A young but spirited Farsley Celtic side put up a valiant fight at play off chasing Darlington – but ended up slipping to their 14th consecutive defeat.
Darlo were 2-0 up midway through the first half after goals from Jack Maskell and Caden Kelly, but Justin Iwobi’s 43rd minute effort – his first for the club – gave bottom club Farsley hope before the break.
A Matty Cornish own goal then put the Celts on level terms on 51 minutes – the first time they have scored more than once in a game since Boxing Day at Curzon Ashton. The goal sent Farsley’s seven-strong travelling contingent into raptures!
But goals in the last 17 minutes from Maskell and Sam Hetherington saw the more experienced Darlo eventually collect the three points.
The Celts were without first choice keeper Will Brook, who was injured in Tuesday night’s defeat against Oxford City.
His place was taken by 18-year-old goalkeeper Jenson Kilroy, who arrived on an emergency loan from Walsall and performed well in his debut. Kilroy is the seventh goalkeeper to have played for Farsley in league and cup games this season.
Darlo’s Maskell netted his first on 16 minutes when received the ball from Kelly before firing home inside the six yard to give the hosts an early advantage.
The lead was doubled on 27 minutes as Will McGowan found Kelly inside the box and he fired in to extend their advantage.
It could have been three on 41 minutes when Cedric Main’s effort hit the post but boosted by that let-off, Farsley pulled a goal back at a crucial time two minutes later. Iwobi got on the end of a long ball before lobbing over Pete Jameson and then netting into an unguarded net to make it 2-1 at the interval.
The goal buoyed the Celts and they drew level on 51 minutes as Isaac Abankwah’s ball across goal was put through his own goal by Cornish.
Darlo re-took the lead on 73 minutes as Maskell headed home from Scott Barrow’s cross to net his second goal of the afternoon.
Victory was then guaranteed on the 77th minute as Main fed Hetherington, who steered the ball past Farsley’s debutant teenage keeper. The goal was the 100th The Celts have conceded in the league this season.
Farsley entertain Hereford next Saturday at the Tarmac Silverlands Stadium in Buxton as the club nears a full year since its last game at The Citadel.
Farsley Celtic: Kilroy, Abankwah, Janneh, Polwarth, Bumhira (Monteiro), Hyde, Youmbi, Mampala (Edmondson), Kondolo, Iwobi (Ameho), Silva.