Farsley Celtic earned an FA Cup first qualifying draw away to Witton Albion as they finally found their goalscoring form to dispatch of Stocksbridge Park Steels 3-0, writes Thomas Ritchie.
Stocksbridge had the first chance of the game when Danny Critchlow cut in from the wing but could only shoot wide.
Farsley then had a chance of their own when Aiden Savory set up Neil Stevens who fired just wide of the upright.
Lewis Nightingale, who was at the heart of every attacking move for Farsley, created an opportunity for captain Robbie O’Brien, but his low effort was well saved by Stocksbridge ‘keeper Sam Andrews.
Then on the stroke of half time Stocksbridge came the closest to scoring when Rory Coleman’s long range effort clipped the top of the crossbar.
Stocksbridge came out of the traps much quicker in the second half and Critchlow had a great chance inside the box but Farsley ‘keeper Tom Taylor denied him brilliantly.
Moments later Stocksbridge had the best chance of the game as Harrison Biggins had his 20-yard effort brilliantly saved by Taylor, before Taylor again got down to block Critchlow’s effort at point blank range. The ball was eventually scrambled away for a corner.
Farsley then took the lead against the run of play when Aiden Savory received the ball 25-yards out and fired a skimmer towards goal, which Stocksbridge ‘keeper Andrews could only fumble into the net.
The Celts doubled their lead when Neil Stevens played a sharp pass to Savory, who saw his deflected effort beat Andrews into the bottom corner.
In the final minutes Kyle Hancock clinched victory for Farsley with the pick of the goals, a 25-yard pile-driver from outside the left corner of the penalty box, which sparked jubilant scenes as Farsley won their first game of the 2015/16 season.
TEAMS:
Farsley Celtic: Taylor, Stevens, Grant, O’Brien (c), Riley, Wigley, Nightingale, Sugden, Guest, Savory (Jenkinson 85), Hancock. Unused subs: Trotter, Harrison, Lofthouse (GK).
Stocksbridge Park Steels: Andrews, Meade, Coleman, Paterson (Laight 84), McFadyen, Cardwell, Hinchcliffe (Thompson 81), Biggins, Garside (c), Critchlow, Pourton (Hilton 81). Unused subs: Rhodes.
MOTM: Aiden Savory
Attendance: 137