored United’s goals.
But it was the defending that upset Hurst and he said: “Some lads just get further away from being involved realistically. They're not making me think about putting them in the team – that is the harsh reality.
“Some are not ready and whether they will be I guess that time will tell.
“But, in some ways, it makes my job easier when it comes to picking a team.”
He added: “Some players right now don't seem to understand the importance of certain things or are not willing to do certain actions at important moments.
“One of our goals was an outstanding finish among some good finishes and their attacking players all carried a real threat and were a handful.
“But for their first three goals our decision-making on the ball is absolutely awful.
“I think their last goal was offside, but the other two we don't track runners and it's really basic and easy to do – or should be.
“I want us to be harder to beat.”
The Pilgrims started brightly and took a fifth minute lead when Bostock crashed the ball home at Josh McNamara's near post, having interchanged passes with Sai Sachdev.
United doubled their advantage two minutes later when Canavan produced a deft header at the near post on the end of Ben Hammond's right-wing cross.
Southampton striker Prince Ehibatiomhan reduced the arrears with a crisp 15th minute finish - only for Bostock to tee up Aboh to restore the two-goal cushion a minute later.
The Saints fought back strongly and Sufianu Sillah Dibaga wriggled through to cut the deficit in the 26th minute and Ehibatiomhan smashed home the goal of the game on the half hour mark to restore parity, moments after Lenell John-Lewis had rattled the crossbar.
United led 4-3 at half-time after Bostock pulled the ball back for Canavan to roll home the Pilgrims' fourth in the 34th minute.
Southampton equalised three minutes after half-time when Harry Gathercole looped a 12-yard effort beyond Luke Faxon via a deflection.
Korban McMullan put the Saints ahead for the first time in the 58th minute and Romeo Akachukwu added their sixth 12 minutes later.
There was late hope for the Pilgrims when Jack Holmes teed up Rooney for a fine finish three minutes from time, but the Saints held on at the end of an extraordinary night at the JCS.
PILGRIMS: Faxon; Sachdev, Canavan (Rooney 46), Grimes, Mauro; Holmes, Agyemang (Pozo 68), Hammond, Bostock (Shipley 46); Aboh (McBride 78), John-Lewis (Wheeldon 46). SUBS NOT USED: Teale, Chadwick.
REFEREE: Oliver Mackey.
ATTENDANCE: 230.