Lions keep keen eye on weather forcecast

AFTER MISSING out on the festive front at Nethermoor against marquee Lincolnshire opponents 12 months ago, Guiseley will be particularly desperate for it to be a case of second time lucky against Lincoln City today (3pm).

Like last Boxing Day, the game has been designated as all-ticket, just as last year’s scheduled encounter with Grimsby Town was also.

Unfortunately, the elements had the final say and Guiseley were forced to call the game off after parts of Nethermoor were left flooded following constant rain on both Christmas and Boxing Day and missed out on a money-spinning afternoon.

It was rotten luck for Guiseley and even accounting for the prowess of this afternoon’s visitors – who triumphed 2-1 in an FA Cup replay at Nethermoor on October 18 – all and sundry are keen for a weather break and that Storm Barbara relents in West Yorkshire with a bumper festive crowd expected.

As with last year’s scheduled opponents, Grimsby, Lincoln are flying high and a double-header with the Red Imps – with Guiseley visiting Sincil Bank on New Year’s Day – is as tough as it currently gets in National League circles.

Danny Crowley’s table-toppinng side are riding the crest of a wave and boast a superb 17-match unbeaten streak in league and cup coming into the game, which stretches back to September 24.

The Red Imps have confidence coursing through their veins on the back of a seven-match winning sequence, which includes an FA Cup second-round win over League One outfit Oldham Athletic, which earned them a third-round tie at Ipswich Town.

As far as Guiseley are concerned, they may still reside in the drop zone, but they are in a relatively decent place themselves on the back of a four-match unbeaten sequence, which represents incremental progress, more especially given their torrid opening to the campaign which saw them lose their opening seven matches.

Boss Adam Lockwood may be under no illusions about the extent of the task ahead in the next two matches. But equally, he has reason not to be cowed either and is relishing the dual test.

Lockwood, whose side were undone by a cup double by Theo Robinson in a cup replay against today’s opponents in the autumn – with Adam Boyes’ goal being to no avail on a night when Connor Brown was dismissed – said: “I think Lincoln are a great side and they give you a test in certain areas and it is definitely a tough couple of games over the Christmas period.

“To get anything out of those two games, we have to be right on top of our game. But at the minute, we are approaching being on our game.

“I am asking for consistency in the standards that we set – and that they be reached as much as possible.

“At the moment, we are doing. Sometimes, the results come for us, sometimes, they don’t. But it will be a very good test for us and we will see how far we have actually come.”

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Harrogate Town boss Simon Weaver has thrown down the gauntlet to his players following last weekend’s disappointing National League North defeat to Curzon Ashton.

Weaver has warned that he will not tolerate another “atrocious” performance, adding that a number of his squad are now “playing for their careers”.

“I was massively, massively disappointed by what I saw at Curzon Ashton, we were atrocious at times,” he blasted.

“The players went to Dublin for a team weekend away after the game, and it seemed that their minds were on that, rather than focused on producing a good display.

“I hate having to question their attitudes, but the absolute least I expect is that our lads play for the badge on their shirt.”

Next up for Town is the visit of Stockport County today which is a 3pm kick-off at the CNG Stadium.

“This is a game against a big club at this level, and there should be a real atmosphere in the stadium,” Weaver added.

“There’s no excuse for the players not being up for it and producing a performance.

“We absolutely need a result.”

Elsewhere today, ninth-placed FC Halifax Town travel to Darlington and third-from bottom Bradford Park Avenue play at Salford City.

The Evo-Stik Premier Division sees a struggling Frickley Town facing a tough Boxing Day battle away at promotion chasing Frickley Athletic.

Local rivals and Evo-stik North Promotion contenders Ossett Town and Farsley Celtic will also take each other on for the first time this season, with hosts Ossett sitting joint-top of the league while Farsley Celtic lie just two points outside the play-off places.

Both will be hoping for a favour from mid-table Tadcaster Albion, who host Farsley and Ossett’s promotion rivals Scarborough Athletic as Tadcaster hope to get their own form back on track after securing a first league win in six games.

Brighouse Town also have a great opportunity to rekindle their recent struggles when they travel to relegation-threatened Goole AFC, as they continue to search for a route back into the hunt for promotion. A win for Brighouse would also ease the pressure on struggling Ossett Albion, who also face a match they would expect to win on their trip to rock-bottom Burscough.