Golden boot winner Southwell sets sights on Ferriby

Hotshot Dayle Southwell says Boston United have nothing to fear ahead of their play-off double header against North Ferriby.
Dayle Southwell.Dayle Southwell.
Dayle Southwell.

The striker claimed a hat-trick at Stalybridge Celtic on Saturday to finish on 24 goals, the joint top National League North scorer alongside AFC Fylde’s Danny Rowe.

And after fulfilling his ambition of finishing top of the scoring charts, he is now gunning for promotion.

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“We’re the form team going into the play-offs, unbeaten in the last six games,” he pointed out.

“They should be scared of us.”

Reflecting on his hat-trick, his first of the campaign and fourth for United, and golden boot, Southwell added: “It feels good, about time I bagged a hat-trick.

“I wanted to win it, but joint’s just as good really, isn’t it.”

Boston finished the league season fifth in the standing, with opponents Ferriby second.

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Fylde claimed third and Harrogate finished a point above the Pilgrims in the feared fourth spot.

Indeed, some believe that fourth-placed is jinxed in this division’s play-offs as no team has ever claimed promotion after finishing in that spot.

From the 11 years the play-offs have been operational, fifth spot has won promotion six times, second four times and third once.

Boston manager Dennis Greene, however, isn’t thinking about superstition.

He is more concerned about getting beyond the Villagers.

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He said: “They score a lot of goals, they’re a strong side and have been together a long time.

“They won the FA Trophy last year and Billy (Heath, manager) has done a great job there.”

Ferriby have held the upper hand in recent meetings.

The Pilgrims and Villagers have met six times in league and FA Trophy action in the past two seasons, with Ferriby winning five and drawing one.

However, the only time the two sides have previously met in a play-off contest, Boston came out on top.

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Goals from Marc Newsham and Jamie Yates earned a 2-1 victory in 2010’s one-legged semi-final, which saw the Pilgrims go on to earn promotion from the UniBond Premier.

United will unveil their new home and away strips, which will be worn next season, in tonight’s match programme.

You will also be able to see them by logging on to www.bostonstandard.co.uk tomorrow.