COLUMN: Shhh! Why does Boston United's sudden success story feel like a secret?

Shhhh! Keep it to yourself, but Boston United are slowly - and very, very quietly -becoming something of a force to be reckoned with in the National League North.

Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Kidderminster Harriers saw the Pilgrims draw level on points with fourth-placed Brackley Town and, more importantly, sit four points clear of Altrincham, a place behind them.

After weeks of dropping two places if you draw and climbing one of you win, the Pilgrims now look to be turning themselves into an established play-off side.

Indeed, if you look at the club’s National League North form with the exception of those two defeats to runaway leaders King’s Lynn it reads: WWWWWDWWW.

Of course, those defeats to the Linnets, plus cup exits to Rochdale and Atherton Collieries, punctuate that run and stop it feeling anywhere near as exciting as it should.

But the fact of the matter is that, since November’s narrow 2-1 reverse at Spennymoor Town, only one side in this division have managed to beat the ever-improving Boston, and they’re the best side in the league.

So what’s the secret to United’s success? Quite simply, square pegs in square holes.

Craig Elliott’s back to basics approach this season - which began in the summer with the highly successful recruitment of seasoned, experienced, proven non-league players - has seen the manager create a side where the defence keep clean sheets, the midfielders mix efficiency and creativity and the attackers score goals.

The Pilgrims have kept 14 shut outs so far this campaign, more than they have mustered in the past eight seasons.

Jordan Thewlis (15 goals, a 0.5 goals per game ration) and Dominic Knowles (12, 0.42gpg) have both exceeded the 11 last season’s top scorer Nicky Walker reached with 16 games to go.

Throw in the fact that United have only lost one home league contest all season, and the facts speak for themselves.

This is a Boston side that, on their day, can put in a dominant matchwinning performance (think Altrincham, Southport) and when they’re up against it are still functional enough to grind out results (Kettering, Leamington, Farsley, Telford, dare I say it, Brackley).

The fact that the Pilgrims have picked up four points from five matches against the teams above them suggest they’re currently sat in a deserved league position.

But with the club facing fellow top-six sides York, Darlington and Brackley in the space of eight days after Saturday’s trip to Blyth Spartans, it offers them the chance lay down a marker and pick up valuable points.

Of course, there’s the possibility their rivals could gain on them, but last week’s win over Brackley means Elliott has now beaten 26 of the 31 sides he has faced in this league as Boston manager.

It’s a fantastic record and proof that he, and the club, continue to learn from previous matches.

There will be no further chance to beat the impressive King’s Lynn this season, but with Spennymoor, Chester, Gloucester and Gateshead still to play this year the manager has the opportunity to take that record to 30 from 31.

And just how important could those points prove if he did just that?