Toolstation NCEL Division One
Mick O’Connell has hailed his Harrogate Railway defenders who are the best defence in the whole of the Northern Counties East League.
Railway have only conceded 11 times in 19 league fixtures and at the other end goals are starting to fly in from all angles at Station View as second-placed Railway do their best to keep up with runaway leaders Campion.
Even though his side enjoyed a fantastic campaign last season, O’Connell also feels there is more ammunition in his squad in 2022/23.
“The difference with the team (this year) is we’re creating a lot of chances from midfield, wide areas and the full-backs are very creative and are getting assists,” O’Connell told Non League Yorkshire.
“We’re creating chances from all over the pitch.
“Last year we were creating five chances whereas this year we’re creating ten or 12 and thankfully we’re starting to take those chances into goals.
“On the flip side we’re defending brilliantly as a team.
“The most pleasing thing for me is that we’re up to 11 clean sheets after 19 games.
“We have only conceded 11 goals (in the league) and that’s the most pleasing part.
“Defenders don’t get the credit. I think we have the most clean sheets in our league and the league above and I’ve seen a stat where we are up there with the best Step 6 teams in the country for clean sheets and goals conceded.
“That’s most pleasing for me because I want my teams to be hard to beat.
“I want us to be exciting going forward but teams need to have structure and balance and I think that’s the biggest thing between this year and last – we have a lot more balance and structure.”
One recent signing – Sean Hunter – has also received praise from O’Connell.
“Sean Hunter is flying for us,” he said.
“He has accumulated 60 minutes and scored four goals so once we get him up to speed, a fit and confident Sean Hunter is going to be very good for us in the second half of the season.”
Although Railway are 13 games unbeaten, the task of overhauling Campion remains difficult.
Campion are nine points clear but O’Connell is concentrating on Railway rather than the title race.
“We’re taking it one game at a time and focussing on ourselves,” he said,
“Campion are going to have to slip up for us to even get involved in that race.
“The ball is firmly in Campion’s court.
“You look at the players they have brought in and they have found a way to win games.
“They are scoring a lot of goals.
“Barring a huge mishap and the wheels falling off…nine points is a lot and they haven’t lost three games all year.
“Our next game is the most important game.
“Our first goal was to get to 40 points and we have gone above that.
“Now we want to get out of the Christmas period in a good vein of form.
“If we’re still in the same position in the New Year then we’ll be in a good position to kick on.”