By John Baron
Oh, the agony of watching Farsley Celtic this season!
The Celts looked to be heading to their first point since January after a superb 81st-minute equaliser by striker Justin Iwobi cancelled out George Glendon’s 63rd-minute opener.
But Scott Duxbury’s 91st-minute header broke the hearts of the young Celts side, who slipped to their 16th straight defeat in a game again played over 70 miles away in Buxton due to ongoing pitch issues in Farsley.
The visitors had the better of a goalless first half, with Farsley keeper Will Brook making a fantastic diving save, with his outstretched left arm somehow tipping away an Anthony Dudley effort. Matt Carson’s free kick brushed the side netting for Radcliffe minutes later.
The second half was a tight affair, Tom Walker’s effort from 20 yards brushing the roof of the net for the visitors.
Radcliffe opened the scoring on 63 minutes. Farsley blocked an initial shot, but the ball fell to the feet of George Glendon, who picked his spot past Brook from 10 yards out.
It was almost 2-0 five minutes later when Glendon’s cross-cum-shot clipped the post before the ball was scrambled clear.
But the young Farsley side showed great character and played some decent football at times.
They pulled level with just nine minutes on the clock. Forward Justin Iwobi went on a run and fired a brilliant finish into the bottom corner from the edge of the area to send the handful of travelling Farsley fans into raptures.
Another great save from Will Brook on 85 minutes saw him flick Jordan Hulme’s shot over the bar. A minute later defender Isaac Abankwah put his body on the line to block Matt Sargeant’s effort in the goal line. Abankwah then limped off injured following treatment.
Farsley’s hearts were broken as the game entered four minutes of injury time, Scott Duxbury heading Radcliffe back into the lead to confirm his side’s place in National League North next season.
Defeat was a tough one to take for a battling Farsley side whose relegation had already been confirmed earlier this month.
In a season which has seen Farsley play every game away from The Citadel, their final ‘home’ game in Buxton will see them entertain play off hopefuls Curzon Ashton on Easter Monday, before concluding their National League North tenure at Brackley the following Saturday.
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