Boston United boss building up the minutes as EFL clubs visit for friendlies
Boston United boss Paul Hurst will up the number of minutes played for his new-look squad as they take on EFL opposition in their next pre-season friendlies against Peterborough United on Saturday with Grimsby Town the visitors next Wednesday.
And the search goes on for new faces with Hurst close to sealing an important deal.
After a midweek 2-1 win at Northern Premier League side Alfreton Town, the Pilgrims were beaten 3-2 behind closed doors at League Two Chesterfield on Saturday.
“With Alfreton being below us and Chesterfield above us, they have been two good tests,” said Hurst.
“I have been happy with certain aspects of our play and performance.
“So they have ticked a box. But I don't think you will learn as much as you would like in some regards as you have to give the players minutes and you are not putting a team out that, respectfully, you're going to start with in a National League game.
“Against Alfreton it was a case of trying to give the players 45 minutes each while making up the numbers by using some younger players.
“It is good experience for them but hard work to try to balance the team out to make it strong enough.
“So sometimes that makes it hard to make a call on someone's performance overall.”
He added: “Against Chesterfield we tried to give 60 minutes to as many players as possible.
“And, being allowed to have roll on and roll off subs, we did that with a couple of lads to try to even the minutes out. So it was a good test.
“For this Friday you are never quite sure what the officials will allow as, despite it being a friendly, some are a bit more strict on what they want.
“But I am certainly looking to get some players more minutes as we are only a couple of weeks away from the season beginning and over the course of these next two games we want to up the exposure these players are getting.”
On recruitment, Hurst said: “We are having a look at a couple of lads and we are working hard on a deal at the minute that I would like to see come to fruition.
“We still need a couple more lads in, that's for sure, and we keep looking.
“But, overall, I have been happy with the squad we have put together to date.
“It is now about combining them and getting them to know each other's games better.
“We've had a few trialists in and I did give decisions to a couple that played against Alfreton who were not quite what I was looking for.
“We still have a couple more lads in that we are taking a look at.”
In their third pre-season friendly at Chesterfield on Saturday, the noon showdown at the SMH Group Stadium saw Tom Cursons and Jack Holmes score the Pilgrims' goals.
Two of Boston's trialists had been on target at Alfreton Town.
Alfreton, just relegated to the NPL Premier Division for this season, went ahead on 40 minutes through Charlie Finney, the home keeper having earlier denied Cursons for the visitors.
Boston made nine changes at the break and were level within four minutes as Trialist B swooped with an equaliser.
And on 59 minutes Trialist D nodded home Scott's long throw-in to put the Pilgrims ahead.
The festive National League fixture between Boston and Harrogate Town has been re-arranged.
Originally scheduled for Monday, 28th December, the match will now take place on Tuesday, 29th December (7.45pm) following a mutual agreement between the two clubs.