Boston United
- Boston United have won two and lost two of their five pre-season friendlies (W2, D1, L2).
- Boston United FC finished in a comfortable 12th place in the National League 2025-26 campaign which was completed earlier this year and Paul Hurst's squad will be looking to build upon that solid foundation this time around.
- United boss Hurst is something of a footballing chameleon and will surely have prepared his men to play with a medium-high press and enough discipline to play in a back three or back four, depending on circumstances.
- The Pilgrims' goal threat seems to lie around the front-line Tom Cursons, who bagged a hat-trick at Scunthorpe in 2025-26 and carried that form into the new campaign by finishing off a number of chances with ease.
- Cursons' predatory instincts make him the main threat to the Aldershot Town defence, but Jake Rooney and Jordy Hiwula bring bite, experience, movement and late-game threat around him.
Aldershot Town
- The Shots finished around 19th-20th place in 2025-26 National League with 46 points and the season-opener away at Boston will be a good test of how much progress Scott Davies' men have made over the summer.
- Davies' side have lost just one of their previous five friendly matchups (W4, L1) and he has certainly brought a pressing, set-piece style to the club that his new-look side have shown in their compact shape and rapid transitions so far.
- Tristan Abrahams brings pace and direct running, while Brody Peart and Marcus Wyllie have added goals and energy to a team that has been looking pretty tidy at the back in pre-season.
Head-to-Head
Boston United lead the head-to-head in National League games played since 2024 by 2-1 (W2, D1, L1).
Key Players
- The Pilgrims' goal threat seems to lie around the front-line Tom Cursons, who bagged a hat-trick at Scunthorpe in 2025-26 and carried that form into the new campaign by finishing off a number of chances with ease.
- Jake Rooney and Jordy Hiwula bring bite, experience, movement and late-game threat around him.
- Tristan Abrahams brings pace and direct running, while Brody Peart and Marcus Wyllie have added goals and energy to a team that has been looking pretty tidy at the back in pre-season.
Betting Insights
- Boston have the home-field advantage and their head-to-head lead since 2024, but we're going to take the draw at 3.42 to be the most likely outcome.
- Over 2.5 goals at 1.67 seems to fit the vibe of a tight National League opener.
Prediction
A 1-1 draw would make for a fair opening game result, but our lean towards a Boston win is because of their home advantage and a suspicion that Davies' Aldershot team might just lose control at some point in the second half and fall to a 2-1 loss .
