Bucks' Adam Farrell keen to get off the mark

Farrell enjoyed a stellar debut season for the Bucks, netting 17 times to become the team's top scorer as they claimed the Conference North title.

And the 24-year-old former Fylde hit-man is again vowing to hit the goal trail this season, starting with tonight's home clash against the Silkmen.

He said: "I set targets for myself every season. It will be the same as last season, I will try to get as many as I can.

"I set a target for Christmas and then the end of the season, so I just need to get myself off the mark. I didn't score in pre-season so I need to change that."

Asked how many goals he was aiming for, he added: "I will keep it under wraps for now just in case I don't get it, but I would love to get off the mark against Macclesfield.

"It is the first home game of the season, so you want to get a goal for yourself and especially for the team. We also need a win to get off to a good start."

The Macclesfield clash will be the first of two consecutive home games, with Aldershot the visitors this coming Sunday.

And Farrell says the Bucks must take full advantage of home comforts, especially with a daunting trip to newly-relegated Bristol Rovers – one of the division's title favourites – to follow.

He said: "You have got to win your home games, especially in this league where there are some really good teams. We have Bristol Rovers after our two home games so we really need to get a good start.

"We'll do our best and hopefully get two victories."

The Bucks claimed their first point of the new Vanarama Conference season on Saturday with a heroic 1-1 draw at Welling United, in which they had to play more than 40 minutes two men short.

The sendings off of Godfrey Poku and Mike Phenix, either side of half-time, left Telford playing attack against defence for the remainder of the game.

Farrell had to play much of the second half in midfield as a result and, while he was delighted with the work-rate and commitment shown in the circumstances, he added that the team were unable to show exactly what they are capable of going forward.

And it is something he is very keen to change this evening.

He said: "It was tough. We had to dig in deep, but we put in a good shift and got a draw which was the least we deserved.

"I have played with 10 men before but nine with about 35 minutes to go was difficult.

"I thought we did well but you can't really judge us off the first game like that with nine men on the pitch.

"Hopefully tonight we will turn things around and get the victory which I think we deserved on Saturday for our work-rate. Lets see what we can do with 11 men."

Poku and Phenix will both be missing from the team sheet after being handed one-match bans following their dismissals.

They join injured defenders Chris Lever and Rod McDonald on the sidelines.