ALBION Sports are the highest placed of the area's three Premier Division sides in the Toolstation Northern Counties East League after a steady start – but boss Kulwinder Sandhu feels they should have done even better.

The Sports manager feels two key departures have weakened his squad and early-season injuries have blighted his selections. Added to that, some of the summer arrivals are not yet firing on all cylinders.

Sandhu, whose side drew 0-0 at home to Clipstone last weekend, said: "We are playing well and creating chances but the goals have just dried up a bit.

"We've had some good wins but we've dominated other games that we've not just drawn but even some that we've lost. It's been ridiculous because we've been on the end of some joke results.

"We got beaten 5-1 at home by Bridlington but no way was that a 5-1 game. I don't think they had as many goal attempts as us that day but one of their lads was clinical and got a hat-trick."

Danny Facey, who has been Albion's top scorer for the past few seasons, and Seychelles international Karl Hall both departed at the end of the last campaign.

Facey was tempted away by the lure of playing in the Evo-Stik League and Hall, following a season lost to injury, has been living in the Seychelles.

Sandhu said: "Karl was at the Clipstone game in the crowd. He's playing over there for the national team and has got himself a club side.

"He's loving life and loving his football at the minute but he likes to call in when he's back here.

"Danny moved on to Brighouse and he's doing really well there. He's in the goals for them already – but then he will be because he will score goals at that level.

"Both of these players are a huge loss to us and if we'd had either of them we would be winning games like against Clipstone.

"But Danny, not just a great player but a really genuine, nice lad, is irreplaceable. So is Karl. His skill was matched by his height, making him an all-round player.

"When you think about those two missing and then the injuries we've had, it was always going to be hard for us.

"There have been games when Brice Tiani, Alex Cusack and Aaron Basi have been missing and Lee Elam has been out long term. That is the heart of midfield and any team at any level would miss six of their big players.

"But it happens and you can't complain because you know other clubs have their problems as well."