Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
Garforth Town are clearly going in the right direction under Rob Hunter
Rob Hunter has set his sights on securing Garforth Town’s highest placed finish since their return to the NCEL in 2014.
The Miners have never finished higher than 14th in their three seasons back in the NCEL and Hunter is convinced that his “loyal and passionate” players won’t let the campaign “fizzle out” like the previous two.
Garforth ended the 2014/15 season really poorly after losing nine, drawing three and winning just three of their final 15 league games. The Miners then recorded the same statistics at the end of last season.
“The season won’t fizzle out, these lads won’t let it fizzle out,” Hunter told Non League Yorkshire.
“The attitude after the Pickering game was let’s down to training on Tuesday and work hard.
“Since Saturday it has all been about making sure we put in a performance against Bottesford and in the following two home games. There’s a great opportunity to get nine points.
“Heads were down after the Pickering game because we wanted to keep the run going
“But we have ten games left, eight of them are at home and we want to finish strongly. In the summer I predicted that we would finish 11th and that’s still my target.
“If we do it would be a really good achievement as a developing team and club.”
Hunter certainly has a chance of achieving his aim as his team are in buoyant mood, despite the referee-inspired 3-1 defeat at Pickering Town.
Prior to the loss, Garforth had won their previous four league games – the first time such feat had been achieved since the glory days of Steve Nichol, the most successful Garforth manager in recent memory.
Hunter said: “I’ve always said that it was going to take us half a season to get into a position to being able to compete in this Division.
“It is a brand new team. I’ve said before that we have a great bunch of guys and the four victories on the spin have brought a really good feeling back to the club.
“I was really surprised that the club hadn’t won four league games on the spin since 2012.
“For a club as big as Garforth with such great support, I’m surprised you have to go four or five seasons. It is madness really.
“I’m pleased for the owners Brian (Close) and Craig (Bannister) because they put so much work in.
“When you to Worksop and get beat by a few, it hard for them to take when they put so much effort in and it would be nice to repay the faith they have shown in me.”
Weather-permitting, Garforth are due to host Bottesford Town tomorrow.