- Team form: Boston United were solid and secure in the second half of 2025-26.
- Final points: Aldershot Town finished on around 46 points.
- Head-to-head: Boston United have won 2 of their last 4 National League meetings with Aldershot (2 wins, 1 draw).
Pilgrims can plough their own furrow
Boston United outlook
Boston United FC finished 12th in the National League in 2025-26, but that was still a few steps behind the play-off places and the club is ready for another crack at promotion this season. Paul Hurst's side have brought in some new faces to add bite to the Pilgrims, including Jake Rooney, while Jordy Hiwula offers the same sort of qualities to Hurst's team. There is a lot to like about his Boston side, which will operate on a medium-high press and can transition quickly between a back three and back four.
There is plenty to like about their pre-season record, which includes a 1-0 win over Peterborough United, but the 2-1 win over Alfreton Town is probably the best indicator of what we will see in 2026-27. United are tidy and organised – with an ability to grind things out – but not spectacular. However, they did lose 1-0 to Lincoln City and 3-2 to Chesterfield, so they will create chances and can be breached if the opposition is able to get a grip on the game.
Aldershot Town outlook
Aldershot Town finished in a cluster of four teams on around 19-20th place in the completed 2025-26 National League and three points on the board for either of these clubs would be a massive statement on Saturday. Scott Davies has introduced a more pressing game with a set-piece emphasis to The Shots since taking over at the start of this year. Charlie Patmore has been a great acquisition in goal and has helped his new club keep several clean sheets in pre-season, which tells us that this is a compact unit that has been organised well.
Both sides will get chances
Aldershot to win at 3.26 is a terrific odds considering they have won four of their last five friendlies (1 defeat), but Boston are the 2.0 favourites to win this fixture at Jakemans Community Stadium so it is perhaps the draw at 3.42 that makes the most appeal.
In the overall odds, both teams to score is a shorter price than no, but over 2.5 goals at 1.67 fits the feeling of a competitive season opener with chances for both sides. Boston have a home advantage, but Aldershot are coming in on the back of a much better pre-season programme, so a 1-1 tie or a slender 2-1 home win is the natural result.
Their National League games since 2024 have been tight affairs with 3 of the 4 producing at least three goals, including a 3-2 away win for Boston in August 2025. This game will be played in a different style with Boston operating on the counter-attack more than they did back then, but the two clubs will be keen to establish their authority. Hurst's men will use a controlled build-up, while Davies' men will look to be wider and more vertical.
- Tom Cursons looks like Boston's main danger man after his hat-trick at Scunthorpe and his run of goals.
- Abrahams provides pace and directness from wide areas, while Hiwula and Rooney can add experience, movement and late-game threat around Cursons.
