Farsley Celtic 7 Marske United 1
Farsley Celtic find themselves three games from Wembley after securing a place in the last 16 of the Isuzu FA Trophy for the first time in the club’s history
The Celts were ruthless against their Northern Premier League opponents Marske, and their Trophy run a very welcome tonic after a winless start to 2023. The match only went ahead thanks to the early morning work of a small group of volunteers, who got the pitch into a playable condition ahead of a 10am inspection.
The Celts got off the the best possible start after just four minutes. Bobby Johnson lashed a 25-yard screamer in off the underside of the Marske bar to blast the Celts into an early lead.
Farsley doubled their lead just a couple of minutes later after a goalmouth scramble from a corner. Jimmy Spencer’s strike hit the post from close range and returning defender Isaac Assenso reacted quickest to poke the ball in at the far post to double the Celts’ lead.
The visitors, who hadn’t played since 20 December, would look to hit back. In-form Max Dearnley was forced into a fine double save on the ten-minute mark, and Marske continued to attack and ask questions of the Farsley back line.
But Farsley’s third would essentially wrap up the win. Tom Allan rose highest to power his header past Jaan Yaqub following a precise corner from Lewis Butroid.
Yaqub then pulled off a terrific save to see off Spencer, who was clean through. But there was nothing he could do just before half time when skipper Dave Syers nodded home unchallenged at the back post from a Bobby Johnson corner.
Within seconds of the restart, Farsley were 5-0 up. Spencer found himself with space in the box before calmly cutting onto his right foot and curling his shot into the top right corner.
Marske did manage to pull a goal back on the hour mark, Kevin Burgess meeting a low cross drilled in by Connor Smith, sweeping his strike past Dearnley.
But the five-goal margin was again restored just a few minutes later when Spencer made no mistake when through on goal as he lifted his attempt past Yaqub for his second of the match.
Yaqub’s day worsened when he was penalised for bringing down Kian Scales just outside the box. Scales then curled the free kick Beckham-esque into the top left corner to make it 7-1 to Farsley.
Farsley nearly made it eight after Mulhern glided past three Marske defenders before laying it off to substitute Carlton Ubaezuonu, but his shot was superbly blocked by Yaqub. Celts stopper Dearnley saved well in stoppage time to prevent a further consolation goal for the visitors.
The win was a morale-boosting tonic for fans and players and an important injection into the club’s finances in a week when several new appointments have been made to the club’s board. The Celts will now await the Monday afternoon draw to discover their last 16 opponents.
The Celts are due to return to league action on Tuesday evening when they entertain Leamington in a crucial game in their scrap to avoid relegation from the National League North.
Line ups
Farsley Celtic: Dearnley, Turner, Butroid, Johnson (Atkinson 72), Butler, Assenso, Allan (Clayton 46), Syers (c) (Ubaezuonu 46), Spencer, Mulhern, Scales. Unused subs: Wallace, Parkin.
Marske United: Yaqub, May, Macavoy, Kennedy, Wheatley, Storey, Smith, Lovick, Boyes, macDonals, Hobson. Subs: Hope, Burgess, Gell.
Match reaction
Celts boss Russ Wilcox was delighted by his side hitting seven against Marske.
Kian Scales said he hoped the win would give The Celts momentum going into a busy and crucial period in the league:
Marske United boss Curtis Woodhouse was critical of his side’s defending and was disappointed that his side – who had six players cup-tied – were second best throughout a game played in difficult conditions:
