Adam Lakeland looks for Farsley Celtic to convert draws into wins

FARSLEY CELTIC manager Adam Lakeland is delighted with his side’s upturn in form and has challenged his troops further to turn their performances into victories.
Farsley Celtic manager Adam Lakeland. Picture: Steve Riding.Farsley Celtic manager Adam Lakeland. Picture: Steve Riding.
Farsley Celtic manager Adam Lakeland. Picture: Steve Riding.

Farsley started the season poorly, accruing just two points from five games against opponents they would have expected to pick up more points against.

However, a run of just one defeat in six games against some very respectable sides has shown that the Citadel outfit still possess their credentials from last season; yet, Celtic boss Lakeland believes they can improve even further.

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“I do feel like we’re improving,” said Lakeland. “However, it feels like we aren’t really progressing in terms of the league table as we have drawn four of those, although they have been against some very good teams.

Jimmy Spencer, above, scored Farsley’s second goal against Chester on Tuesday but the visitors hit back to draw 2-2.Jimmy Spencer, above, scored Farsley’s second goal against Chester on Tuesday but the visitors hit back to draw 2-2.
Jimmy Spencer, above, scored Farsley’s second goal against Chester on Tuesday but the visitors hit back to draw 2-2.

“We’ve been unfortunate not to have converted a couple of those into wins, and if you do that you are in a much healthier position in the table.

“Essentially, it’s all about balance – earlier on in the season we weren’t scoring many goals, whereas the last couple of games we’ve scored four against two very good sides.

“Having seen us concede a few soft goals at the other end, we unfortunately haven’t been able to take all three points, but if we can continue to do well from box-to-box and just tweak things in the final third, we’ll be fine.”

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Farsley travel to table-toppers Gloucester City today, and are well aware of the threat they pose. Gloucester went unbeaten for their first nine National League North games and dispatched Farsley’s local rivals Guiseley 2-1 a week ago – however, boss James Rowe filled the managerial vacancy at Chesterfield yesterday, and a loss to Gateshead on Tuesday put an end to their purple-patch.

Lakeland is confident his players are ready to pounce.

“Gloucester have undeniably had a great start but they’ve lost their manager alongside the defeat at Gateshead, so we’ll see how things pan out,” added Lakeland.

“It could go either way – they’ll either be looking for a reaction in how they play, which would make it a difficult contest for us, or they’ll try to show a new sense of direction in their style of play, which is difficult to do when you’re in good form and lose your manager.

“Nonetheless, we are expecting a very tough game and we’ll look to continue how we’ve played over the last few games, we won’t show them any respect and ultimately we will be raring to go and take all three points.”

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Elsewhere, fourth-from-bottom Guiseley travel to high-flying AFC Telford United nervously peering over their shoulders at the relegation zone, hopeful that a win in Shropshire will propel them up the table and ultimately ease their fears.

The Lions haven’t won since the opening day of the season, and will find it tough to overcome a Telford side they haven’t beaten in all competitions since 2014.

However, their opponents have fared poorly at home this season, having scored just twice at New Bucks Head in their last four games, and so Guiseley will look to exploit this to finally kick-start their season.

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