Thursday: Boston (H) – Play-offs

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RUSS Penn says Harriers are motivated for more success as they begin their play-off campaign against Boston United at Aggborough on Thursday night.

A lengthy season, packing in more than 50 first-team matches, has now reached its climax as the Reds enter the end-of-campaign lottery.

There has already been a great deal achieved. As well as sealing their play-off place, Harriers also captured the attention of the nation thanks to their incredible FA Cup exploits.

Having sampled good days, everyone at Aggborough is eager for more as the Vanarama National League North Play-Off Eliminator against The Pilgrims edges closer.

For Harriers, Boston and the four other play-off teams gunning for glory, promotion is the obvious aim.

Despite that, Penn wants focus to be on Boston alone for now, insisting that’s the only way to clinch the end goal.

“There’s no point looking any further ahead than Thursday night,” he explained. “As it can slap you on the backside very quickly.

“We’re looking to win [on Thursday], we have got our aim and objective over the season and have done that quite comfortably.

“We’ve all felt a little bit of success this year at the football club, and we all want a lot more – this is part of it.

“These are the games as a player and a manager that you want to be a part of, massive, massive games and pressure pot games. I’m really excited for it.”

Thursday night will bring the fourth meeting of the two sides this season.

The ‘regular’ league fixtures netted six points for Harriers, while Boston bagged victory in the FA Trophy meeting in Lincolnshire back in December.

Paul Cox arrived at the Jakemans Community Stadium earlier this term to help keep a promotion challenge on the rails and used all of experience to help push United over the line.

Cox – whose Mansfield Town side pipped Harriers to the National League title nine years ago – saw Boston leap into the top seven thanks to an invaluable last-day victory over Farsley Celtic.

That came after a key run of one defeat in seven league games – a sequence that no doubt helped push them to within touching distance.

Penn added of the visitors to Aggborough: “They have had a funny old season; they got rid of the Manager and brought Paul in, he has done his job, but probably hasn’t stamped his full authority on the team just yet,

“He has got plenty of experience being at the top end of the table, whatever club he’s been at.

“He’ll come here expecting them to win like I expect us to win, and that’s what’s going to make it a good game.

“All the teams in the play-offs are there for a reason – because they deserve to be. They’re the seven best teams in the league this year.

“It goes into knockout football now and we’re really looking forward to it.”

With Danny Elliott high on the goal scoring charts in National League North this season, it’s not hard to see where some of Boston’s key qualities lie.

Penn insists they have strength throughout, saying: “They’ve got good players all over the park.

“The front two are lively and they’ve scored over 40 goals between them, Danny Elliott and Jake Wright.

“I’ve played with Jake and he’s a livewire. He’s come back from injury and looks sharp. They’ve got experience in midfield and definitely at the back, so we’ve got to be ready for it.”

Harriers will hope to head into the game with very few injury concerns going into the clash.

Supporters are reminded that they should purchase their match tickets in advance of travelling to the game.

At the time of writing, there is limited availability of tickets in some areas, so please check and make purchases as early as possible to avoid any possible disappointed.

You can pre-order your copy of Thursday’s Play-Off programme (for postage) now.

We would ask all supporters to support the team in the right way in the play-offs, keeping the safety and enjoyment of all other supporters in mind.

It is a criminal offence to enter the field of play at any time before, during or after the fixture.

Kick-off at Aggborough on Thursday is at 7:45pm.

 

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