Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
Rob Hunter has tipped his marquee signing Liam Ormsby to shine at Garforth Town this season.
Hunter delighted the club’s supporters earlier this week with the unveiling of midfielder Ormsby, the son of Leeds legend Brendan. He made his playing return in the victory over Penistone Church on Tuesday night.
Former Tadcaster title-winner Ormsby, arguably one of the highest profile signings that Garforth have made in several years, is returning to fitness having recovered from breaking his leg whilst playing for Scarborough Athletic last year.
Hunter believes once as Ormsby is fully fit, he will be a real force to be reckoned with in the Garforth team.
“One of the biggest bonuses of Tuesday night was getting Liam Ormsby on the pitch for half-an-hour,” Hunter told Non League Yorkshire.
“He’s going to be a fantastic asset for us this year and arguably he’s one of our biggest signings of the summer.
“Anybody knows what kind of asset Liam Ormsby is to any team. He’s a brilliant talker. Already in the changing room on Tuesday, you could hear talking and encouraging.
“In the warm-up he was fizzing the ball around. Any team in this league would love to have Liam Ormsby and we’re very lucky that he’s chosen to come and play for us this year.
“Once he gets three or four games under his belt then everybody will know how he can hurt teams.”
Garforth fully deserved to beat Penistone in midweek. Calum Ward and Lee Turner grabbed the goals to back up the 6-0 thrashing of Clipstone on Saturday.
Hunter was delighted with both victories and reserved praise for a number of his players.
“To have two clean sheets after three league games is fantastic, considering we have used four different goalkeepers in the three league and one cup game,” he said.
“It has been a bit messy, but the back four have been outstanding. I’ll single Ryan Donoghue out because there is no more committed player in these situations when you have your backs up against the wall.
“Ryan and Luke McCrum have been outstanding.
“In terms of the Penistone game, our game management was particularly good. Calum (Ward) worked hard in the first half. Despite carrying an injury, he held the ball up for us well.
“He got his goal and when you see his goal on the video, he just wanted it more than they did and that’s what you need from your centre-forward.
“The midfield three (James Beaston, Dan Coupland, Mitch Hamilton) were very good, as they were on Saturday.”
The Miners head honcho has though warned his side not to rest on their laurels ahead of the home clash with Hemsworth Miners Welfare.
“You can say something positive and it can come back to bite you,” he said.
“You have to make sure as a team that you prepare for every single game as if its the most important game of the season.
“I’ve said to the lads, ‘don’t get carried away with two wins in two, enjoy it, but make sure you prepare your bodies properly and come on Saturday with the proper focus to start again’.
“We have to perform at the same level we did against Penistone again when we face Hemsworth.”