By John Baron. Additional reporting Josh Makin
Football can be a cruel game sometimes – and that’s something long-suffering Farsley Celtic fans can relate to this season as they slipped to another unlucky defeat, this time at Alfreton.
Boss Russ Wilcox said in his post-match interview that the Celts were a ‘nearly team’ and the latest defeat – another case of missed chances and dropped point – certainly summed up the season so far.
The Celts certainly didn’t deserve to lose a game in which they certainly had the better of the few chances created in a tight 90 minutes.
Jordan Thewlis almost opened the scoring for the hosts after just seven minutes when his effort from a tight angle was fired past the far post.
But Farsley responded just four minutes later with a good chance of their own after Luke Parkin’s cross found the head of Jimmy Spencer, but he headed narrowly over the bar from the edge of the six-yard box.
Neither side created anything of note afterwards until a minute before the interval when ex-Alfreton man Tom Allan headed agonisingly wide from a pin-point Bobby Johnson free kick.
And Farsley were almost ahead two minutes into the second half when Frank Mulhern slipped Lewis Butroid through, leading to the wingback having his effort superbly denied by George Willis in the Alfreton goal.
Farsley then had another chance to take the lead on the hour mark as Kian Scales broke down the right flank before superbly picking out Jimmy Spencer, whose shot was well blocked by an Alfreton defender.
Chances continued to remain far and few between, but most of the action was taking place in the hosts’ half, with the Farsley defence ably dealing with an aerial bombardment of long throws.
However, Alfreton would take the lead with seven minutes left to play. Carlton Ubaezuono gave away a needless free kick in his own half, with Dominic Wiley volleying home from Danny Preston’s set piece.
Alfreton’s manager Billy Heath was sent off for saying something out of turn in time added on, as the home side saw out the game.
It was harsh on a Farsley side who had played well enough to earn at least a point. The Celts will be hoping for a change in fortune during a crunch January which sees them play two games a week for the remainder of the month, starting Tuesday with a tough trip to Hereford.
The Celts remain third from bottom but will know this is a month which could well decide their fate on the pitch, with fans hoping concerns over the club’s finances and changes at board level are resolved off it.
Match reaction
Boos Russ Wilcox said the match reflected ‘the story of our season’ and was a tough one to take, given the Celts’ solid performance. He said key moments cost the visitors:
