Lakeland is aiming to keep run going

BOSS Adam Lakeland says Farsley Celtic are relishing the prospect of tomorrow's first round FA Trophy tie at AFC Telford United in which the Celts will seek their second National League North scalp in a row.
Farsley Celtic manager Adam Lakeland.
Picture John McAvoyFarsley Celtic manager Adam Lakeland.
Picture John McAvoy
Farsley Celtic manager Adam Lakeland. Picture John McAvoy

Farsley are looking to reach the second round for only the fourth time in their history with the EvoStik League Premier Division outfit recording a fine 2-0 success at National League North hosts Alfreton Town in the final qualifying round.

Now a Telford side who sit six places above Alfreton provide Farsley’s first round opponents with Lakeland admitting his side are taking plenty of confidence from their success at the previous stage.

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The Celts approach the clash sat third in the EvoStik Premier and on a 16-game unbeaten run with the Celts only three points behind leaders Nantwich Town and with four games in hand.

Lakeland told the YEP: “We are having a good season so far, we are in good form at the moment and having beaten Alfreton in the last round of the FA Trophy we are relishing the challenge of coming up against another team in the division above.

“We know that it’s going to be a difficult challenge and a tall order to go there and win but it’s one that we are looking forward to and hopefully we can cause an upset.”

In a true symbol of the changing of the times, National League high-flyers Harrogate Town will be looking to avoid becoming the victims of an ‘upset’ at home to National League North neighbours and visitors York City.

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York were two divisions above Town as recently as 2016 but Simon Weaver’s men are now third in National League with York 14th in the division below after last season’s relegation, Weaver, though, is expecting a difficult test.

The Town boss reasoned: “Looking at their squad, I think they are a fair bit stronger now on paper than they were this time last year.

“Take Jake Wright who did so well for us towards the back end of last season.

“He can’t get a game for them at the moment, so that tells you that they must have real quality.”

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FC Halifax Town are on their travels to fellow National League outfit Barrow.

Neither Guiseley or Bradford Park Avenue are in action with both sides out of the competition.

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Brighouse Town will look to slash the gap to EvoStik East leaders Morpeth Town as fourth plays first at St Giles Road tomorrow.

Top of the pile Morpeth travel to Brighouse with a six-point lead at the top of the division with second-placed Pontefract Collieries, third-placed Tadcaster Albion and fourth-placed Brighouse Town all level on 33 points. Pontefract entertain fifth-bottom Pickering Town tomorrow with Taddy hosting a Yorkshire derby against eighth-placed Sheffield.

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Ninth-placed Ossett United visit 14th-placed Cleethorpes Town while sixth-placed Marske United are the opposition for 13th-placed hosts Frickley Athletic. Marske are well placed sat ten points behind leaders Morpeth but with two games in hand on them.

In the Premier Division, 11th-placed Whitby Town welcome ninth-placed Matlock Town.

In the NCE League, Yorkshire Amateur could open up a ten-point lead at the top of the NCE Premier as part of a weekend in which fellow promotion hopefuls Hemsworth Miners Welfare and Knaresborough Town lock horns at The Fitzwilliam.

Ammers are seven points clear of second-placed Penistone Church who welcome eighth-placed Bottesford Town with Ammers also at home against Maltby Main.

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Penistone have a game in hand on the leaders with the second-placed side then three points clear of Knaresborough who have a two-point gap back to fourth-placed Hemsworth. Knaresborough and Hemsworth both have two games in hand on Yorkshire Amateur but something will have to give as fourth plays third at Hemsworth’s Fitzwilliam Stadium.

Boro’ and Hemsworth both showed six appeal in their most recent league games by notching a half dozen with Hemsworth romping to a 6-1 win at Garforth Town as Knaresborough outscored hosts Barton Town 6-4.

Ammers had to settle for a 1-1 draw at home to Worksop Town.

Elsewhere in the division tomorrow, sixth-placed Bridlington Town have four games in hand on Ammers whom they trail by 14 points with Bridlington visiting tenth-placed Eccleshill United.

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Liversedge welcome near neighbours Thackley with the duo both nine points clear of the bottom two though 15th-placed Thackley have two games in hand on the division’s second-bottom side Harrogate Railway.

Rail’ welcome seventh-placed Worksop Town to Station View with bottom-club Goole AFC away at 14th-placed Athersley Recreation.

Railway are four points behind third-bottom Hall Road Rangers and one ahead of Goole who have a game in hand. Garforth Town - who sit 13th - entertain 16th-placed Albion Sports.

Third plays second in Division One as Selby Town host Grimsby Borough with leaders Campion at home to tenth-placed Glasshoughton Welfare. In another derby of sorts, 13th-placed AFC Emley welcome seventh-placed Nostell Miners Welfare.