JOINT Celts boss Neil Parsley is delighted with the start to the season and content with the squad that he and John Deacey has to work with as they look to mount a promotion challenge.

They suffered a narrow defeat in the FA Cup last weekend but Parsley is pleased with the strength in depth at the club.

He said: “When you look at the players on the bench (for the cup tie) you see players that would be starting at any other club in the Evo-Stik Division One North and can count themselves unlucky to miss out on a place.

“They are good players who are regulars but are either coming back from injury or have not been able to break into the side because of the run we’ve on. We want to keep them all happy and there is a good spirit in the dressing room so at the minute the competition for places is a good thing.”

The substitutes were Chris Howarth, Ross Daly, Peter Davidson, Jacob Hazel, Alex Davidson and James Knowles - all players who have performed higher up the pyramid.

All six returned on Tuesday for another hard-fought cup tie as the Celts hosted Liversedge in a West Riding County Cup derby clash. Daly came in as captain while Hazel and Alex Davidson were both on the scoresheet as Farsley edged Sedge out with a 3-2 win.

Parsley added: “We have a very good squad here and that is what me and John set out to do right from the start.

“With so many players who can just slot straight in, you are going to get benches like that and the boys expect it. A great team can win a lot of games but you need a great squad to be really successful.

"We are determined to push for promotion and it’s been a very solid start for us.”