City of Liverpool manager Michael Ellison pleased with his side’s character after they beat Farsley Celtic in the FA Cup.
The Celts are two divisions higher than the Purps and find themselves two steps off the Football League in what proved to be a massive scalp for City of Liverpool.
A penalty from Nathan Burke plus two stunning strikes from Jay Salkeld and Ben Rydel booked their place in the next round against Buxton.
The result and performance was one that pleased Ellison as they went into the tie on the back of a disappointing result midweek against Colne.
“I thought it was a great win, more importantly a great performance. I think I said before the game the pressure was on them it was almost like a free hit for us but in some sense it wasn’t.
“After the disappointment against Colne we had to respond and we wanted a reaction from the lads and we certainly give us that. The main thing for me was the clean sheet, to concede four Tuesday night then to keep a clean sheet at home and get the win, it was a great victory, real good response and I’m delighted with the reaction, the lads were brilliant.”
Salkeld capped off a brilliant solo goal by rifling his strike into the top corner, with the help of the post as Rydel’s stunning free-kick topped off the win.
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Ellison said: “Two excellent goals, James’ goal was excellent and I’m delighted for the lad. He’s come in, not really had a chance or the minutes he would’ve wanted, was on the bench for a couple of weeks didn’t really get an opportunity.
“He started against Clitheroe, it’s difficult, he’s been brilliant, patient and shown a great attitude – I was delighted for him, he has got that in his locker with the goals he’s scored in the past and he has scored better, he has got a goal in him, hopefully he builds on that.
“He gives us that, when you’ve got someone who can score a goal like that in your team you’ve always got a chance.
“Then you’ve got Rydel, if I’m totally honest I didn’t think he had that in him, when we got the free-kick I was thinking ‘why’s Burkey letting him have it’ then he’s bent it top corner, it’s a fantastic strike and the icing on the cake really. I go back to it, I thought the defensive display was the most pleasing.
“We had a meeting on Tuesday after the match and told them in no uncertain terms that it was unacceptable and the lads felt that as well.
“I thought we started a little bit tentative but grew into the game and again we looked solid and limited a National League North side to very few chances, think they had one clear cut chance which the lad could’ve scored but we’d of took that before the game and showed great character to keep the clean sheet.
“When you lose it’s important that you don’t get carried away and the same when you win, it gets us into the hat for the next round and some much-needed funds for the club which is a plus.
“It is just taking each game as it comes and there’s no better habit than winning football matches, what we’ve got to do is find that consistency. We just need to find some form Saturday, Tuesday and if we can do that and get a couple of lads for we won’t be far off.
“It’s a great win, we won’t be getting carried away, we’ve got a really, really tough one in the next round against Buxton. All we’re concentrating on now is Stockton on Saturday.”
