Ashforth hopes giant-killers Campion claim a second scalp

West Riding County Cup 

Campion joint manager Lee Ashforth

Lee Ashforth hopes Campion can repeat their giant-killing act by knocking out National North side Farsley Celtic in tonight’s West Riding County Cup quarter-final.

The Bradford-based outfit have already sent Bradford (Park Avenue) tumbling out and Ashforth hopes his men can reach the semi-finals for the first time in the club’s history.

“It would be brilliant for the club (to the semi-finals),” Ashforth told Non League Yorkshire.

“We’re the lowest ranked team left in the competition so it would be nice to get another scalp like we did with Bradford (Park Avenue).

“It seems like a million years ago does that.

“They came with a reasonable team and we got the result.

“The players will be going into it knowing it the quarter-final of a cup and it is always nice to have a run.

“We have got through a couple of rounds and we’ll be going into it with confidence.

“When we spoke to the players a couple of weeks ago this game was one we signposted because we want to do well in this competition and the two League Cup games.”

Campion joint manager Lee Ashforth
Campion need captain and star striker Aidan Kirby to be on top form

But Ashforth is well-aware Campion face a huge challenge, regardless of the side Farsley chief Neil Ross fields.

“It depends on what can of team Farsley bring, whether they rest players or not,” he said.

“Obviously they haven’t got a big squad and they’ve lost a couple of players and brought a couple in so I would expect them to be quite squad.

“We played their under 23s last week in a friendly and they gave us a torrid time so it is going to be a step-up to play their first team as well.

“But we have to go into it hoping to win.

“It is the quarter-final and it would be good for us to get a win.”

Times remain tough in the North West Counties League First Division North for Campion and Ashforth admits he would like to see the club moved back to the Toolstation NCEL for the 2022/23 season.

“We have found it really tough this year and we’ll get put where we get put,” he said.

“Travelling-wise and player recruitment-wise we would prefer to be in the Northern Counties East.

“It has been really difficult to recruit players for the North West Counties.

“But we don’t have a lot of choice.

“We’ll play where we play and we’ll do our best to compete in whatever league we’re in next year.”

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