Boston United saw their difficult winter run continue as Graham Coughlan delivered a blunt assessment of his side’s collapse against Aldershot Town.
United started brightly and were handed a golden opportunity to take control when Lenell John-Lewis stepped up from the spot inside the opening quarter of an hour. His effort was superbly saved by Coniah Boyce-Clarke, and within seconds Aldershot had punished the miss, Ryan Hill finishing off a swift break to put the visitors ahead.
Theo Widdrington doubled the lead shortly after, prodding home from close range following a low corner delivery from James Henry, and from there the contest drifted away from a flat-looking home side.
Coughlan did not shy away from his frustration afterwards, questioning both mindset and application following that early momentum shift.
“I am disappointed, I’m really disappointed. We spoke all week about a fast start and getting the first goal.
“We had a decent start and that was the first 15 minutes. We wanted to continue like that. We miss the penalty and then we become unrecognisable. We just go to pot and lose all focus, concentration and shape.
“The players and the way we played was unrecognisable.”
Boston rarely threatened a route back into the game, despite half-chances for Maguire and John-Lewis, and Aldershot were unfortunate not to extend their lead further when a goal-line decision went in United’s favour midway through the second half.
May as well not come out
The Pilgrims’ boss was particularly critical of the lack of response after the interval.
“We may as well not have come out at all for the second half, it was a no contest. If the mindset is not right it causes no end of problems.
“We had two or three chances in the game and we have got to do better with them. It was a bad day all around, every unit and individual in the team were not at it after the first 15 minutes.”