By John Baron
Injury hit Farsley Celtic fell to a 1-0 defeat at Peterborough Sports, despite another super show from their loanee keeper Zan Luk Leban.
Dan Jarvis’ goal early on in the second half was the difference between the sides in a game that the hosts created much the better of the chances, with Farsley stopper Leban – surely The Celts’ player of the season by a country mile – making a series of fine saves in the first half hour alone.
The defeat leaves The Celts in the fourth relegation spot, level on 50 points with Blyth Spartans and two behind Saturday’s opponents Darlington, with just two games remaining. Peterborough are now five points clear of the dreaded drop zone and look to be safe.
Farsley were fresh from a dramatic 1-0 win at home against the same opponents on Saturday but missing five defenders through injury or suspension. And they struggled to get a foothold in the first half, with Everton loanee Leban saving well on at least five occasions from Josh McCammon and Mark Jones, including a smart double save. Without Leban this season, Farsley would surely have been relegated weeks ago.
The visitors’ best chance of a goalless first half came 22 minutes in when Ben Atkinson flashed an effort just over the bar from inside the box.
The start of the second half saw Farsley’s best spell of the game, with Sports’ keeper Crook making two diving saves to deny Ryan Watson and Connor Branson in the opening minutes.
Just as Farsley looked to be asserting themselves, the deadlock was broken on 53 minutes when the ball was squared to Jarvis, who found himself in space and hammered the ball home from just inside the area to give the home side the lead.
Nine minutes later Leban saved brilliantly again, this time holding a great Brandon Njoku chance.
Farsley enjoyed spells of possession in the second half and looked more of a threat when Joao Silva was introduced for the final ten minutes, but despite huffing and puffing they failed to create little more than half chances as the referee’s final whistle sparked celebrations from there home players and fans.
Aside from Leban, veteran defender and coach Danny Ellis marked his first start of the season with a commanding display in a makeshift defensive line.
Another crucial relegation six-pointer faces The Celts on Saturday when they travel to fellow strugglers Darlington, before a home game against mid-table Buxton at The Citadel concludes the season.
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