Hurst positive despite Boston defeat at leaders Rochdale

​Tyler Smith's late goal ended United's eight-match unbeaten streak, as the substitute swooped to head home a Dan Moss knockback with eight minutes to play after the Pilgrims had produced an outstanding rearguard action to keep the table-toppers at bay.

And Hurst said that no matter the opposition, losing a game so late hurts.

He told the club's media: “I’m disappointed because I don’t want to lose any game, I don’t care who it’s against. We’re not in the business of wanting to lose games and I think that’s the mentality we want the players to have.

"But underneath that there’s the acceptance we’re playing against a very good side who are top of the league and may go on and win it, with a group of players that’s been together a very long time and that have a real clear way of playing and identity.

"Although they had the ball for a lot of the game, we frustrated them and the players took a lot of what we asked of them on board.

"I think I’d have liked us to be a little bit better on the ball at times. We kept the ball at the back but once we got so far up the pitch we then have to try and connect that next part of attacking that we didn’t get right enough.

"I thought we still had a couple of really good moves and ironically we had the best chance of the game through our play rather than any mistakes, but unfortunately we lost to a late-ish goal that stops the run we’ve been on.”

The Pilgrims now prepare to return home on Saturday for the visit of Yeovil Town, who ended the weekend just three points behind Boston in the National League standings.

Hurst added: “We have to recognise what a fantastic run the players have been on and full credit to them for the results – I think it was 18 points from 24, which is a fantastic effort at any stage. We’ve now got to do all we can to try and get three points against Yeovil and go on another run.”