Words: Thomas Ritchie
Farsley Celtic suffered a fifth-straight league defeat as they fell at the hands of promotion-chasing Brackley Town 3-2, despite a late onslaught almost bringing a point.
It’s a defeat that sends the Celts spinning to the bottom of National League North, but there were certainly positives as Farsley scored twice in the league for the first time since December 11, pushing their second-place opponents all the way.
The higher-ranked hosts looked to assert their dominance in the early stages, but were limited to half-chances as Dave Syers’ men weathered the early storm; Glenn Walker saw a strike deflected behind, before a tame effort from Fabio Lopes was comfortably saved by Kyle Trenerry.
It would be the Celts who fashioned the first big opportunity of the game as Luke Parkin slid Jimmy Spencer through on goal, but ‘keeper Danny Lewis stood firm to make an important one-on-one save.
Brackley broke the deadlock five minutes before the interval. Right-back Ellis Myles was afforded the opportunity to push high up the pitch, and he whipped in a delightful cross for Matt Lowe to power home.
The Saints picked up where they left off after the break, and within five minutes of the restart had doubled their lead as Jimmy Armson nodded home from a corner.
The third arrived within minutes in calamitous circumstances, Kyle Trenerry’s attempted clearance striking Lowe and, despite the ‘keeper’s best efforts, rolling across the goal line.
The game then became broken up as both sides introduced a number of substitutes, the only effort from either side arriving when Adam Clayton flashed an effort across goal and wide.
But with five minutes remaining, the game sparked back into life. Chris Atkinson showed great instincts as he took a free-kick on the edge of the box quickly to Spencer, with the forward’s ball falling to Clayton at the far post where he slotted home.
Atkinson and Spencer were involved again to set up a grandstand finish, the latter laying the ball off to Atkinson, who unleashed a terrific strike into the bottom corner from outside the penalty area.
And a stunning comeback was almost completed in added time, Louis Fialdini flicking the ball onto Lewis Turner at the back post, but he was unable to control the bouncing ball as he sliced wide.
Brackley Town: Lewis, Myles, Walker (Cullinane-Liburd 74), Murombedzi, Lomas, Dean ©, Lowe, Armson, Ndlovu, York (Rolt 64), Lopes (Putz 79). Unused subs: Worby, Yusuf.
Farsley Celtic: Trenerry, Vaughan, Akiotu (Broe 75), Turner, Clayton, Sutton, Tserpes (Kabeya 90), Atkinson ©, Drake, Spencer, Parkin (Fialdini 72). Unused subs: Westcarr (GK), Alasttal.
Attendance: 593.