Disappointing evening for Farsley Celtic as Pilgrims secure two-goal win

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Farsley Celtic have rearranged the match for Tuesday evening. Photo: John McEvoy

Farsley Celtic suffered another home defeat, conceding two goals in the opening quarter of the game to Boston United to give the visitors a 2-0 win, writes Liam O’Sullivan.

Goals from Zak Mills and Jake Wright gave Boston their fourth win in a row in all competitions.

Farsley were without experienced defender Andy Butler, but saw the return of Lewis Turner, meaning Tom Allan was moved into the centre of defence.

The first big chance of the game came from Farsley, when Turner whipped in a delightful cross from the left flank. Spencer was the man on the end of the ball, but his header fizzed wide of the post.

However, only a couple minutes later, Boston opened the scoring. Jordan Crawford cut inside his man and took a shot on in the box which was deflected to the far post. Zak Mills was the man that pounced onto it and beat Dearnley from close range, giving the visitors the lead.

Jimmy Spencer and Frank Mulhern on the attack at the Citadel. Photo: John McEvoy/Leeds Shots

Not long after, Boston could’ve made it two. Crawford was once again at the heart of the attack, collecting the ball by the halfway line and turning Allan quite brilliantly. He then put Scott Pollock through with the outside of his foot, and the 21-year-old took it on the chest and struck it on the volley, but the shot was deflected narrowly wide of the post.

In the 24th minute, Boston did double their lead when Scott Pollock found space in Farsley’s half. He played a smart through ball to split the Celts’ defence, playing through Jake Wright. The Boston number 10 got there before Dearnley and chipped it in to make it 2-0 to the Pilgrims.

Farsley responded though, with a chance from the left-hand side once more. Mulhern slipped through Jimmy Spencer, and the striker showed great technical ability to cut inside of Jake Hull, before unleashing a powerful effort at the keeper’s near post. However, Sam Long stopped it well for a corner.

In the final 10 minutes of the half, it was all Farsley Celtic. A succession of big chances came for the home side, with the first of which coming from a hopeful punt up field from Kian Scales. The high ball was knocked back to by Mulhern to tee up Spencer on the edge of the box. Spencer struck it sweetly, but the shot ended up just wide.

Frank Mulhern lets one fly against Boston. Photo: John McEvoy/Leeds Shots.

A few minutes later, Spencer was involved again, once more showing some great footwork on the edge of the box. He played a lovely through ball to Parkin who found himself in a wonderful goalscoring position, but his shot got a slight ricochet which took it away from goal and sent it out for a corner.

A corner a minute later saw Farsley’s best chance of the game so far. It was taken short, and a one-two between Atkinson and Johnson led to a dangerous cross from Atkinson. Clayton leapt into the air and got some contact on the header and beat the goalkeeper. This would turn out to be a disappointing moment for Farsley, as the shot was cleared off the line denying the Celts a potentially game-changing goal, but Clayton also picked up an injury as a result of the effort.

He was substituted just before half-time for new signing Isaac Assenso.

The second half saw few chances in the first 20 minutes. The best chance that came in this period was from the visitors, when Jake Wright did brilliantly on the left flank, taking it to the by-line and playing a nice ball to Pollock. The midfielder missed the ball, but Zak Mills was behind him, and the goal scorer of the first struck it with venom into the bottom left corner, but Dearnley made a cracking stop to deny the Pilgrims a third.

After the 20-minute mark of the second half, back-to-back chances came Farsley’s way. The first came from a ball which was headed away from danger by the Boston defence, but only as far as Frank Mulhern. The Irishman took it on the chest and volleyed it quite brilliantly from distance, but the keeper made an excellent fingertip save to deny the Celts a goal back.

A few minutes later, Farsley came even closer. A free kick from distance was taken short to Parkin. He then dinked a lovely first time cross into the box which fell to debutant Assenso in a glorious position from close range, but the defender’s effort was saved well by Long.

After these two big chances for Farsley, they struggled to cause the visitors any more problems, and the Pilgrims saw out the game comfortably to collect all three points on the road.

Farsley have a break on Saturday and next travel to Worcestershire on Saturday, 8 October, in what will be a tough encounter against fifth-placed Kidderminster Harriers.

Celts captain Dave Syers on the ball. Photo: John McEvoy/Leeds Shots

Line ups

Farsley Celtic: Dearnley, Turner, Scales, Johnson, Allan, Clayton (Assenso 46), Syers ©, Atkinson, Spencer, Mulhern, Parkin. Unused subs: Pointon, Ubaezuono, Dube, Osadebe.

Boston United: Long, Brown, S. Pollock (Obiero 85), Wright (Gordon 77), Leesley ©, Ferguson, Atkinson (Abbott 75), Crawford, B. Pollock, Mills, Hull. Unused subs: Davies, Myles.

Farsley man of the match: Bobby Johnson.

Attendance: 427.

More of John McEvoy’s photos from the game can be found here.

Stats

The Celts have failed to win a home game since beating Southport 2-0 at the Citadel on 18 April. That’s seven home league games without a win – three draws and four losses. It’s eight competitive home games without a win if you count the FA Cup replay defeat against Fylde.

Since the victory of Southport last season, Farsley have managed just one win in 14 league games, which was a 3-0 victory at Brackley in August. The stat can stretch to one win in 16 competitive games if you include the FA Cup games against Fylde.

Farsley have just one win from ten in the league this season.

Match reaction

Farsley Celtic boss Russ Wilcox was left frustrated by the result, saying the players gave their all and played well in spells but need to improve in both boxes…

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