Simon Parkes unable to hide his frustration after Knaresborough Town concede late to lose at Bottesford Town
Simon Parkes was unable to hide his frustration after his Knaresborough Town side conceded a late goal on their way to a 2-1 defeat at Bottesford.
The Manse Lane outfit kicked-off their 2026/27 NCEL Premier Division campaign with an impressive 4-2 win at Thackley, but Saturday’s result means they have now suffered back-to-back losses following their 3-0 reverse at the hands of Frickley Athletic in midweek.
And Parkes said that leaving Leicestershire empty-handed was made all the more galling by the fact his team played well enough to have taken at least a point.
"Bottesford are going to be a force this year, they have recruited strongly. They were coming off the back of a 10-0 win in midweek and we knew it was going to be a decent challenge away from home,” the Boro boss said.
“But we are very frustrated. Obviously conceding in the last five minutes is very tough to take.
“First half it was an even game. We probably started better than them. Second half, we probably edged it, in truth. I think we were the better team and played some decent stuff at times.
"Bottesford rotate exceptionally well in midfield and have good strikers, but I think we contained them for long periods of the game, and that’s why it’s really frustrating and hard for us and the lads to take.
"If we had walked away with a 1-1 draw, I’d have probably said that was a fair result.”
Knaresborough got off to a flying start, taking the lead with just five minutes on the clock through centre-half Will Lenehan’s header from a right-wing Sam Leverett corner.
But, Bottesford grew into the contest and pulled level shortly before half-time when Jack McMenemy nodded home.
Parkes’ men appeared to have been rewarded for a bright second-half display with a second ‘goal’ in the 75th minute, however that effort was ruled out for offside.
And they were then stung on the counter-attack with just four minutes of the regulation 90 remaining as a swift break ended with Jack Varley rounding Edd Hall and slotting into the net.
"For 90 minutes, we have dealt with their threats exceptionally well,” Parkes continued. “So, to concede the way that we did, there is frustration because we could have dealt with it better.
"We had a throw-in in the final third and Bottesford have countered on us and scored, and those sort of mistakes just can’t happen at this level.”
This Saturday, Knaresborough are in FA Cup extra preliminary round action, at home to Whickham (3pm).