Farsley Celtic youngsters’ run in this year’s FA Youth Cup came to an end with a 3-0 defeat at League Two side Stockport County – but there were lots of positives to take from the match.
Emerging Talent Squad got off to a slow start, and were 2-0 down in the first seven minutes against their more illustrious opponents.
Joe Hillary did well on the left, driving into the box and squaring a pass to the oncoming James Barry, who tapped home for Stockport after just three minutes.
It got worse four minutes later. A loose pass by Farsley goalkeeper Liam Wilson went straight to Joe Hillary, who lifted the ball into the net.
The travelling Farsley fans who went along to Edgeley Park to support the boys were fearing a rout against higher league opponents. But the ETS lads are made of sterner stuff and the underdogs acquitted themselves well, with a battling performance against a team whose players were one or two years older than them.
Their heads never went down and they competed right until the final kick of the game, and were a credit to themselves and the club.
Farsley keeper Wilson made a double save on 38 minutes to keep the score at two, before Krubally had Farsley’s best chance of the game so far, shooting just wide of the post.
The second half saw Farsley the better team for spells, playing some attractive passing football.
Krubally almost found his way through for Farsley, but was crowded out after a good run. Moments later he had a shot blocked by a Stockport defender as the visitors started to get on top.
Farsley’s best chance came with Priestley-Standing’s 65th-minute free kick at the edge of the box, which was superbly saved by the diving Stockport keeper Kane Bove. The resulting corner was scrambled away by the hosts.
Farsley continued to probe, fight and battle for every ball. The lively Bubba Krubally did his best to spark a Farsley fightback, and created a couple of half chances for himself.
But it wasn’t to be.
The game was finally put out of Farsley’s reach when Ashton Mee latched onto a through ball, nutmegged the defender, rounded the goalkeeper and fired the ball into the roof of the net with a superb stoppage time finish.
The third goal was a tad harsh after the Farsley lads’ battling second-half efforts. They acquitted themselves well against a team higher up the football pyramid, who were just that bit older and stronger. The lads can hold their heads high and learn lots from the game.