Craig Elliott says Atherton Collieries 'wanted it more' as Boston United exit FA Trophy

Tom Bentham netted an 88th-minute winner as the Pilgrims failed to score in a cup game for the first time this season.

Elliott made eight changes to his starting XI, but denied that was too many.

"I've no regrets, that team should be good enough," he said.

"It was a horrible game, horrible day, the pitch was horrendous.

"Mentally they switched off in the last minute, but that team should have been good enough to get a replay at least.

"They wanted it a little bit more. I've been on that other side, they stayed in the game and knew they'd get a chance.

"In the end they wanted it slightly more."

Debutant Pierce Bird left the field with a facial injury on the half-hour mark, joining fellow defenders Simon Ainge, Lewis Gibbens and Alex Penny on the sidelines.

Ainge did, however, take part in the warm-up.

"He looks to have broken his nose," Elliott said of Bird.

"The game changed a bit after that, it disrupted us again. It's a bad period to lose four centre backs in a month, it's horrendous.

"(Ainge) is feeling positive about things. He should be back next week, hopefully Pierce is as well."