By John Baron
FC Farsley exited the Yorkshire Amateur League Cup on penalties in an absorbing contest against Shelley at Throstle Nest.
Another good crowd of 348 saw a keenly contested tie featuring two of the teams expected to be competing at the top end of the table this season.
Last month, Farsley had edged a 4-3 thriller at Shelley in the league, scoring three times in the last ten minutes. Yesterday’s game may have lacked the goals, but it certainly didn’t lack drama.
Yesterday’s match finished 1-1 after 90 minutes. Shelley took a deserved early lead, with their forward beating Farsley’s keeper to the ball. Farsley equalised five minutes before half time when Aiden Hawkridge raced clear of the Shelley defence to coolly slot home for the equaliser in the bottom corner for his first Farsley goal.
Farsley made a handful of changes to their last league game, which saw them throw away a three-goal lead to lose 5-3 against table toppers PE Bradford United. And it was Shelley who had the better of the opening exchanges.
Farsley keeper Jordan Fletcher, making his home debut, pulled off a couple of decent close-range blocks and Shelley also rattled the Farsley crossbar.
Hawkridge’s equaliser galvanised the home side, who finished the half the stronger team.
The second half was a tight affair with defences on top.
Both sides had chances, the best of which fell to Farsley’s Finn Beetham inside the last ten minutes. His effort was somehow tipped into the bar via a stunning save from the visitors’ goalkeeper.
The game went to the lottery of penalties, Shelley edging the shoot-out 4-3 thanks to a couple of saves from their keeper.
It was unfortunate that the end of the game saw some heated exchanges as the over-exuberant celebrations from Shelley’s players spilled over.
Farsley return to league action when they travel to Gildersome Spurs at Bruntcluffe High School next Saturday (2pm) as they look to get back to winning ways following successive defeats.
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