Farsley Celtic slide into bottom four following Spennymoor defeat

By John Baron

Farsley Celtic slid into the relegation zone for the first time this season following a comprehensive 3-1 defeat at a grey, wet and muddy Spennymoor Town.

Heavy rain meant the pitch, which has been the subject of an early morning inspection, was difficult for both teams. But it was the home side who emerged winners thanks to goals from Will Harris, Reece Staunton and Rob Ramshaw after Ben Atkinson had put The Celts ahead.

The defeat means Farsley have won one of their last 12 league games, losing eight and scoring just seven times in the process. Wins for relegation rivals Darlington and Rushall Olympic mean The Celts now languish in the fourth relegation spot in the Vanarama National League North, with just four matches remaining.

The visitors from West Leeds started the game well, nullifying the threat of playoff hopefuls Spennymoor. And they took the lead in the 17th minute, top scorer Ben Atkinson stroking an opening goal past Brad James in the Spennymoor net.

The home side slowly started to control possession without forcing a save from Farsley keeper Zan Luk Leban. But the visitors’ solid defensive work was undone in the 35th minute.

Reece Staunton’s whipped free kick from the edge of the box was only parried by Leban, Danny Greenfield latched on to the loose ball before being upended in the box by a rash George Smith challenge. Will Harris scored the resultant penalty to drag the Moors back on level terms.

Two minutes later the home side almost took the lead as Greenfield steered his shot into the side netting following a testing Ramshaw cross.

The Celts could still be pleased with their efforts as they went into half time at 1-1. The second half, however, was dominated by the home side.

Leban brilliantly tipped over a Spennymoor header on 55 minutes, but was beaten on 72 minutes thanks to an outrageous stroke of good fortune for the Moors. Staunton’s long cross somehow found its way directly into the top corner for 2-1. Leban then denied Harris when he went clean through on goal following a defensive mistake.

But the home side made it safe late on, Ramshaw going through on goal as Farsley pushed forward and the midfielder finished his tenth league goal of the season to secure the win.

In a season which has seen The Celts sit comfortably in mid-table for the most part, they now have four games left to avert an alarming slide, with critical back-to-back games against Peterborough Sports and a crunch trip to fellow strugglers Darlington on the horizon, before entertaining Buxton on the final day.

Of further concern to The Celts will be an injury which forced off defender George Smith. Added to existing injuries to defenders Rudy Misambo and Isaac Assenso and the upcoming three-match ban for Tom Allan, The Celts’ already stretched squad will be tested further.

Spennymoor: James, Lufudu (Ledger 87), Mbeka, Liddle, Staunton, Dolan (Ross 15), Shrimpton, Greenfield, Ramshaw, McKeown (Fletcher 65), Harris. Subs not used: Myers, Chimalilo.

Farsley Celtic: Leban, Turner, Allan, Branson, Smith (Carroll 73), B Atkinson, C Atkinson, Evans, Coulson, Donaldson (Leverett 64), Watson (Silva 77). Subs not used: Stephenson, Ellis.

Sponsored content