Farsley Celtic put in a dominant performance as they dispatched National League North side Bradford Park Avenue in the West Riding County Cup semi-final, writes Thomas Ritchie.
The terrific 3-1 victory will see The Celts face Tadcaster Albion at Valley Parade in the final. Bradford Park Avenue where unable to name any substitutes for this tie, while Farsley fielded just three players who had never featured before.
Right from the first minute Farsley were up to the task and were always dangerous on the attack. The breakthrough came early on as Richard Marshall slipped in Lamin Colley who slotted past Bradford Park Avenue ‘keeper Ashley Onitiri.
Ryan Watson then came close to doubling Farsley’s lead, playing a swift one-two with Lewis Nightingale before firing wide.
However Ryan Watson did get the goal with Nightingale involved once more, the tricky midfielder allowing Ryan Serrant’s throw to run through to Watson who’s piercing shot flew into the bottom corner.
The Celts proceeded to have the upper hand as they controlled the pace of the game, Lamin Colley bursting forward with a powerful run before Onitiri made the save.
Colley continued to create problems for the Avenue defence, but this time he headed Ross Daly’s cross inches wide.
Just after the hour mark Bradford were fortunate to keep eleven men on the field, as the already cautioned Matt Hill scythed down Lamin Colley as he attempted to break away. From the resulting free-kick Ryan Watson’s effort took a slight deflection before Hill made a block on the line.
Against the run of play Avenue pulled a goal back when Ryan Toulson whipped in a delightful cross towards Liam Dickinson who powered his header into the bottom corner.
Lamin Colley then had another opportunity to add to the score line as he played a one-two with Nightingale, this time shooting wide from the edge of the box.
Confidence growing, Avenue fashioned a couple of good opportunities, first Luke Dean fired wide from the edge of the box before an acrobatic effort from Liam Dickinson flew over the crossbar.
The sucker punch arrived two minutes from time however, as a rapid Farsley counter attack allowed Ross Daly to feed substitute James Walshaw who showed great composure to curl his effort into the back of the net for his 40th goal of the season, and to seal The Celts’ passage to the West Riding County Cup Final.
Bradford Park Avenue: Onitiri, Toulson (c), Hill, Dean, Killock, Chippendale, Payne, Boshell, Sinclair, Sharp, Dickinson.
Farsley Celtic: McKibbin, Hardy (c), Howarth, Watson, Clayton, Serrant, Nightingale, Daly, Colley (Walshaw 76), Atkinson, Marshall. Unused subs: P. Davidson, Walker, Deacey, Savory.
MOTM: Lewis Nightingale
Attendance: 237