MICHAEL LEARY moved into contention to answer Boston United's midfield conundrum after appearing in last night's 2-2 draw at Stamford.
The former Grimsby Town player is on trial with the Pilgrims after being released by Mariners bosses Rob Scott and Paul Hurst at the end of last season.
Leary is on the lookout for a non-league club close to his home in Louth and played in Gainsborough Trinity's 8-0 victory over Brigg Town on Saturday.
The Pilgrims are looking to recruit a central midfielder in the wake of Anthony Church's departure, plus Danny Sleath's call-up to the Great Britain World Student Games squad, which has ruled him out of United's first four games of the season.
Leary was joined in a three-man midfield by two more trialists, ex-Mansfield man Curtis Shaw and Adam Millson.
"We only spoke to Michael today and he agreed to come down, which was brilliant," said joint-boss Lee Canoville.
"I thought he was excellent. Curtis Shaw is someone me and Jason (Lee) know a little bit about and Milly (Millson) got a good 90 minutes under his belt as well.
"We changed our system and I thought the three of them did very well.
"We'll speak to them and see what their plans are and tell them what our plans are. We'll see what happens.
"We would love to have as many (players) as we could, but obviously we won't be able to get everyone that we want.
"But we do need a central midfielder to come in, there's no secret about that.
"We've got some decisions to make. I'm sure we'll get the right person or the right people in."
Kevin Austin, Kevin Holsgrove and Lee Canoville were rested for last night's game.
With Saturday's glamour friendly with Premier League Wigan looming, the trio were not risked against the Evo-Stik Division One (South) outfit.
However, Boston showed few signs of missing the influential threesome in the early stages as they took an eighth minute lead through Ryan Semple, who was playing on the right side of a three-pronged attack.
After Stamford failed to clear, the former Peterborough winger lashed the ball past keeper Gavin Saxby.
United continued their lively start when Millson, after a brilliant first touch, rattled the post with a left-foot volley.
Harry Deane then headed inches wide following a marauding run from Semple as the Pilgrims continued to press.
However, the visitors' good early work was undone when Stamford levelled in the 24th minute through Dean Oliver. With his back to goal, Oliver spun and planted an exquisite low shot beyond Ricky Drury.
However, the Pilgrims restored their lead in the 32nd minute, again through the dangerous Semple, who was clearly relishing his more advanced role.
After a cross from Shaw dropped to him on the edge of the box, Semple fired home first time.
The Pilgrims introduced another trialist at half-time, Montserrat international Jaylee Hodgson, fresh from scoring his third goal for his country in a World Cup qualifying defeat to Belize.
Nottingham-born Hodgson, who also played in last week's friendly at Arnold, replaced Deane on the left side of the attack.
The former Heanor frontman went close to extending Boston's lead early in the second half, but screwed a volley wide of the near post.
After a spate of substitutions, the game appeared to be petering out until Stamford grabbed an astonishing equaliser 11 minutes from time.
From Sam Mullarkey's clever pass, Danny Barratt took aim from fully 40 yards and beat Drury with a perfectly placed lob.
Gary King then forced a pair of saves from Drury as the Daniels threatened to grab a winner in the closing stages.
PILGRIMS: Drury, Fairclough (Sturman 76), Ward, Parker, Field (Jelleyman 53), Millson, Leary, Shaw (Hall 65), Semple (Odgen 65), Suarez, Deane (Hodgson 46) Sub not used: Stones.
