NCEL: Improving Knaresborough Town out to end Clipstone run

Knaresborough Town's Will Lenehan (Craig Dinsdale)

Will Lenehan’s 14th minute header separated the sides as Boro won for the first time since beating Glasshoughton Welfare 2-1 on August 18.

The victory lifted Town up to 17th in NCEL Division One and gave them a confidence boost ahead of Saturday’s clash with so far unbeaten Clipstone.

Davey said: “I was pleased with the result and it showed that we were going in the right direction.

“But there’s still more to come. Hopefully, we have turned a corner.”

Clipstone have a perfect record in the league this campaign with seven wins, but Davey insisted there was nothing to fear on the trip to Mansfield.

Boro have a strong record over their high-flying rivals in past encounters and the manager said they would draw confidence from their 3-1 win away last season.

“It is always an awkward tie,” he said.

“They have won all seven games this year and they are going to be a difficult one.

“But as I always say, we will give anybody a game. We are not bothered about them. We will take it as it comes.

“It’s a good time to go and play Clipstone with them at the top of the league. There’s nothing to lose.”

Davey accredited the turn in fortunes at Manse Lane to a spirited final 20 minutes in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at home to Bottesford on Saturday, which saw Town playing the final embers of the game with nine men.

Graham Whitehead had pulled Town back it at 2-1 before Liam Tuck was shown a second yellow card and hot-headed forward Colin Heath was also dismissed for an alleged head-butt following the decision.

Heath’s dismissal will come as a big blow to the management with the targetman just returning to fitness following an injury.

Davey has been trying to bring in forwards to supplement the former Manchester United youngster.

And a possible three-game suspension will only heighten the search for new forwards. But Davey said Boro will cope with the striker’s absence.

“It’s something we have to deal with,” he said.

“We have had the last two weeks with dealing with a lack of players so we will have to do it again.”

Meanwhile, The reserves went down 3-1 at Brighouse Old Boys after conceding three times in the first half.

Sam Cook pulled a goal back after the break to record his second of the week, but the deficit was far too much to overcome.

Jeff Wells’ men take on Wetherby Athletic at Manse Lane (2.30pm) on Saturday.