Farsley AFC's home victory over Woodley Sports last weekend began with a sixth-minute penalty which only served to fuel the gossip-mongers.

Farsley are gaining a reputation for penalty kicks being awarded to them but boss Neil Parsley believes it is unfair criticism by ill-informed sources.

A quick glimpse at the statistics is the only thing some are basing their concerns on.

However, anyone who knows the game will agree that the stats don’t begin to tell the full story.

Parsley said: “We have been getting a bit of stick in certain quarters about how many penalties we have been getting, and unfairly I think.

"Ben Jones has put most of them away - he has missed one but he is our penalty-taker.”

Farsley have been awarded and scored four spot-kicks in their last five league games but two of those were in the same game.

They beat Ossett Albion 4-2 last month with Jones and Gareth Grant each scoring twice.

One of each of their goals was from the spot, Jones netted the first penalty and Grant the second after Jones had been substituted.

Parsley said: “People think that Ben is going looking for penalties when he gets in the box but just look at this last one (minutes into the Woodley Sports game) it was Gareth being clearly brought down.

"You could see from the reaction of the opposition players that it was a nailed-on penalty.

“Granty is having a good season, and with his pace he is always likely to get fouled.

"He gets brought down outside the area as well and it is mainly because he is so quick that defenders can’t handle him.”

Farsley have scored eight times from the spot, and missed one, in 29 games in all competitions this season.

But they have also been on the receiving end. Radcliffe Borough’s third goal in a 3-3 draw was from the spot and Trafford netted one in a 4-2 defeat at Throstle Nest.