Guiseley boss aims to add few new faces

The Lions manager is happy with the commitment levels shown by his new charges in his time at the club so far, but admits that he is still short of numbers and is working overtime to boost his numbers.

Cox, still unbeaten as Nethermoor chief, but seeking his first win after four successive draws, said: “We are progressing well and I would have thought that there will at least be one new body before the weekend to add to the squad. Maybe more to give us better options.

“Before the game last week, we barely had 16 fit players, so we have got to make sure we are covered appropriately.

“Over the next seven to ten days, I think that there will be a few more coming in. I think that will be key.

“I have had a look at the squad in general and its strengths and weaknesses and we have got to now act and get some players in.

“There have been a lot of phone calls and we have seen a lot of games now and made contact with a lot of clubs.

“But what I am not going to do is just take somebody for the sake of it. We have to do our due diligence in terms of having them watched and doing our homework on them.”

Cox picks from a similar squad to last weekend, although Danny East is a doubt, with Raul Correia and Callum McFadzean both missing.

He added: “We are very similar. Easty went down in training on Tuesday and we will have to monitor him, so he’s looking like a doubt.

“We’ve got to add to the squad to cover for some of the unfortunate injuries we have had.

“The injuries to the likes of Raul and McFadzean, you cannot really legislate for. We have just got to bolster the squad to make sure there’s cover in there.

“The lads have shown a really positive mindset and we want the games now and to get that elusive win at the minute.

“Within the four performances we’ve deserved one somewhere, but we have just got to go and earn it and make it happen.

“We have got to make it happen. We can’t just sit back and say: ‘we have done okay’. We have got to go and earn the right to win a football match now.

“Consistency is key. We have been consistent in terms of our general play. But now I want more and be a bit braver in the final third and take chances when we create them. It is a healthy pressure to play under.

“The positive in the four games is that no-one has created a number of chances and been better than us. There’s bene fine lines between the games, but we just what the one per cents in our favour now.”

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IT’S derby day in the third qualifying round of the FA Cup tomorrow when in-form Harrogate Town entertain Bradford Park Avenue, kick-off 3pm.

Town warmed-up for the Cup clash with a memorable 2-1 win over North Yorkshire rivals York City in the National North which left boss Simon Weaver buzzing.

He said: “With our biggest ever crowd for a league match in the stadium we didn’t want to disappoint and the lads were excellent on the day.

“There was a buzz about the place as soon as we arrived at the ground. A derby atmosphere can be quite hard to handle but the players responded well to it.

With the winners of the tie set to receive £7,500 in prize money and a place in the fourth qualifying round, where National League clubs enter the competition, Town will be looking to avoid a repeat of their only FA Cup meeting with Bradford PA to date; a 4-0 defeat eight years ago.

Weaver added: “It’s another derby game and we are aware of how much it means to the supporters to have a good cup run.

“Before last Saturday Bradford were on a very good run in the league and have a settled side filled with a lot of experience.”

Elsewhere in the FA Cup, Ossett Town travel to 1874 Northwich.

Elsewhere, fourth-placed Farsley Celtic travel to third-placed Coalville Town tomorrow in a key game in the Evo-Stik Premier Division.

Both sides are 23 points from 13 games but Adam Lakeland’s Celts beat their opponents 3-1 on the opening day of the season and will be looking for a repeat tomorrow.

Farsley bounced back from back to back defeats on Tuesday night when they won 2-1 at Marine.

In Evo-Stik North, eight-placed Tadcaster Albion travel to the team, two positions below them – Droylsden, while 17th-placed Brighouse Town host Colwyn Bay and next-to-bottom Ossett Albion play at fifth-placed Prescot Cables.

In Evo-Stik South, third-placed Frickley Athletic will be looking for another three points when they host 15th-placed Bedworth United tomorrow.

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Premier Division leaders Pickering Town will look to extend their lead at the top of the division when they host Rainworth Miners Welfare tomorrow.

Town currently lead second-placed Pontefract Collieries by two points but could increase that to five points with a victory as Pontefract do not have a game.

Third-placed Hemsworth Miners Welfare are four points behind Pontefract and could close that gap with all three points at Worksop Town.

Elsewhere in the top division 10th-placed Garforth Town host Thackley, Liversedge entertain Bottesford Town and third-from-bottom Harrogate Railway Athletic host Handsworth Parramore.

Unbeaten Division One leaders Knaresborough Town face a testing trip to fourth-placed Rossington Main tomorrow.

Town are currently four points clear of second-placed Yorkshire Amateur who travel to mid-table East Yorkshire Carnegie.

Amateur lost 3-2 at home to Grimsby Borough on Tuesday, despite leading 2-0 at one stage thanks to goals from Ashley Flynn and Fernando Moke.

Elsewhere, seventh-placed Selby Town host Shirebrook Town, AFC Emley play atthird-placed Campion and 16th-placed Glasshoughton Welfare travel to Swallownest.

Glasshoughton enjoyed a morale-boosting 3-1 victory at Nostell Miners Welfare on Wednesday night. Tomorrow 20th-placed Nostell face a trip to the team directly above them in the table – Worsbrough Bridge.