Boston United FC
'Hurt, shocked and gutted' - Craig Elliott blasts Boston United's latest embarrassing FA Cup exit
The Pilgrims were beaten by a side who play two levels below them
Football Writer
Boston United players after falling 2-0 down against Peterborough Sports (Image: Tim Hoff)
Boston United manager Craig Elliott blasted his side for being dumped out of the FA Cup on Saturday, but also paid tribute to visitors Peterborough Sports.
First half goals from Josh Moreman and Josh McCammon caused the biggest upset of the second qualifying round and Elliott was left seething after watching the Pilgrims humbled on home soil.
"I am hurting," raged Elliott. "I am in shock, particularly with the first half. However, I would like to say full credit to Peterborough Sports. I thought they were fantastic and congratulations to them and their manager. They thoroughly deserved it and did not look out of place.
"I am obviously going to concentrate on us because we were horrendous in the first half but sometimes you have got to give credit to other teams because they set up very well and punished us."
Craig Elliott on the touchline against Peterborough Sports (Image: Tim Hoff)
Elliott guided Shaw Lane to the first round proper of last season's competition but was devastated that there will be no repeat during the current campaign.
"I am absolutely gutted with some of our performances in the first half," continued Elliott.
"We gave away two horrendous goals. Two players should have done a lot better and they have got to be accountable. There is no hiding place when you watch them back. They are two mistakes which should not happen. It gives you an uphill battle.
"Players are not performing, as simple as that. There are players out there who should be better than they are and whether that's me not motivating them or those players not listening to me, they ultimately owe a performance to the fans. Some of the players were well below what is expected.
"We are carrying too many individuals. There are too many players who do not want to be here. They are not putting their bodies on the line. Their body language suggests they want to be elsewhere."
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United's afternoon began to unravel in the 16th minute when former Pilgrims Mark Jones and Lewis Hilliard combined to tee up Moreman to blast the ball home from 18 yards.
The upset was well and truly on 19 minutes later when the Pilgrims failed to clear Hilliard's free-kick and McCammon tucked home the loose ball.
Visiting keeper Lewis Moat was called upon either side of half-time to deny Nicky Walker and Ben Davies, while Ahkeem Rose had an effort kicked off the line by Mitch Griffiths, but the Pilgrims were unable to penetrate a visiting defence for the fourth match in a row.
Gregg Smith was introduced at half-time, having completed his return to the club from Brackley Town the previous day, while David Norris emerged from the bench too for his first United appearance since January 2001.
Pilgrims: Willis, Davies, Jackson, Harris, Middleton, Qualter, Wright, Abbott (Norris 46), Rose (Marriott 67), Walker, Arnold (Smith 46). Subs (not used): Wafula, Johnson, Gough, Margetts.
Attendance: 935.
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