Having started the season on fire, Horsham men’s hockey 1st team skipper doesn’t expect his troops to take their foot off the gas.
Howarth scored a second-half hat-trick as Horsham thrashed Worthing 8-2 on Saturday, with John Burroughs netting four - including a first-half treble - and Dan Humphreys also on target in the rout.
Worthing are just the latest team to be brushed aside by Howarth’s side, who have already beaten Brighton & Hove II 7-1 and trounced Holcolmbe II 7-0 in their perfect start to Kent/Sussex 1.
“Complacency is always lurking in the mind of a sportsman, but I think the squad is aware that we’re only as good as the effort we put in, so as long as we remember that, we should be OK,” Howarth said.
“It was a great performance by a team that is improving week on week, but one that was yet again underpinned from great defensive work all over the pitch.”
And it is the defensive improvements the side have made this term which has most impressed the new skipper. The side have netted 25 goals in their first four league games while at the same time staying extremely disciplined in defence and Howarth added: “We’ve always been able to score goals, but to concede only three in four games is a real achievement.
“The midfield marshalling of Freddie Campbell has been excellent, with Brown, Vivian and Akande organising the centre of defence.”
Still greater test lye in wait for the side who are openly aiming for the league title having finished as runners-up in the last two campaigns.
“I would expect Folkestone to be our main rival this season, but we always have a battle with Marden Russets, and Old Bordenians have had a strong start to the season since coming up,” Howarth said.
The side host Kings and Alleyns at BBH this Saturday (3pm start).
Meanwhile the Ladies 1sts were again beaten 1-0 at the weekend, going down to a narrow defeat at Wimbledon. They are also at home this Saturday before the men, taking on Chelsmford 1sts at 1.30pm.