A sequence of five straight Evo-Stik League victories has pitched Farsley right back into the Division One North promotion-chasing pack and Mark Jackson feels things are still on the up.

Jackson is one of boss Neil Parsley’s two assistant managers, alongside the evergreen Simeon Bambrook, and is still the cornerstone of the defence.

The latter player set up one of the goals in Farsley’s last league game, a 2-0 win at home to Clitheroe last Saturday.

But Jackson was more interested in the scorer as it was Wes Milnes, who was playing his first game for the club alongside the assistant player-boss in the heart of defence.

There was a specialist right back as well after Steve Nicholson was also signed in the week leading up to the game.

Jackson said: “They both did well after taking no time at all to settle in,” with both players having previously played for club at Throstle Nest in their former Farsley Celtic guise.

“It was some years ago that either of them had played here but they are very experienced and that always makes it easier to come into a new group of players.

“We also have Chris Kamara and Ryan Serrant knocking on the door after coming back from injuries. That should make our defence stronger, even though we have had four clean sheets in those five wins.

“I think we have turned the corner and not just as a defensive unit. We have a very good squad of players at the club.

“As a defender, the clean sheets please me – and not just as assistant manager – because it was a thorn in our side earlier this season. We were having to score three or four times to win games.

“We have the capability to do that, there is no doubt, but it makes it more difficult. With Dave Stead, Ben Jones, Gareth Grant and now Adam Muller, we have that number of goals in us, but only teams with a solid defence are successful.”