Having secured just one point from nine against three play-off contenders the Bulls’ now face Farsley Celtic in a game they genuinely need to win if Paul Caddis’ side are to remain in the hunt for a top-seven place.
Stubborn. Determined. Pragmatic. Dull. Choose your own descriptor for a Yorkshire club determined to stay away from the relegation scrap this time around by being very hard to beat. They are particularly adept at visiting top ten sides and grinding out a draw. They drew at Brackley, Chorley and Warrington and had a narrow 1-0 loss at Tamworth. Farsley have had six 0-0 draws this season, including one when the two sides met in Leeds. On the road, they’ve only lost 6 times so expect a frustrating battle at the Street. Lots of positive noise around their Slovenian goalkeeper, Zan Luk Leban on loan from Everton. The keeper has 12 clean sheets to his name and no yellow cards.
The Celts have a player manager. Jamaican international Clayton Donaldson still plays in most games despite being 40 years old. He’s approaching 800 appearances for his 16 clubs with over 250 goals. Only 3 of them came this season. Other players to look out for are the Atkinson brothers. Club captain Chris and top scorer Ben Atkinson – both with 200 appearances behind them. Admittedly Ben only has 8 to his name. Only Bishops Stortford have scored fewer goals than the Yorkshire outfit but equally their goals conceded figure is lower than ours..
Our previous games against Farsley have no pattern to them whatsoever. In 7 previous matches, both sides have won, drawn or lost, home and away.
To Farsley’s credit they have an Emerging talent squad and 4 of them have already made their first team debut. The squad reached the FA Youth Cup first round proper. The football club have ambitious plans to built indoor and outdoor pitches with changing rooms and a café so all their numerous teams can play on site.
The last Talking Bull of the season will be out that afternoon. It’s your last chance this season to support a printed magazine and indirectly help your club at the same time. Brian and I will be selling behind the main stand while Nigel Preece has a roving brief. Of course, a pdf version will be on sale via the Talking Bull website.
Our home games are running out so do your best to be at the Street to enjoy the ride.
Farsley Celtic FC (ticketco.events)
Simon Wright
