IT WAS another season of progress for Kulwinder Sandhu’s Albion Sports but the manager felt that, despite finishing in the top eight, his Lions would have finished even higher barring injuries.

The Albion Lions’ boss was frustrated during the close season as six or seven of his squad from the pervious term had been tempted away by offers from neighbouring clubs.

With pre-season over, Albion were faced another local rival as the draw for the FA Cup extra-preliminary round had thrown up a tie at league counterparts Harrogate Railway Athletic on the opening day of the campaign.

They earned a 1-1 draw thanks to a strike from Danny Facey, who had returned to the club from neighbouring Evo-Stik League outfit Brighouse Town, but it was only a stay of execution as Albion were beaten 3-0 at home in the replay the following Wednesday.

After the FA Cup was out of the way, Albion won seven of their opening eight league games, but there was then another crushing defeat.

A 4-3 home reverse to Steve Harmison’s Ashington in early September sent the Lions spinning out of the FA Vase at the first qualifying round stage.

Victories were few and far between from the start of October until the end of February as Albion won just eight of their 26 fixtures.

Two cup exits came in that spell with a 2-1 defeat at Selby Town in the third round of the League Cup followed, just over a fortnight later, with a loss at neighbours Guiseley in the West Riding County Cup.

Adam Lockwood put out a very youthful side, as his main priority was survival at the top tier of non-league football, but Sandhu also had a scratch squad for that game and throughout the poor run as injuries decimated his squad.

Yet Albion were only beaten 5-4 on penalties after the second-round tie had ended all-square at 2-2.

March brought three league wins for Albion, and one was their most notable as they beat Cleethorpes Town 3-0 away.

Cleethorpes went on to win the league and were beaten finalists at Wembley in the FA Vase.

Over the season, Sandhu’s men enjoyed league victories over four of the clubs that finished in the top five, including all of the top three.

FINAL LEAGUE POSITION

NCE Premier Div 8th P42 W20 D6 L16 F100 A99 GD1 Pts66