By John Baron
Farsley Celtic battled to a hard-earned and creditable point at Southport in new boss Pav Singh‘s first game in charge.
The Celts had relieved head coach Clayton Donaldson of his duties just 24 hours earlier for ‘footballing reasons’, along with his assistant Danny Ellis.
It was a hard-working and committed performance by The Celts, in a game of few chances.
A superb solo goal from Danny Greenfield put the Celts ahead a few minutes into the second half. But Danny Philliskirk scrambled the ball home from a corner to level matters on 78 minutes.
Resolute defence from Farsley secured a valuable point on the Celts’ seventh straight league game on the road.
The Celts had been dealt a blow ahead of the game, with influential defender Rudy Misambo ruled out for several weeks with injury. Striker DJ Sturridge then limped off after eight minutes following a clash with the Port goalkeeper, and before half time the list of walking wounded was joined by defender Lewis Turner.
Port had the better of the first half, without creating much. Closest they came was on 23 minutes when Luke Burgess picked out Danny Lloyd, but his shot was parried behind by Farsley keeper Darryl Ombang.
The Celts improved after the break, and just three minutes in Danny Greenfield notched his first goal for the club in superb fashion. The midfielder turned his man before producing a pin-point strike past Chris Renshaw to give Farsley the advantage. It was their first – and only – shot on target in the game.
Defender Isaac Assenso had a half chance from a corner on 65 minutes.
With 12 minutes to go the hosts were level. Lloyd’s free-kick appeared to be sailing over the bar but Ombang flicked up a hand to make sure. The resulting corner wasn’t dealt with by the Farsley defence and Philliskirk poked home through a sea of players to make it 1-1.
Southport dominated the latter stages, and in injury time Farsley were reduced to ten men after Ryan Watson limped off with an injury, with all five substitutes already used. Some staunch defending – ably led by the inspirational Conor Branson at the back – saw the Celts hold on for a 1-1 draw.
Given the dismissal of Donaldson and the lack of home games, it was a useful point on the road. Donaldson and Ellis are still retained by the club as players but did not attend last night’s game.
The Celts sit in mid-table on 10 points after seven games, which have all been played away from home due to stalled work on laying a new 4G playing surface at the Citadel.
Line up
Farsley Celtic: Ombang, Turner (Hyde 45+1), Allan, Assenso, Sloane, Branson, B Atkinson, Watson, Greenfield (Fielding 87), Stephenson (Kiwomya 84), Campton-Sturridge (Youmbi 8 (Fox 64)).
Reaction
Head coach Pav Singh said he was proud of the effort his players had put in, and praised his side’s work ethic.
Up next
The Celt Army face their eighth consecutive away league game this Saturday, with a long trip to Suffolk to face Vanarama National League new-boys Needham Market.
Needham will come into the game on a high after winning their last two games.
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