Farsley Celtic won a fiery West Yorkshire derby against Brighouse Town 3-2 thanks to a dramatic late winner from James Walshaw, writes Thomas Ritchie.
Brighouse came racing out of the blocks and Kurt Harris could have given them the lead as he shot wide from Ben Wharton’s cross.
However Wharton himself handed Brighouse the lead as he fired home his first goal for the club. Just moments later Wharton thought he had doubled Brighouse’s lead as he headed home Ben Atkinson’s delightful cross, only to be adjudged offside by the linesman.
Brighouse Town then appeared to be fortunate to keep 11 players on the field, as after a coming together between Aiden Savory and Devonte Morton, Morton seemed to kick out at the Farsley defender.
Farsley themselves then had a goal disallowed for offside, with Paul Walker heading Lewis Nightingale’s free-kick back across goal to James Walshaw who headed home only to be denied by the linesman.
The Celts did pull level as Nightingale’s cross towards Walshaw fell to Richard Marshall who fired home from ten yards out.
Less than two minutes later, Farsley had the advantage as Ryan Watson’s long range strike took a wicked deflection, wrong footing Brighouse ‘keeper Tom Taylor and hitting the back of the net.
Brighouse Town were reduced to ten men on the hour mark, as Jack Stockdill’s late and nasty challenge on Jordan Deacey saw him receive his marching orders and create a fracas between the two teams. Farsley looked to use the man advantage, with Ryan Watson and James Walshaw both denied by Taylor.
The ten men then levelled against the run of play, Wharton crossing to Leon Osborne who’s shot was saved by Graeme McKibbin before the rebound was bundled home by a combination of Osborne and Aiden Savory.
Osborne then had a terrific opportunity to win the game for Brighous as he raced through on goal and beat McKibbin with his shot only to be denied by the post, with most people in the ground expecting the net to ripple.
Tom Taylor was forced into action, making a fine save as he tipped over James Walshaw’s free-kick, before getting a crucial touch on Lewis Nightingale’s fizzing cross.
Farsley then won a corner, and Lewis Nightingale found Richard Marshall in the box who’s effort hit the post, before falling to James Walshaw who popped up at the far post to slot home and earn Farsley all three points, sparking jubilant celebrations.
Match facts
Farsley Celtic: McKibbin, Hardy (c), Howarth, Watson, Clayton, Savory, Nightingale, Marshall, Walshaw, Deacey (P. Davidson 85), Walker (Daly 47). Unused subs: Serrant, A. Davidson.
Brighouse Town: Taylor, Harris, Pearson, Field (c), Pollard, Atkinson, Parkin (Shaw 73), Stockdill, Wharton, Morton (Dugdale 59), Osborne. Unused subs: Fish, Stead, Low.
MOTM: Richard Marshall
Attendance: 247