FARSLEY CELTIC begin a crucial spell in the Evo-Stik League tomorrow with a trip to Division One North leaders Lancaster City.

The Dolly Blues are four points clear at the summit but were held to a goalless draw by neighbours Clitheroe on Tuesday to leave them just six better off than Farsley, who have three games in hand.

The Celts are seen as title hopefuls Lancaster’s biggest threat, so tomorrow’s clash is huge. Farsley go into the match in form, beating local rivals Brighouse Town 3-2 last Saturday and progressing in the League Cup with a 5-2 victory over Goole AFC in midweek.

Their journey to the Giant Axe is followed by a trip to fifth-placed Scarborough Athletic and, soon after, they head to sixth-placed Clitheroe in a pivotal spell.

Paul Quinn’s BRIGHOUSE will look to bounce back from their loss at Throstle Nest when they host Prescot Cables.

Town’s defeat dropped them down to ninth place, eight points behind the Celts and six outside the play-off places, but the Cables are struggling in third from bottom.

The Nest will again be the focus tomorrow as it stages another big local derby, this time in the Toolstation Northern Counties East League top tier as ALBION SPORTS host THACKLEY.

Both sides are in the top seven of the Premier Division but both suffered shock defeats last weekend. The fourth-placed Dennyboys lost 2-1 at home to lower mid-table Bottesford Town, which may have dealt a fatal blow to their slim chances of promotion.

Kulwinder Sandhu’s Lions are on the back of three straight defeats and they have conceded four in each of those three games. They have also scored seven so a goalless draw against their neighbouring rivals is unlikely.

CAMPION have a chance to climb back into the play-off places in Division One as they travel to Hallam, the side immediately above them. Just one point separates the sides so James Bicknell’s men know that a win would see them leapfrog their promotion rivals.

ECCLESHILL UNITED have home advantage as they host Dronfield Town in a mid-table clash. The Eagles are five places higher than their visitors and have a nine-point cushion but the Sheffield club have three games in hand.

SILSDEN are looking for a change of fortune in the lower tier of the Hallmark Security League after suffering three defeats on the spin but they face a visit from promotion-chasing Alsager Town.

The Bullets are fourth in the play-off places but only five points off an automatic promotion spot with two games in hand on the top two. The Cobbydalers’ confidence is low after four consecutive defeats in all competitions.