Simply the best! Boston United chairman David Newton praises squad for giving York Street a final farewell

"Outstanding. Brilliant. The best."

Boston United chairman David Newton wasn't running short on superlatives after his side booked their place in the National League North play-off final with a 5-3 win over Gateshead yesterday.

At the start of the campaign Newton sat down with manager Craig Elliott and the squad, outlining the importance of finishing York Street's final season on a high.

The very last Pilgrims match in the stadium they've called home since 1933 with be Saturday's final against Altrincham. And Newton was full of praise for the side as they took their campaign the very final day.

"It's what we said at the beginning of the season when we sat down together, we all wanted to leave this stadium on a high and we've got an opportunity now," he said.

"I've seen them in training this last few weeks and they've come back fit, they're a really, really good bunch of guys, honest guys.

"They were asked to give everything and that's what they did. We'll do the same next week and we see where that takes us.

"It all comes back to siting down with the players and explaining what the club means to everybody and the history - and that we've got to make history ourselves this season.

"You don't need the best strikers or best defenders, you need the best team. We've got the best team and the best squad, I think."

Having seen his side beaten in play-off semis by Guiseley, Chorley and North Ferriby, Newton admitted he wasn't fully relaxed until the final whistle.

"I feel drained to be honest," he said at full time.

"It's just brilliant. I thought the lads were outstanding to come back from a goal behind. When it pulled back to 2-2 you just though 'ah, here we go'.

"But I just thought the character they showed, they worked themselves into the ground, I'm just so proud of them.

"Even when it was 5-3 with six minutes to go you just think 'what's going to happen?' through history, but I just thought they conrolled the game well, very mature performance, and got what they deserved.

"There was a little bit of luck but I just think it's what they deserved, they've been outstanding all season.

"It's sad we can't have the fans here. There's one or two in the car park (at full time), in their cars, safe, but it would have been brilliant with this place full.

"But we're through and that's all that matters and the lads will now switch on and train hard."

MORE PILGRIMS: 'Embrace it! We've done something special' says manager Elliott.MORE PILGRIMS: How it happened with our liveblog