They say a week’s a long time in football – and the past seven days have certainly proven this old adage for everyone connected to Farsley Celtic Football Club.
A week ago The Celts slipped to a disappointing defeat against bottom club Darlington.
A week – and two victories – later, the mood around the club couldn’t be more different. Off the back of a vital 2-0 win against Boston United at The Citadel on Tuesday (our first home win of the season) the Celts came from behind to beat the much-fancied Buxton in their own backyard.
The thoroughly deserved victory meant The Celts had secured back-to-back National League North victories for the first time since we beat Curzon Ashton and Leamington in March 2022.
Goals from Darren Stephenson and Ryan Watson saw the Celts come from behind. And both sides would end the game with ten men, Conor Branson seeing red late on after a second yellow card.
Farsley started brightly, and Branson almost scored in the eighth minute when he almost got on the end of a through ball, only for Buxton keeper Max Dearnley to make a crucial block. A few minutes later Branson hit a 30-yard drive straight at the former Farsley stopper.
Farsley lost defender to Tom Allan to injury soon after and it wasn’t long before Buxton were awarded a contested penalty for an high foot from a Farsley defender. Diego De Girolamo sent Farsley keeper Leban the wrong way to give the home side the lead.
Farsley stuck at it and were unlucky not to level when Clayton Donaldson was played through, his lob beating Dearnley but hitting the bar. Substitute Dylan Youmbi was unable to convert the rebound.
Two goals in two minutes just before the break transformed the game.
On 43 minutes Darren Stephenson cleverly flicked home a ball into the box with a superb piece of skill to bring the visitors level.
And just two minutes later the influential Ryan Watson struck an unstoppable drive low into Dearnley’s right-hand corner from just outside the box. It was a terrific strike which sent the travelling Farsley fans behind the goal into ecstasy.
The second half started slowly until, Buxton’s De Girolamo received a straight red card on 53 minutes for an apparent elbow aimed at Farsley defender Rudi Misambo.
Both teams had half chances from distance, with neither keeper seriously tested.
With just ten minutes to go Leban fumbled a 25-yard free kick, but as the Buxton attackers shaped up to equalise the linesman’s flag came to Farsley’s rescue. A few minutes later Leban saved superbly from a long drive to preserve the Celts’ lead.
Farsley managed to see out out the final few minutes of the game, despite Conor Branson receiving his marching orders for a second yellow card with just two minutes to go.
The Celts’ back-to-back victories put them in good heart for another tricky trip on Tuesday night, this time at Southport.