Words: Thomas Ritchie. Photos: Simon Cullingworth
Scarborough Athletic deservedly took the bragging rights in the first Yorkshire derby of the season as they defeated Farsley Celtic 4-2.
The Seadogs have acclimatised to life in the National League North superbly, and continued their impressive start to the new campaign as they saw off a Farsley side stuck towards the bottom of the division.
Despite their position in the table, the Celts had put in impressive performances in recent times, and that was reflected in the early stages. Both sides were looking to get on the front foot, but neither really fashioned a threat on goal in the opening minutes.
However, Jonathan Greening’s side, full of confidence on a five-game unbeaten run, would take the lead 12 minutes in. Lewis Maloney delivered an excellent cross into the six-yard box that Kieran Weledji diverted past Max Dearnley in the Farsley goal.
Michael Coulson in particular was a constant threat throughout, carrying the ball upfield and troubling the Farsley defence, and it would be no surprise when Scarborough doubled their lead, Will Jarvis finishing smartly.
The game then settled down somewhat, with Farsley beginning to retain the ball without ever troubling Joe Cracknell in the ‘Boro goal.
And whatever was said at half-time in the Farsley dressing room seemed to do the trick. Within 60 seconds of the restart, it was game on, Andy Butler getting the run on his man at the near post and powering home a header from Bobby Johnson’s delivery.
However, Farsley’s hopes of a dramatic comeback appeared short-lived. Dom Tear soon restored his side’s two-goal advantage, before, just past the hour mark, Luca Colville curled home a superb fourth.
Would there be another twist?
Perhaps so. With 15 minutes remaining, the visitors’ ‘keeper Cracknell made a mess of coming for the ball in the box, allowing Adam Clayton to nod home into an empty goal.
Clayton was the man in the right spot once again after Butler worked the ball to him on the edge of the six-yard box, but he could only blaze what seemed a simple chance over the crossbar.
And what could have been a grandstand finish went with that squandered opportunity.
Dave Syers almost struck at the death, his header forcing a smart save low down from Cracknell, but that would have been nothing more than a consolation.
For Wilcox’s men, they will be looking to bounce back next weekend, with a lengthy trip to Hereford awaiting them.
Line ups
Farsley Celtic: Dearnley, Turner, Scales, Johnson (Dube 61), Butler, Clayton, Allan, Atkinson ©, Spencer, Mulhern (Syers 61), Parkin (Gratton 72). Unused subs: Morgan (GK), Malumo.
Scarborough Athletic: Cracknell, Weledji, Jackson, Maloney, Thornton, Gooda, Coulson © (Bramall 72), Glynn, Colville, Tear (Ayari 61), Jarvis (Plant 90). Unused subs: Burton, Heslop.
Attendance: 864.
Reaction
Farsley Celtic boss Russ Wilcox said he was disappointed by his team’s performance following recent positive displays, but praised the visitors, who have lost only once since last November:
Scarborough boss – and former Champions’ League winner with Manchester United – Jonathan Greening praised his side’s performance and felt they were good value for their win:
Summer signing Horshaw leaves Celts
Farsley Celtic can confirm that George Hornshaw has departed the club for Gainsborough Trinity.
Geoffrey Hornshaw has left Farsley Celtic, the club has confirmed today.
Hornshaw joined the Celts in the summer from Gainsborough and featured in the first two games of the season, starting the season opener.
This was the young midfielder’s second spell at the club, after a loan stint in our promotion-winning 2018/19 campaign. He now returns to Trinity, for whom he featured in the Emirates FA Cup yesterday.
Next game
Farsley make the long journey to Hereford on Saturday, 10 September, 3pm. Tickets can be bought in advance here.
