NCEL: Injury crisis frustrating Knaresborough Town bosses

Davey sent out an inexperienced side to face Clipstone on Saturday and, despite a resilient display, the home team extended their 100 per cent record with a 2-0 victory.

Goals in each half from Steve Carty and Matt Austin condemned Davey’s side to their fifth defeat in the league this month and leaves them 18th in NCEL Division One.

They then went out of the West Riding County Cup 2-1 at Garforth Town on Tuesday, a team Town beat en route to their NCEL League Cup glory last year.

Knaresborough are currently without five first-team forwards, including Colin Heath and former Leeds United man Seb Carole, and have only managed three goals in their last eight games.

Davey said: “Whenever we think there’s a few injured players to come back just around the corner we pick up another few knocks and the list keeps on growing. I have never known a period like it.

“We’re speaking to as many managers around us but it’s very hard to bring in players.

“We’ve been speaking to Harrogate Town and Railway and they’ve been really helpful but they need players themselves because they’re still in cup competitions.”

Town’s reserve side have also been affected by the growing injury list in their first season in the West Yorkshire Premier.

After a strong start to the season, the Reserves have struggled to cope with the departure of key players and are without a win in their last five, including a 2-1 loss at Wetherby Athletic on Saturday.

Reserves manager Jeff Wells added: “This is the problem with being a reserve team as we regularly have to top the first team up.

“This weekend we had to start with two 17-year-olds up front.”