We’re back at Nethermoor on Sunday 2nd January looking to start 2022 with a bang as Farsley Celtic visit LS20 for our second West Yorkshire derby in five days for a 3pm kick-off.
Match sponsored by: Syno Education
Tickets for can be purchased online in advance here, tickets will also be on sale on the day at the turnstiles with payment by cash only, it is also cash payments only inside the ground for programmes, food and drink and 50/50 cash draw tickets. The clubhouse accepts and prefers payment by card.
It will be the first meeting between the sides since a 2-2 draw on Boxing Day 2020 after snow saw our opening festive double header game postponed.
The Lions can gain confidence though from a battling performance on Tuesday to earn a 2-2 draw after Regan Hutchinson’s late equaliser following Bradford (Park Avenue) gaining a 2-1 second half lead.
This followed a 1-0 away win at Telford on 21st December but Marcus Bignot and Russ O’Neill’s side are without a home victory since October.
Farsley Celtic come into the game level on points with The Lions but one place behind on goal difference, with a game in hand, having lost the last three on the spin in all competitions.
They have conceded 11 goals in those three games finding the net three times and without a win on the road since the opening day of the season when they saw off Hereford at Edgar Street 1-0.
Managed by Neil Ross Farsley name former Lions James Hanson, Dave Syers and Luke Parkin in their squad alongside Louis Fialdini who spent some time with our academy sides.
Speaking after the draw with BPA Russ O’Neill said “If you look at it over 90 minutes if I am being completely honest I think we got out of jail however in the first half for long spells I thought we were the team in control but they had the better chances. In the second half we wanted to start fast again and take control but they scored on the counter attack but the disappointing thing after that was our reaction, I thought it was poor for 25-30 minutes. They went in front and we went again and stopped feeling sorry for ourselves before getting the equaliser.”
“A positive was that we didn’t lose it, we found a way to get back in. Regan hit the crossbar and kept going before getting a deserved goal, it is a positive to come from behind and get a result from it.”
Speaking about the festive games O’Neill said “We were disappointed that the Boxing Day game was called off after going away from home and picking three points up at Telford. We have four points from two games and in the Farsley game we will be looking for three points. If we can get seven points out of nine over the Christmas period it will be a good return.”
When asked about the squad Russ said “Our bench today is the strongest it has been and we will have Jordan Thewlis back from his suspension for the next game. Hopefully we can start getting some proper competition for places and people will be looking over their shoulders which will hopefully improve individual performances.”
“Kaine got injured in a tackle at Brackley, he has dislocated his fingers and broken the underside of his foot. It is his fifth metatarsal which is a nightmare to heal, it takes a long time. Kaine is chomping at the bit and I am gutted for him, he is a big talisman for us. It is just a matter of time and seeing how long it will take to heal, I think we are looking at 6-7 weeks before he can even get back to training which is massive blow for him and us.”
Jake Hull also spoke to Ivor Timmis following the draw and his man of the match performance “I am glad to score my first league goal for Guiseley, it came at a good time as they had gained momentum. It was a good ball in from Andy Kellett, I used the pace on the ball and got a good contact on it to send it over the keeper.”
Speaking about his loan move from Rotherham United Hull said “I have had a few games with Rotherham in the Papa Johns Trophy and that is intense, it is a different challenge playing against good players in this league which will hopefully stand me in good stead.”
Looking ahead to our first game of 2022 the defender said “We have four points from six so hopefully we can keept the momentum going, in my opinion we didn’t play that well in the second half but to get a point from it shows we have a bit about us in the team and hopefully we can take that into the Farsley game and get three points.”
Tickets for the game with Farsley Celtic can be purchased at the turnstiles on the day with cash payment only or online in advance here.
