By John Baron. Photos: John McEvoy
Farsley Celtic put in an improved first-half performance against a youthful and energetic Huddersfield Town ‘B’ side in their latest pre-season friendly.
The Celts are very much a club in transition, both on and off the pitch. A new management team, coupled with a new possession-based playing style and 11 new signings means pre-season was always going to be case of bedding people in while boosting fitness.
Building takes time and in the first half there were definite signs of a coherent playing style developing and players getting more of an understanding.
The Celts took the lead after ten minutes when Ben Atkinson pressed the Terriers’ defence in their own third.
After dispossessing the defender, he found youngster Joao Silva who slid a perfectly weighted pass into the path of the overlapping Marley Blair. His cross slipped through the fingers of Huddersfield keeper Chapman and went in off the post for Farsley’s first goal since their opening pre-season friendly at Brighouse three weeks ago.
Huddersfield drew level five minutes before the break, a bursting run down the left from lively Huddersfield winger Deru was capped off with him firing a fine strike past the impressive Jack Flint in the Farsley goal.
The second half saw multiple substitutions from both sides, which disrupted the flow of the game.
Huddersfield took the lead just after the hour mark in unfortunate fashion for the home side. A short back pass from the Celts’ Ben Atkinson saw substitute goalkeeper Harry Allen’s hurried clearance blocked by the attacker before the ball flew into the back of the Farsley net.
It was the visitors who looked the more likely to add to their tally as the friendly petered out.
The Celts pre-season preparations continue on Tuesday night when they welcome National League side York City to The Citadel (7.45pm, tickets can be bought here) and concludes on Saturday with a short trip to Guiseley (3pm).
Additional reporting: Niall Togher
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