The strikers owe the defenders a performance! Boston United boss Craig Elliott happy with three points at Blyth Spartans, but demands more goals

Pilgrims back to winning ways, but couldn't make more of dominant display...
Scott Garner.Scott Garner.
Scott Garner.

Craig Elliott labelled his Boston United side's performance at Blyth Spartans 'brilliant' - but the Pilgrims boss is demanding his attackers get more goals.

The visitors were dominant from the first whistle to the last at Croft Park last night, but it took Scott Garner's second-half strike to secure the three points.

United created chance after chance against the team propping up the National League North table, but keeper Brendan Pearson pulled off a string of jaw-dropping saves to keep his side in the contest until the final whistle.

"Firstly, I'm happy for three points. But we should have been out of sight by half time," Elliott told BBC Radio Lincolnshire.

"I thought we were brilliant, played very well and created good chances. But in the end I'm relieved to get the three points.

"That's the most dominant I've seen a team play since I've been at Boston.

"We played really well, they did everything I asked and we started excellently. It would have been a complete performance if we'd been going in 4-0, 5-0 at half time."

With memories of Guiseley's stoppage-time equaliser at the Northolme earlier this season still fresh in the mind, Elliott would have hoped his side could have created more than a one-goal cushion going into the final few minutes.

The Pilgrims boss, however, has faith his attackers can turn things around.

"Confidence is a big thing in football and you can see the lads are trying to get that," he added.

"The forwards, nobody's clicking and taking their chances. But once somebody does that confidence will filter through to the rest of the team.

"The forwards definitely owe the defenders something in the coming weeks now.

"If you don't take chances pressure builds and they (Blyth) have got nothing to lose."

Despite the attacking players creating regular openings, it was centre back Garner who smashed home the only goal of the game in the 52nd minute, after Spartans failed to clear their lines.

Garner has taken his tally to three goals in eight games while defensive partner Luke Shiels has netted twice. And the manager believes it shouldn't take the defence to keep getting the team out of jail.

"The defence have been brilliant, another clean sheet," added Elliott, who wants his forwards to help take some of the pressure off the back line.

"Shielsy's been fantastic for us of late. They (the attackers) owe the defenders a performance and goals.

"They're doing the business, not only clean sheets but getting goals."

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