Hemsworth manager Wayne Benn says he hasn’t thought about promotion
It is far too early to even start discussing the ‘p’ word, according to Wayne Benn, manager of high-flying Hemsworth Miners Welfare.
Last Saturday’s 3-1 win at fifth-placed Pontefract Collieries guided Hemsworth to just six points behind the coveted top two spots in the Toolstation NCEL Division One table.
Hemsworth are unbeaten in seven league games, ahead of a home game with Rossington Main tomorrow and Benn insists that his side are keeping their feet on the ground and not thinking about possibly winning promotion.
“The result at Pontefract gave a statement out to say we’re not going away and we can be in around the promotion places,” Benn told Non League Yorkshire.
“I’m not saying we are going to get promoted or finish in the top four. I’m just saying that if we can get a level of consistency then there will a lot of teams who will fear us and be vary of us.
“Promotion has not been talked about or mentioned in the dressing room. We know what we have got and how we want to play and know that when we play how we want then we are a real threat.
“Some of the football we have played this season has been outstanding. But pitches are now getting bumpier so maybe we are going to have adapt a little bit.
“Although we have only lost a few games and Emley, Clipstone, Ponte are strong and going to be there or there abouts, I’ve not seen a better team than us when we are at our best.
“The two defeats we have suffered we were well below our best.
“Looking at the league tables and looking at the opposition in November and December, we should hopefully be in a group of fixtures where we should keep adding points.
“Eccleshill away will be tough. But then we have teams in the bottom six or seven and it is important we take maximum points.
“But, without getting above our station and taking liberties thinking things are going to be easy, it is about guarding against complacency.
“It is too early to start talking about promotion, we have only played 16 games. I wouldn’t start talking about promotion if we were top of the league in January.
“All I’m saying if we can be in and around the top five teams at the turn of the year and keep people fit and in the form they are in at the minute, we are going to be up there and be a threat.”
Benn’s young charges have lost just twice in the league since the campaign began.
Their form mirrors the tremendous run of results at the end of last season which accumulated in the incredible performance which nearly denied Shaw Lane Aquaforce promotion.
Hemsworth spent the summer building up their fitness with friendlies with sides like Farsley AFC, Guiseley, Ossett Albion and Frickley Athletic and the hard work has paid dividends.
“It came together literally from the end of pre-season,” former Bradford (Park Avenue) captain Benn said.
“We put a pre-season programme knowing potentially we might not win a game. Everyone we played were a league or two above us.
“We knew it would be difficult and the players would have to put in a lot of effort in during pre-season and although the results were mixed, what we got was the fitness.
“We started the season really well. The opening day draw with Teversal was a disappointment was because we were far superior.
“Since then the players have been outstanding. They started slowly to start to believe that on their day that no-one is better than them in this league.”
Benn admits there is still room for improvement, despite their tremendous start.
But he can’t hide his admiration for his players.
Benn added: “What we have to stride to do is get a bit more consistency. Two or three times we have given away winning positions and ended up drawing a game we should have won.
“Over the course of the season so far, we have sacrificed about eight points through sloppiness and conceding late goals.
“It is something that we need to be careful of and try and put right.
“If we defend properly, we’re going to score goals. We’re the highest scorers in the league.
“We just have to get the balance right.
“I can’t praise them enough. To only lose two games in 16 games, coming from where we finished the season last year, is a magnificent effort by everybody.
“The result at Pontefract gave a statement out to say we’re not going away and we can be in around the promotion places.
“I’m not saying we are going to get promoted or finish in the top four. I’m just saying that if we can get a level of consistency then there will a lot of teams who will fear us and be vary of us.”