NCEL: No home comforts for Knaresborough Town

NAKP 1410044AM1 Knaresborough Town striker Seb Carole (1410044AM1)

Knaresborough Town suffered their seventh consecutive home defeat in all competitions as they were convincing beaten 3-0 by Hemsworth Miners Welfare on Tuesday.

Nicholas Guest’s goal after 27 minutes separated the sides at half time before Andrew Hayward doubled the visitor’s lead on the hour mark.

Guest grabbed his second two minutes to put the game beyond Brian Davey’s men and means his side have failed to win a home game since their opening day victory over Hallam.

Davey’s side have picked up just one point from their last six home games in Division One of the Northern Counties Eastern League, conceding 16 goals and scoring five.

Only 89 fans turned up to watch the defeat, a record low for the season after attracting 201 supporters for their opening home fixture.

Town’s fortunes on the road have been far better, however, gaining 13 of their 17 league points away from Manse Lane including a 3-2 victory over Lincoln Moorlands Railway on Tuesday.

Davey said that he spoke to his side before their game on Tuesday about cutting out ‘silly mistakes’ and was pleased with his side’s performance.

He said: “We had a big chat before the game about keeping mistakes to a minimum. If we play our own football then the confidence will come back.

“I sat the lads down before the game and told them that, if we do make a mistake, don’t spend the next five minutes thinking about it. Everyone agreed and we seemed to play a bit more relaxed.

“We went 2-1 up but almost gave the game away by conceding a penalty after 71 minutes but we didn’t let our heads go down and Mitch (Hamilton) scored in the last game.

“Sometimes when things are going against you, they just keep happening but it’s only us that can stop it.”

Mitch Hamilton’s brace made it nine goals in his first five appearances for Town and Davey said that the 17-year-old had taken the pressure off everybody’s shoulders.

He said: “To score in the 90th minute was fantastic. We are all looking at a 17-year-old to help us and he’s slotted in so quickly and it really relaxed people.

“We want goals from everywhere on the pitch. If we can share the goals out that would be better but Mitch is just a great asset to us.

“You would not believe he’s just 17, as well as Matthew Pascal. They’ve come in and been brilliant for us.”

Davey’s men face 10th places AFC Mansfield at home on Saturday and will be aiming to avoid a sixth consecutive defeat in front of their supporters.