Golcar following the positive start to the new year, strolling past Route One Rovers in the County Cup, knew it was important to make sure to carry the many positives of that display into the league campaign.

A league campaign which has been tinged with tentativeness since the start of November, leading to an alarming-looking league table.

Key to that victory in Bradford during midweek was the aggression and effort of Joe Skarz's players, which he was surely hopeful to see more of.

But a slow start led to the hosts taking the lead through the diminutive Sam Barker. A dinked ball over the top was met with intensity by the number ten, before he rolled past a powerless Harry Stead in the Golcar goal.

And you couldn't say they didn't deserve it.

Golcar struggled to get up to the speed of the game with the ball as well, regularly squandering possession, on a pitch very different to what they faced on Tuesday. This one muddy and slippy, Tuesday's dry and sticky.

Those pilgriming Weavers fans felt aggrieved when the referee awarded Knaresborough Town a penalty, just past the half hour mark, for a supposed push off the ball in the penalty area, following a free-kick.

Jack Lazenby stepped up to calmly slot into the bottom right corner, launching his side into a two-goal lead.

Our high-scoring duo up-front had rarely seen the ball thus far but quality strikers don't need to see the ball too often to hit the back of the net. Exemplified by our top-scoring number nine George Doyle with his first clear chance of the half, chesting down a ball over the top before nudging past an onrushing Edward Hall in the Knaresborough net.

That goal perhaps eased a tense half-time team talk. The Weavers fortunate to be within one of the hosts.

A much improved performance was needed to have any chance to bring points back to The Skye Direct- and it was.

A couple of half-time changes seemed to inject life into the team.

Straight away Rico's corners caused problems. An early one in the second half flashing right across the six-yard box but not turned home by anyone.

Despite the good second half start, a big save from Steady was needed to keep it at three, as former Golcar man Slater Barnes-Cook ripped a shot goalwards.

Golcar had Knaresborough camped in their own half for decent chunks of the second period.

Other chances for goal-scorer midweek Ashley Flynn and Rico Kilbourn were either wide of the target or blocked, as pressure began to build.

That balloon was stamped on by Samuel Leverett who put the nail in the coffin with an inch-perfect free-kick with ten to go, a goal well-deserving of the win.

And that's what it made sure of, a 4-1 defeat for The Weavers placing us just above the relegation places following wins for Albion Sports and Rossington Main.

We face Rossington on Tuesday night in our first league game of the year back at home and it's quickly become a hugely important night.

Big thank you to all the travelling fans yesterday and see if you can get down to The Skye Direct for that crucial fixture, to give the boys all the support they need!

Up The Village!