Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
Knaresborough Town 4-0 Hemsworth Miners Welfare
Sean Hunter scored a hat-trick as Knaresborough Town continued their promising start to the season with the second half demolition of Hemsworth Miners Welfare.
Two Hunter penalties inside six minutes just after the hour mark allowed Knaresborough to seize complete control.
Hemsworth imploded and the striker soon sealed his treble before Jack Carr rounded off the memorable afternoon with a fluke of a goal from his left-wing cross.
New Knaresborough manager Rob Hunter has won both his two league games so far – alongside the FA Cup victory last week – and with the array of attacking talent at his disposal, the designs are there for a positive campaign.
Hemsworth just aren’t getting the luck but it is massive step backwards after the good performance in the midweek draw with Barton Town.
Pre-season was heavily disrupted but the signs were good after two league draws.
But Hemsworth travelled to Knaresborough with an almost threadbare squad – with key men Harry Viggars (ill), Ben Walker, Sidney Santos and Kane Swinburn (injured) unavailable.
Losing upfront talisman Layton Swaine – a major part of the way Hemsworth play – to Pontefract Collieries on Friday was the last thing they needed.
With forward Swinburn also out after limping off against Barton, it meant Connor Brunt and player/joint manager Luke Danville had to lead the line.
Centre-half Danville made some intelligent runs but ultimately was unable to re-create his previous prolific form as a striker.
Knaresborough were the dominant side in the first half.
Calum Ward had a header disallowed for offside and another golden opportunity cleared off-the-line.
Other chances followed and Knaresborough must have feared rueing the misses with the way Hemsworth started the second half.
The Wells were on top for a period of time and went close to breaking the deadlock a couple of times.
Knaresborough managed to win some respite from defending with a couple of corners and free kicks and that led to the opener.
Mitch Hamilton’s left-wing free kick was partially cleared. The ball was played back into the penalty area and Hamilton took control of it and attempted to take on midfielder Sam Tingle.
Both players went down in what looked more like a collision but referee Arran Williams pointed to the spot – much to Hemsworth’s dismay.
Hunter sent goalkeeper Josh Womack the wrong way with a low penalty and Knaresborough never looked back.
Garforth Town legend Mark Simpson, thrown on for his league debut just before the opener, showed shades of his past form by bursting through on goal and getting brought down by Womack for the second penalty.
Hunter chose power on this occasion and Womack had no chance.
Knaresborough were hyper now and causing loads of problems for their visitors.
Hamilton was the provider for the third goal as he raced through and squared for Hunter to blast home from 15 yards – with the help of the deflection.
The fourth goal summed up Hemsworth’s afternoon.
Substitute Carr crossed seemingly harmlessly from the left-side and the ball looped over Womack and into the net.
You’d have thought Carr had scored the winning goal in the FA Cup Final with the celebrations.
Six points from six and Knaresborough march onto play another resurgent side in Goole AFC on Tuesday night.
It only gets tougher for Hemsworth with Sherwood Colliery visiting them on Saturday.
What They Said
Knaresborough Town manager Rob Hunter
“We had probably 70% possession in the first half and had enough to create chances – the chances just didn’t come.
“I don’t think we did too much different in the second half.
“I think we kept the ball better in the final third and the delivery was really good.
“I also think we had a cracking bench with players who could have easily started the game and our substitutions just worked for us.
“The three lads who came off the bench played particularly well.
“The score-line was a little harsh (on Hemsworth) but it could have easily been two or three-nil at half-time.
“They never really looked like they were going to score.”
Hemsworth Miners Welfare joint manager Luke Potter
“We got what we deserved.
“We got to half-time (at 0-0) and we felt in the first 15 minutes (of the second half) we were pushing and getting a foot in the game.
“Then we gave away two penalties. The four goals were sloppy and we have got to better. We’ve been conceding sloppy goals for three weeks.
“Yes we are a mis-matched team today but the back four and midfield was the same from Tuesday’s performance (the 1-1 draw with Barton Town).
“It is not enough.
“A lot of clubs are in the same boat (with player availability).
“Layton went (to Pontefract) yesterday and then there’s Harry (Viggars), Kane (Swinburn) and Ben (Walker) missing – three players from Tuesday night (as Viggars missed that one as well).
“You’re literally scrapping around and we had to put Danville up top just to fill a hole.
“That’s the way pre-season and the season have been.”
The Teams
Knaresborough Town: Hassall, Hall, Creamer (Carr 58), Parkes (captain) (Walker 40), Anderson, Milsom, Rose, Hamilton, Ward (Simpson 62), Dugdale, Hunter. Subs unused: Gregson, Walker.
Hemsworth Miners Welfare: Womack, Dawson (Hebda 68), Jeff (captain), Kenyon (O’Brien 68), Higgins, Cadzow, Wilson, Tingle, Danville, Brunt, Davis. Subs unused: Swinburn, Morton (GK).
Who Was In Charge
Arran Williams (7/10)
How Many Were There
107
Man of the Match
Mitch Hamilton (Knaresborough Town)
