By Thomas Ritchie
Farsley Celtic picked up what could prove to be an important point on the road, as they drew 1-1 with AFC Telford United.
It was a tale of two set-piece goals at the New Bucks Head Stadium, Harry Flowers opening the scoring for the hosts, before Andy Butler levelled just before the interval.
Farsley will be left wondering how they didn’t find a second, taking the game to their opponents in the second half, but failing to find the killer touch in the box.
The Celts started the game on the front foot but were restricted to long-range efforts in the early stages, Frank Mulhern bending a long-distance effort wide, while Bobby Johnson drove a strike across goal and just wide.
But is was the hosts who would open the scoring inside the opening quarter of an hour. Brendan Daniels’ free-kick from the left found the towering Harry Flowers, who powered his header in off the crossbar.
That sparked a strong period for the Bucks, who always looked like a threat at set pieces.
They would come close to a second at a corner, the ball dropping to Montel Gibson who miskicked, before Byron Moore saw his effort from close range blocked on the line.
After withstanding the hosts’ push for a second, Farsley went on the search for an equaliser, and it would arrive less than five minutes before the break.
It was 19 years ago on this day that Andy Butler scored his first professional goal, for Scunthorpe United, and he was at it again on career appearance number 701.
Lewis Butroid’s corner from the right found an unmarked Butler at the far post, and the centre-half planted his header into the top corner.
And there was time for Russ Wilcox’s side to almost edge in front before half-time arrived, Butroid delivering a wicked cross that Carlton Ubaezuonu couldn’t get a strong enough connection with, glancing wide.
As the second period began it was Farsley who picked up where they left off, Kian Scales forcing Joe Young into action as he parried the Farsley man’s driven shot, before the hosts scrambled clear.
The Celts were beginning to get the ball down and play some nice football on Telford’s expansive surface, and Ubaezuonu would come close after the ball was worked well to him in the box, flashing over from a tight angle.
As the game entered the final 10 minutes, Frank Mulhern almost found the all-important second in spectacular fashion.
He spotted Young off his line and launched a half-volley goalward from near the halfway line, with the Telford ‘keeper forced to backpedal and tip over his bar.
Mulhern would then come close again as he continued to be a nuisance for the Bucks’ defence, cleverly flicking the ball over a defender before his effort was smartly saved by Young.
The dangerous Farsley frontman – who starts a four-match ban on Saturday after his red card against Hereford – would have one final chance at the death, Chris Atkinson keeping the ball alive for Mulhern, who brought the ball down inside the box but struck just wide.
The point moved the visitors up to fourth from bottom in the league and just a point behind fifth bottom Leamington.
Farsley, who yesterday revealed striker Jimmy Spencer has moved to Curzon Ashton, are next in action in the FA Trophy fifth round when they visit Hungerford on Saturday.
Line ups
AFC Telford United: Young, Burke, Livingstone, Nolan, Flowers, Rowe, Daniels, Evans (Ekpolo 74), Gibson (Salmon 90+1), Moore (Williams 56), Allen. Unused subs: Piggott, Blissett.
Farsley Celtic: Dearnley, Turner, Butroid, Johnson, Butler ©, Allan, Scales, Atkinson, Ubaezuonu, Mulhern, Parkin (Syers 81). Unused subs: Clayton, Osadebe, Assenso, Morgan (GK).
Attendance: 958.
Reaction
Celts boss Russ Wilcox said he was delighted with his side’s last two performances, but felt last night’s dominant second-half performance merited all three points.
