Depleted Boston United impress in opening friendly defeat by Lincoln City
Boston United's pre-season campaign began on a losing note as Tom Bayliss' seventh minute strike sealed a 1-0 win for visitors Lincoln City on Saturday.
But the Pilgrims' new assistant manager Luke Waterfall was happy with the early signs of promise in what was a depleted opening squad.
“Obviously being our first pre-season game it was more about getting minutes into the legs,” he said. “But first half we played some really good stuff.
“I thought Lincoln were better second half and we had to defend a bit more.
“We were a bit disappointed with the first half goal we conceded, but overall we were pretty pleased.
“We had a few missing today so had to recruit a few from our U21 team to fill some holes.
“The other four or five are not far away now and when they come back in we will hopefully look a bit more like we should when the season starts.
“We didn't want any more knocks so thankfully everyone came through unscathed.
“The games will come thick and fast now as we build those minutes up for players and we hope they stay injury free.
“It's all about us getting to know the players and the players getting to know me and the gaffer and how we want to play.”
After a slow start to the summer, Boston suddenly brought in 10 new faces in as many days.
“The signings came thick and fast – they all started to come through the door at the same time,” said Waterfall.
“The squad is definitely starting to take shape nicely but we could still do with two or three more.”
On his new role, he added: “It is a new challenge for me. It was my first time in the dug-out today and I have really been enjoying it. The lads have been excellent for me and the gaffer has been really good, trusting me to take a fair bit of the training.
“I definitely could have played on for another two or three years, but when the opportunity came to come to Boston it was a no-brainer to accept it. It was an opportunity I didn't want to pass up.”
Bayliss squirmed an early effort beyond the grasp of Louis Chadwick for the promoted Championship visitors, and it proved to be the difference between the sides at the Jakemans Community Stadium, as both teams fielded two separate XIs.
United boss Paul Hurst handed a host of players their first action in Pilgrims' colours, including impressive midfield duo Terrell Agyemang and Nicholas Pozo.
The Pilgrims were due to play a second game at Alfreton Town on Tuesday night before hosting Peterborough United on Saturday, 25th July.
BOSTON (first half, 4-2-3-1): Louis Chadwick; Finley Ging, Sam Warburton, Connor Teale, Alex Lankshear; Terrell Agyemang, Nicholas Pozo; Trialist A, Liam Clayton, Jack Holmes; Lenell John-Lewis.
BOSTON (second half, 4-2-3-1): Luke Faxon; Trialist C, Jacob Scott, George Ward, Lewis Shipley; Ben Hammond, Arjan Raikhy; Trialist B, Connor McBride, Rufus Brooks; Tom Cursons.
REFEREE: Aaron Bannister.
ATTENDANCE: 1,643 (631 visitors).