U18s’ Jacob Smith and Wilfred Frimpong “deserve their call-up” for the U23s’ semi-final vs Emley AFC in the West Riding FA Senior Cup on Monday, 7th June.
The duo make their debuts for the Academy’s top side on Monday night with just a maximum of two matches left of the season.
Both have impressed for the U21s in recent weeks, Frimpong scoring the opener in the late 3-2 defeat to Sherburn on Saturday 23rd May.
Spectators can attend for free the West Riding FA Stadium in Leeds.
Manager Neil Ross believes they’re ready.
“It’s a good opportunity for them to come in and prove what good players they are […] at this critical part of the competition”.
Ross believes his side’s reaction, scoring four times in the quarter-final second-half vs Pontefract is promising ahead of what he expects to be a similar test vs Emley.
Emley are familiar opponents for the U23s, earning a 4-2 victory in our opening group B match and in the reverse fixture on the last day, a 5-1 defeat.
“They like to battle around, put some challenges in, make it more of a battle than a football game.
“I think looking at our reaction in the second-half we’ve learnt how to combat that.
“The players know where they went wrong in the first-half [vs Pontefract]. Hopefully with playing at West Riding 3G it’ll suit us as a footballing team, with a bigger pitch.
“Its about getting more control in the centre of the park and bringing the two units together of the defence and the strikers and getting the link in midfield.
“Tomorrow night [Sunday] we’ve got a zoom call with the squad and we’ll go through stuff”.
Injuries, however, have stretched Ross’ squad.
“With the issue we’re in at the minute with injuries – I think we’ve got five players out injured.
“Louis and Asa […] from Monday, they had to come off with they’re injuries, Ayrton’s the same, his hamstrings not going to be right”.
Recent form
A 5-3 victory over Pontefract earned Farsley’s semi-final place while their last-16 match was far more comfortable, a 7-0 victory over i2i White.
Opposition – Emley AFC
A 4-2 victory over emley started our West Riding FA campaign but Group B finished with a 5-1 defeat which leapfrogged Emley over the U23s into top spot.
Emley beat i2i black 3-0 in their quarter-final after overcoming Barnsley Sports Academy in the last-16.
Man in form – Reggie Waud
Waud scored all five vs Pontefract, continuing his goalscoring run to five matches.
This the forward’s second consecutive hat-trick after netting three against i2i White in the last-16.