Toolstation NCEL Division One
Knaresborough Town manager Paul Stansfield
Paul Stansfield says that Knaresborough Town are punching above their weight, if budgets are anything to go by.
Knaresborough climbed to second prior to the 1-0 defeat to Eccleshill United last Saturday, a result that ended their six match unbeaten run.
“The run we have been on has been phenomenal because of the injuries we have been dealing with,” Stansfield said.
“The players shave been great and I can’t fault them. Last Saturday (the 1-0 defeat to Eccleshill) showed how far we have come when we can have nine players missing and lose 1-0 to a side that will be up there.
“We’re not big guns, if you compare budgets. We’re definitely over-achieving budgets-wise.
“But I think the players we have got are good enough to match anybody in this league.”
Stansfield’s squad has been weakened by eight injuries to key players Colin Heath, Fraser Lancaster, Paul Atkinson, Jim Bradley, Ben Parkes, Tom Woolard, Matt Donnelly and Connor Donoghue.
Some may return for the visit of AFC Emley tomorrow, but Stansfield admits that it has been difficult.
“We had a massive squad at the start of the season, but it is just being tested at the moment,” he added.
“I don’t see the need to bring anyone completely new in. We lost Toby Lees to Harrogate Railway, but we got Simon Parkes.
“Then to replace Toby at right-back, we’ve had Jack Powis, who is only 18, playing there. I used to teach him for five or six years.
“As a club we are also about bringing players through and developing them.”