"I've never lost faith in him!" Why Craig Elliott backed Jake Wright to bring Boston United glory
Craig Elliott has praised the battling qualities of Jake Wright after the striker helped Boston United book their place in the National League North play-off final.
Wright scored twice and won two penalties as the Pilgrims beat Gateshead 5-3 at York Street at the weekend, a constant thorn in the side of Heed player-manager Mike Williamson, who conceded both spot kicks.
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The forward's selection was at the expense of 13-goal attacker Dominic Knowles, Frank Mulhern and Jordan Nicholson, who made his debut off the bench.
"I had to play him, he's been the best trainer by a mile," Elliott said of the energetic forward, who has missed large chunks of the campaign due to injury.
"He knows he's had a disappointing season but I've never lost faith in him.
"I know what he can do. I talked to him about unsettling Williamson as much as he could do, and I thought he did that.
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"He (Williamson) an ex-Premier league player who's been doing very well, and he didn't want to mark Jake because Jake is just a handful."
Elliott may have given Wright the thumbs up for his headline-stealing performance, but the whole team were given credit for the way they approached the return to action.
Elliott added: "Gateshead are a good team, a full-time team, and they pass the ball really well.
"Our lads are training, going to work full time. I've absolutely hammered them at training this month, like a full time outfit.
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"It's been difficult and not once did they moan. At the end you couldn't tell who the full-time team was."
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