Spennymoor late show denies Farsley Celtic first home league win since April

0
1331
Dave Syers put Farsley Celtic 2-0 up against Spennymoor, but the Celts were thwarted at the death. Photo: Simon CUllingworth

Farsley Celtic will feel like they lost their encounter with Spennymoor Town, after the visitors overturned a 2-0 deficit in the dying embers of the game to earn themselves a 2-2 draw, writes Liam O’Sullivan.

A penalty from Frank Mulhern and a goal from Dave Syers gave Farsley an early two-goal cushion, but with three minutes of normal time left in the game, Greenfield and Taylor netted for the visitors to help their side earn a point on the road.

The Celts will have felt a boost with Max Dearnley, Kian Scales and Jimmy Spencer all returning to the starting 11. And it was the home side who made a fast start.

In Farsley’s first attack of the game, Luke Parkin played a lovely weighted through ball to Frank Mulhern, who got to the ball before Spennymoor’s goalkeeper Max Metcalfe. The Irishman was clearly taken out, which left referee William Davies no option but to point to the spot.

Mulhern very coolly slotted it into the bottom right, sending Metcalfe the wrong way.

Check out Simon Cullingworth‘s slideshow of photos from the game:

Only four minutes later, Farsley doubled their lead. Kian Scales, who was playing at right back, found himself in a more natural position up the pitch. After a clever nutmeg, the Bradford City loanee unleashed a powerful strike on the edge of the box. Metcalfe made a good stop to deny Scales, only for it to fall kindly to Syers, who couldn’t miss the rebound from close range.

Farsley kept their intensity up following their second, playing some nice one touch football at times.

However, Spennymoor did respond with some good chances of their own. Their best chance of the first half came from a Metcalfe goal kick, which was won in the air brilliantly by Glen Taylor. The ball fell to Ramshaw whose effort from close range was bravely stopped by Dearnley, only for the rebound to fall to Taylor who finessed it towards the bottom corner, but Dearnley once more made a brilliant save.

Check out John McEvoy/Leeds Shots’ slideshow of photos from The Citadel:

In a frantic period of the game, Farsley also had great opportunities to extend their lead further. A cross from an Atkinson free kick was won in the air by Tom Allan, but his close-range effort was saved well by Metcalfe. However, the ball fell straight to Jimmy Spencer in a glorious position, but he couldn’t quite get it out of his feet to give himself an easy finish.

Just before half time, the Celts once again could’ve extended their lead, when another cross found Bobby Johnson in a wonderful position in the box, but the midfielder couldn’t make good enough contact with the header to cause Metcalfe any problems.

The opening 25 minutes of the second half saw little action for both sides. Spennymoor saw plenty of the ball but breaking down the Farsley defence was proving to be an issue.

However, with 20 minutes left, the game opened up. Thewlis should’ve done better when he was presented with a wonderful chance to pull one back following a fantastic run on the left flank by Spennymoor’s Tom Allan. The winger couldn’t take his chance though, and fired the ball over the bar.

Straight after, Farsley were close to scoring themselves when a Parkin cross was pounced on by Syers, but the skipper couldn’t generate enough power on the stretch to beat the keeper, and his effort was tipped past the post.

In the 75th minute, a Farsley corner was agonisingly close to resulting in a third. Johnson’s delivery met the head of Allan whose effort had the keeper beaten, only for Ramshaw to heroically clear it off the line. A subsequent corner was incredibly close once more, with Spencer winning it this time, but his header breezed past the post.

Two minutes later, Spennymoor almost scored as a result of a corner. A poor cross from substitute Greenfield was cleared by Farsley, but only as far as another substitute, Mark Anderson. The midfielder struck it beautifully first time and his effort looked as if it was heading for the top corner, but he was denied by the bar and Farsley cleared their lines.

With 10 minutes left the Celts were sitting very deep, and the two midfield substitutes Anderson and Greenfield were orchestrating attacks for Spennymoor.

With three minutes of regular time left, Greenfield made some space for himself on the edge of the box, and hit a low driven shot straight into the bottom left corner to pull one back for his side.

With the Moors’ tails up, you would fear the worst for Farsley, and in the final minute of regular time a penalty was awarded to the visitors. Thewlis was controversially adjudged to have been tripped in the box. Taylor, who had been causing problems all game for the Farsley defence, stepped up and fired it into the bottom left corner past Dearnley.

It was the fifth penalty the Celts has conceded in nine games.

It could’ve gone from bad to worse for the Celts, when Taylor almost won it in stoppage time for the visitors, heading his effort narrowly wide of the post.

It was a tough blow for Farsley a side who were just minutes away from a second win of the season, and have now dropped six points from winning positions in the final five minutes of games.

Farsley Celtic CEO Josh Greaves in thoughtful mood at The Citadel. Photo: Simon Cullingworth

Farsley Celtic return to the Citadel on Tuesday, where they take on 18th place Boston United in what is already becoming a must-win game.

Line ups

Farsley Celtic: Dearnley, Scales, Allan, Johnson, Butler, Clayton, Syers © (Pointon 72), Atkinson, Spencer (Ubaezuono 81), Mulhern (Osadebe 93), Parkin. Unused subs: Dube, Assenso.

Spennymoor Town: Metcalfe, Duxberry, Tait ©, Thewlis, Taylor, Ramshaw, Cummings, Wheatley (Greenfield 73), Cousin-Dawson (Lufudu 69), Forbes (Anderson 58), Allan. Unused subs: Preston, Ledger.

Attendance: 568.

Match reaction

Celts’ boss Russ Wilcox said his side were outstanding for 75 minutes – but said dropping two points was a bitter pill to take given his side’s chances to score a third goal.

Check out more photos of yesterday’s match from Leeds Shots here.

Sponsored content

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.