Words: John Baron
There’s a well-known saying in football that ‘it’s a game of two halves’. Sadly for Farsley Celtic the cliche perfectly summed up last night’s game as they crashed 1-0 to Bradford Park Avenue.
Bottom club Farsley, buoyed by their first league win since November on Saturday, started the game brightly. Striker Jimmy Spencer rattled the bar early on, then headed a good chance wide before forcing Bradford’s inspired keeper into a fine save from distance – all before half-time.
Keeper George Sykes-Kenworthy kept Bradford in it, saving well when Luke Parkin was put through, and striker Jerome Greaves flashed a chance wide.
The missed chances were to prove costly as Bradford made a double substitution at half-time and improved almost immediately. Just four minutes into the second half striker Lewis Knight a well-worked goal with Park Avenue’s only shot on target all night.
In a second period of few chances, the Celts were unable to raise their game and defeat leaves them rooted to the bottom of the National League North and in deep relegation trouble. They’re two points behind local rivals Guiseley, who now have two games in hand. The Celts are three points behind an improving Telford side, but do have a game in hand.
The result leaves Park Avenue 12 points above the Celts and all-but guaranteed their survival for this season.
Farsley manager Russ Wilcox spoke of this frustration after the game and said that they only had themselves to blame for not taking their chances in the first half: