Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
Rob Hunter has hailed Knaresborough Town’s “dream start” to the new season.
Knaresborough have set off like an express train after winning their two league games against Barton Town and Hemsworth Miners Welfare – alongside the FA Cup defeat of Northallerton Town.
“I looked at what we had and I fancied us to beat Northallerton,” Hunter told Non League Yorkshire.
“We went there in pre-season with half a team and drew 1-1.
“I went to watch Hemsworth on Tuesday night (against Barton) and their best two players didn’t play against us.
“The number 11 (Kane Swinburn) went off injured (against Barton) with ten minutes to go and the number nine (Layton Swaine) who was probably their best player on night went to Pontefract on Friday night.
“I looked at Hemsworth’s performance against Barton and I thought ‘we’re better than them” and I thought we could move the ball better than them and create more opportunities.
“Those two results are not a surprise.
“I think we got away with it at Barton.
“In terms of an attacking team we took one chance from three or four opportunities whereas Barton had 60% of the possession and probably deserved something out of the game.
“To get two wins out of two in the league, I would say is a little fortunate but I think we’re a good team and I think we’ll cause some teams problems.
“I don’t think anybody is going to come to Knaresborough and have an easy ride.
“(The start) sends a good message out and it is nice for the supporters.
“Knaresborough always get 150 to 200 down here in all weathers so to win in the FA Cup last week and to get a 4-0 win at home this week is fantastic for them and the whole club.
“It is a dream start and we have got a good enough squad to keep it going.
“We have another tough fixture on Tuesday away at Goole and everyone knows it is never an easy place to go to.”
The only negative from the 4-0 battering of Hemsworth is the loss of captain Ben Parkes who limped off injured in the first half.
“We have lost Ben Parkes (who went off injured against Hemsworth) and he’s going to be out for a couple of weeks with a hamstring problem, maybe four weeks,” he said.
“That’s where your squad comes in and make sure you have the right players to fill in the position.
“Ben’s is a unique position because he has been playing in the four role and whilst our full-backs have got high and wide he’s been sitting in there almost as a centre-half.
“So Ben has been particularly important to what we have been doing so it is a big loss but it means other players have to step up to the plate to fill the void.”
If you have enjoyed reading Non League Yorkshire over the past few months, please consider making a donation to the not-for-profit organisation NLY Community Sport which provides sport for children and adults with disabilities and learning difficulties. CLICK HERE to visit the JustGiving page. There is a video at the bottom of the page showing our work.
NLY Community Sport, run by James Grayson and Connor Rollinson, has always had combatting social isolation at the top of our objectives when running our Disability Football teams.
Our work is playing an important role in reintroducing our players, who have disabilities and learning difficulties, back into society.
We have six teams, a mixture of Junior and Adult teams – Nostell MW DFC, Pontefract Pirates, Selby Disability Football Club and the South Yorkshire Superheroes (Barnsley) – across Yorkshire.
We have enjoyed great success over the past three years. Several of our players have represented Mencap GB in Geneva, including Billy Hobson from Selby and Greg Smith, whose story is quite inspiring.
You can learn more about the organisation HERE and on our Facebook page.
Watch the video below to see highlights from our three years as an organisation. The video was produced for our players at the end of March to remind them of good memories from the last three years.