Toolstation NCEL Division One
- League leaders Hemsworth head to sixth-place Bottesford Town tonight before the trip to Hull United on Saturday.
- Wayne Benn’s men could potentially go 16 points clear of third-place by Saturday night.
- Club captain Jason Yates and full-back Adam Wilson are back available for Hemsworth.
Hemsworth Miners Welfare captain Jason Yates (left) is available for the trip to Bottesford Town tonight.
Wayne Benn has played down the importance of his side’s next two fixtures, although the Hemsworth Miners Welfare manager insists his team are aiming to stretch their lead at the top with maximum points.
The league leaders are heading to promotion rivals Bottesford Town this evening, four days on since prodigal son Nick Guest scored twice deep into injury-time to down Grimsby Borough.
Depending on whether Hull United can find a suitable ground in time, Hemsworth travel to play Curtis Woodhouse’s third-placed side on Saturday.
“There is too much football to be played to get carried away,” Benn said when asked if both matches were six-pointers. “We know Bottesford and Hull away are going to pose very difficult tests for us.
“You can look at it two ways. Hull and Bottesford will see it as an opportunity to close gap on us, but if we were to win those two games it would put a bigger gap between us and third place.
“That really has to be our aim. We have to keep ticking the games off and keep performing like we have done for most parts of the season. While you have the attacking options that we have then you are always going to have a chance.
“We are targeting two wins from these next two games, albeit we know it is going to be a massive effort and really difficult to do it. But, there is far too much football to be played to start thinking ‘what are you going to do if you don’t get maximum points in these next two games’?”
Benn has captain Jason Yates and full-back Adam Wilson available again after the pair missed the drama of the Grimsby clash – a game that was lucky to take place. Frost wiped out most of the Non League schedule in the Evo Stik League and NCEL, but Hemsworth gave their pitch a chance and it paid off for them.
“It was initially difficult to assess the pitch because 80% of the pitch was perfectly playable,” Benn added. “Obviously where the building is, it never gets any sun. It was a gamble and if we had got beat, it wouldn’t paid off.
“Five or six of us came up to look at the pitch and we all agreed that by kick off time it would be playable. In my mind there was only a six-yard by six yard area that was touch and go. We warmed up on it and softened it and credit to the referee because I think he was sensible by giving it every opportunity.
“We must thank him for that. We didn’t want to drag Grimsby over unnecessarily. We had that done to us against Hall Road Rangers last year and it is not nice. It was worthwhile getting it on and good numbers turned up again. To see those celebrations, it makes you proud.”