NEIL HAILS HIS CELTIC WARRIORS
FARSLEY Celtic clinched promotion in dramatic style as a last-gasp Richard Marshall equaliser sent the game to extra-time before terrific strikes from Ryan Watson and James Walshaw broke Ossett hearts and booked their place in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier Division next season.
Adam Clayton headed Farsley in front three minutes into the second half before Danny Frost’s brace of goals turned the tie on its head.
But after Marshall struck in the second minute of time added on, Farsley upped the ante and won through, sparking wild celebrations.
“We’ve played great football this season,” beamed delighted manager Neil Parsley. “We’ve scored 108 league goals, playing a brand of football we like to play. This is a reward for the players who’ve dug in when we seemed to be down and out and it’s a great feeling.”
Both sides had chances in an end-to-end first half. Farsley’s Paul Walker whipped in a freekick towards Walshaw, but the former Guiseley striker failed to direct his effort on target.
Then, on the stroke of halftime, Ossett went close when Frost fired towards the top corner on the turn, only to be met by a fabulous save from Farsley keeper Graeme McKibbin.
But three minutes into the start of the second period it was Farsley who took the lead. Following a succession of corners, Lewis Nightingale’s excellent delivery found the unmarked Clayton and the centre back powered home for his 15th goal of the campaign.
As Ossett went in search of for an equaliser, Farsley sat deeper and the visitors finally found a way through on 70 minutes when Nathan Curtis flicked the ball through to Frost, who slotted home past McKibbin.
And the comeback was complete on 87 minutes when Martin Pembleton found Frost, who coolly lobbed the ball over McKibbin to break Farsley hearts.
But owing to an injury to referee Andrew Sykes – who was replaced by Michael Barlow – there were seven minutes of added time which gave Farsley hope. And in the second of those Marshall turned home at the back post after Aiden Savory’s low cross somehow made it’s way into his path, thus sending the crowd into raptures and the game into extra time.
The equaliser seemed to
knock the stuffing out of Ossett, although they did fashion the best chance of a cagey opening period when Curtis’ shot tipped around the post by McKibbin.
But Farsley somehow found another gear after the restart and on 110 minutes they took the lead when Watson lashed the ball into the top corner from a full 25 yards, beating outstretched keeper Leigh Overton.
And two minutes later victory and promotion was all but sealed when the division’s top scorer Walshaw cut in on his left foot, skipped past two Ossett defenders before curling a superb strike into the top corner to secure his 32nd goal of the season in style.
Dejected Ossett manager Grant Black said: “I feel disappointed, deflated, gutted for the lads more than anything. We’ve done things this season nobody expected and we should be proud of ourselves.
“We were four minutes away from winning it but their equaliser just took it out of us.”