Lockwood: Spirit is the key to Lions better form

IT MIGHT not quite be full steam ahead in Guiseley’s rise up the National League table, but the train has certainly left the station.

After taking a paltry three points from their opening 13 matches when relegation looked a nailed-on certainty, even accounting for the early stage of the season, the Lions have at least provided themselves with real hope in recent weeks.

Ten points have been accrued from their last six games, with Adam Lockwood now plotting the next stage in Guiseley’s improvement.

Namely an opening away win of the campaign ahead of back-to-back road trips to opposite ends of the country in Dover and Barrow.

If togetherness, spirit and organisation – not just across the playing ranks, but the whole club – is anything to go by, it should surely not be long in coming.

Lockwood, whose side produced a controlled performance in beating Torquay 2-0 last time out – thanks to goals from Jordan Preston and Jake Cassidy – said: “I would like to thank everybody connected with the club because everybody is pulling in the right direction and helping out and it is great.

“It does not half help make a difference to your momentum to get the train moving.

“Hopefully, it will not stop very often and we will keep it moving.”

Former Leeds United midfielder Simon Walton and Jake Lawlor will be back in the mix after suspension tomorrow, handing Lockwood a welcome selection dilemma after last weekend’s solid win over the Gulls.

But the Lions chief insists that whoever does not takes the field will be willing their team-mates on with the club’s survival bid being a collective effort.

He added: “We are building a squad where everyone wants to do well for each other.

“If people do not want to do that, then they will not be part of my squad.

“I don’t expect people to be happy when they are not playing as I certainly was not when I was a player.

“But the club is moving forward and I want people to move with us.”

Elsewhere tomorrow, on-song FC Halifax, fresh from their fine FA Cup replay win over Dagenham and Redbridge, which booked a second round trip to giant killers Eastleigh – who defeated League 1 Swindon Town – visit Curzon Ashton – who are also in round two of the cup.

The Shaymen, who were relegated at the end of last season, have lost just once in their past 11 matches in all competitions under boss Billy Heath and are well placed in fourth, in National League North.

Tenth-placed Harrogate Town will be seeking a lift at the side immediately above them in FA Cup giant killers Brackley, who beat Gillingham in midweek.

Lloyd Kerry is still missing for Town.

Third-from-bottom Bradford Park Avenue visit mid-table Stockport County looking to pull away from trouble.

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FRICKLEY ATHLETIC will look to climb out of the Evo-Stik League Premier Division’s bottom four tomorrow and move to within one point of 17th-placed visitors Grantham Town.

Frickley aided their chances of avoiding the drop with last Saturday’s 3-1 win at Ashton United, a result which came on the back of a 4-1 loss at home to Nantwich Town.

Elsewhere in the Premier tomorrow, leaders Whitby Town travel to 18th-placed Coalville Town.

In the First Division, third-bottom Ossett Albion welcome 10th-placed Trafford, while sixth-placed Brighouse Town play host to eighth-placed Kendal Town.

Fifth-placed Ossett Town visit 15th-placed Ramsbottom United while ninth-positioned Tadcaster Albion visit fourth-bottom Prescot Cables and third-placed Farsley Celtic are away at sixth-bottom Drolysden.

Second-placed Scarborough Athletic entertain fifth-bottom Mossley while second-bottom Goole AFC visit 11th-placed Clitheroe.

One of the games of the day in the NCE League sees fourth-placed Liversedge visit third-placed Albion Sports in the Premier.

Leaders Thackley visit second-bottom Barton Town Old Boys while fifth-placed Pickering Town travel to ninth-placed Athersley Recreation.

Bridlington Town, who are sixth, visit rock-bottom Parkgate while eighth-placed Garforth Town travel to 16th-placed Rainworth Miners Welfare. Tenth-placed Hemsworth Miners Welfare are away at 13th-placed Staveley Miners Welfare while fifth-bottom Harrogate Railway welcome 12th-placed Bottesford Town.

In Division One, third-placed Pontefract Collieries welcome fifth-bottom Worsbrough Bridge Athletic.

Sixth-placed AFC Emley welcome eighth-placed Winterton Rangers while 10th-placed Glasshoughton Welfare go to leaders Penistone Church.

Selby Town, who are 11th, visit third-bottom Teversal while 12th-placed Eccleshill United go to fifth-placed Hallam. Sixteenth-placed Yorkshire Amateur are on their travels to 17th-placed Ollerton Town while bottom side Nostell Miners Welfare welcome fourth-bottom Rossington Main.