IT'S gloves off for round three in the Boro-Farsley saga of everyday footballing folk at Stainton Park on Saturday.

The West Yorkshire side sent Radcliffe Borough tumbling to a 3-1 defeat in the first qualifying round of the FA Cup at Throstle Nest earlier this season and in the not too distant past there were threats of legal action and police involvement after former Boro player Loz Greenhalgh had his jaw broken after a particularly nasty afternoon in the Leeds suburb. Current Farsley boss, Martin Haresign, was quick to quell any thoughts that his side are an over-physical outfit though when he said: "We've got a lot of young players in the side this season and we are not really regarded as a physical side anymore. In fact, we haven't had a booking this month!"

Farsley's form has certainly taken a turn for the better since the start of the season. They began with a depressing sequence that saw them pick up just two points from their first seven games.

In more recent times they have accummulated 17 points from their last eight games and have risen to 15th in the table.

On Saturday they will be without right back Simon Brooker who broke a leg in the 2-0 home win over North Ferribly last satruday and are waiting for a check on midfield man Andy Shields who has a hand injury.

Boro, the top scorers in the division with 40, will have hitman Jody Banim back from suspension and he will be up against another 18-goal striker in Farsley's Chris Newton.

""We let both Blackstone and Wellens go this season, so we thought we would struggle for goals, but it's conceding them that has been a problem for us, we're doing all right at the other end," said Haresign, whose side have scored 28 and let in 34 goals in their 16 league games so far.

Boro expect to be back at full strength after Tuesday night's outing at Clitheroe. They will be boosted by the return of right wing back Richard Battersby after his week on trial at Crewe Alexandra and skipper Mark Dempsey, goalkeeper Danny Hurst and a host of others.

Finally, there's a special pat on the back for the spectators who made the journey to Ossett last Saturday for the top of the table clash there.

"I couldn't believe the support we got at Ossett," said Glendon. "The players remarked on it afterwards and I was delighted with it. Hats off to them."