Hemsworth manager Wayne Benn says his side have to put a better display in against Bottesford
Wayne Benn says second-placed Hemsworth Miners Welfare have to raise their performance levels if they want to extend their unbeaten run to 18 games tomorrow.
Benn was deeply unhappy with the display in the easy 4-1 win at Selby Town in midweek in a game that was over at half-time.
Toolstation NCEL Division One side Hemsworth are due to host fellow promotion-chasers Bottesford Town tomorrow and Benn is demanding an improvement.
He said: “The result (at Selby) was fantastic because it is three points on our tally and three points to where we want to be, but in terms of the performance, the attitude, the commitment, it was a million miles away from what we have shown.
“We have been a bit bity and a bit scrappy with our performances of late and I know not playing for three-and-half weeks doesn’t help.
“I’ve never seen my side give the ball away as much under no pressure. They didn’t do what I asked them to do when we had the ball and I think a 15 minute spell in the first half got us what looked like a comfortable victory.
“I was far from impressed from what I saw and they had some stern words as regards going forward because that performance isn’t going to be good enough against the best teams in this division.
“We think we’re one of them and if we want to be one of them then we have to perform better than that – it is as simple as that.
“If we play like that against Bottesford, we’ll get beat. I’m not expecting a performance like that tomorrow.
“I’m confident that we are more than capable of winning that game at home.”
Surprise package Hemsworth are one point behind leaders AFC Emley, but only a few points separate the top six teams.
Hemsworth have all their rivals to play and Benn added: “I still think there are five or six teams in it.
“Mansfield are on a great run and anybody from up to sixth or seventh are still in because there are too many games left and too many points available to rule anyone out.
“It is going to be tight and we’re confident and hope to be in the mix at the end of it. It could come down to results in and around us because we have to play Emley, Clipstone home and away, Pontefract, Mansfield.
“They are all tough games, but if we play to our potential, we’re capable of winning every game.”