Boston United have got that winning buzz - says striker Mark Jones

After claiming their sixth win in seven National League North matches with a hard-fought 2-0 victory at Curzon Ashton on Saturday, the in-form striker believes the mood in the Pilgrims dressing room is similar to the tail end of last season.

“It’s a strange one,” said Jones, comparing the buzz in the camp to the atmosphere when United went unbeaten in their final 10 league matches of the campaign to secure third spot.

“It’s a strange feeling when you just get that vibe in the changing rooms, being in a squad where you feel you’re going to kick on and win most games.

“We’ve got enough quality to win the majority of our games.”

As the squad goes from strength to strength, the same can be said of Jones, who netted his third goal in five matches to open the scoring at the Tameside Stadium.

Collecting Liam Marrs’ pass with his back to goal, Jones slipped his marker and made space to thump a low 25-yard effort beyond the reach of Hakan Burton in the 49th minute.

Goal number two came courtesy of Lewis Hilliard 21 minutes later, the midfielder latching on to Grant Roberts’ clever through ball and finding the net, despite Burton getting a hand to his strike.

With leading scorer Dayle Southwell still sidelined with his metatarsal injury, Jones has been among those Pilgrims chipping in with the goals.

And the forward says that competition for places is spurring him on.

“At the start of the season me and Dayle didn’t really have competition for places and games were coming thick and fast.

“I didn’t deliver as much as Dayle did.

“We’ll be happy when he gets back, but it’s good to see the lads are chipping in with the goals.

“We’ve got competition for places now, we’ve got a bigger squad.

“Hopefully I can keep scoring, keep knocking on the door and getting my goals.”

At a rainsoaked Tameside Stadium, United could have had the points wrapped up early on against a side who have lost just one home league game since August.

However, Johyn Sands’ dipping strike and Jones’ close-range volley, after meeting Jay Rollins’ powerful cross, could not find the target.

Jones then found himself in the book when he went down in the box, despite the striker arguing he should instead have been given a penalty after he nipped in between keeper and defender before crashing to the ground.

Lewis Hilliard saw a dipping volley land over the bar and Sands’ goalbound strike was blocked before Boston had a second penalty appeal turned down.

Roberts looked to be clipped by Alex Brown in the penalty area, but Iain Turner again refused to blow his whistle.

For The Nash, Connor Hampson saw a cross-shot flash wide and Joe Guest’s close-range effort was blocked by the legs of Boston debutant Fabian Spiess.

As the half drew to a close Matthew Warburton powered a header off target.

But four minutes after the re-start Jones hammered the Pilgrims in front.

The Nash looked to pull level as Ryan Brooke flashed a low cross through a busy penalty area before the same player teed up Warburton, whose volley found the side netting.

That lead was doubled as Hilliard scored his third goal for the Pilgrims.

The Nash don’t appear to know what beaten means and continued to push on, Tomsett next to try his luck with a powerful effort from distance which rose over Spiess’ bar.

But it was the Pilgrims who won the points and finished the afternoon back in third spot in the standings.