Knaresborough Town a 'joy to watch' but fail to take their chances during FA Vase loss to Bishop Auckland FC
Simon Parkes described his Knaresborough Town side as “a joy to watch” but admitted that they were not ruthless enough in front of goal following Saturday’s FA Vase exit.
The men from Manse Lane suffered a 3-1 home defeat to a strong Bishop Auckland outfit in the competition’s second qualifying round stage.
Having begun the game brightly but failed to take their chances, Boro found themselves two goals down at the interval and facing a mountain to climb.
Auckland added a third after the interval, and although Alex Ingham eventually pulled one back late on, Parkes was left to wonder what might have been.
“They have given us a little bit of a lesson in counter-play after our start and a first half an hour where I think we will have surprised them,” the Knaresborough boss said.
"We gave a great account of ourselves and some of the football we played was a joy to watch.
"Some of the link-up play in the final third was great, but we missed a hell of a lot of chances in the first 30-35 minutes. And that was the difference today.
"Auckland are a great team, they will certainly be the main title contenders in the Northern League, but it’s frustrating because we have definitely left a couple [of goals] out there in the first half.
"We then had five minutes of madness where we conceded the first goal, then gifted them another one, and it was always going to be an uphill battle from there.”
Slater Barnes, Nathan Cartman and Jack Degruchy all forced saves from Auckland goalkeeper Shane Bland early on, while Jack Dyche headed over following a Sam Leverett corner as Knaresborough pressed hard for the opening goal.
But, they were left reeling when Luke Williams handed the visitors a 25th-minute lead from their first chance of any note.
Things got worse for Boro seven minutes later as possession was surrendered in midfield and Craig Moody cut inside off the left to make it 2-0.
The hosts continued to create opportunities, and threatened again as the interval approach through Barnes and Cartman.
Barnes and Leverett both came close for Town after half-time, however it was Auckland who netted the game’s all-important next goal when Arron Thompson pounced on a loose ball at a corner.
Knaresborough eventually made the breakthrough their overall play had warranted when Aaron White sent over a cross for fellow substitute Ingham to head home at the far post on 82 minutes.
Any hopes of a late fightback were however extinguished fairly swiftly as Boro centre-half Will Lenehan was sent off for a second bookable offence.
This Saturday, Parkes and his men return to NCEL Premier Division action when they entertain Horbury Town (3pm).