Photos: Simon Cullingworth
Words: Ed McIntyre & Simon Cullingworth
What a game… a penalty save, a red card and a last-second winner!
Farsley Celtic shocked Curzon Ashton late on, as goals from Akeel Francis and Will Hayhurst were enough to seal a home victory for the Celts.
On the half-hour mark Curzon Ashton were awarded a penalty by referee James Westgate after Tricket-Smith was brought down in the area. Callum Saunders stepped up to take the spot-kick, but Farsley goalkeeper Kyle Trenerry got across well to make the save to ensure that the half-time score was 0-0.
However, Curzon Ashton did take the lead in the second half, with Tricket-Smith’s long-range strike on 69 minutes silencing the Citadel.
Farsley Manager Adam Lakeland decided to use all three of his substitutions as soon as the goal went in, and his choice paid off on 88 minutes when substitute Akeel Francis was played through one on one, and he made no mistake in poking the ball past an oncoming Calderbank-Park and into the far right-hand corner of the net.
Curzon Ashton saw themselves go a man down as Mohamed Ali was shown his second yellow and a red card, all but ending the visitors’ hopes of finding a winning goal.
Farsley pushed on in the little time that remained and they found a winning goal deep into injury time, with Will Hayhurst latching onto a loose ball to fire a shot into the back of the net.