Danny South accidentally puts the ball into his own net to set Farsley AFC on their way to a 2-1 win over Frickley Athletic in the FA Cup first qualifying round tie
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Words and pictures by James Grayson (@jamesAgrayson, @NonLeagueNorth)
Whilst Frickley Athletic may rank one Division higher than Farsley AFC, this was by no means a shock result and the score-line doesn’t reflect the home side’s dominance at Throstle Nest.
Neil Parsley admitted that Farsley always felt in control of their 2-1 FA Cup first qualifying round win over Frickley which puts them in the hat with the Conference North big boys for Monday’s draw.
Two goals close to half-time – a Danny South own goal and captain Robbie O’Brien lob – steered Farsley towards the reward of £3,000 in prize money.
Frickley, who are bottom of the Evo Stik Premier Division, could only manage an injury-time strike from Gavin Allott with Farsley comfortably holding-on to guarantee for their first 2nd qualifying round appearance since 2009.
Parsley told Non League Yorkshire: “It is massive for the football club because of the financial rewards it brings.
“From a selfish point from me and the players, it keeps our run going and we’re pleased to progress to the next round.
“It was probably not as straightforward as the score-line suggests, but I thought we were comfortable.
“I thought we posed a threat when we got the ball down and played. I thought the threat Frickley posed was from set-pieces because they’re a big and physical side.
“Allott is a good player who scores goals week-in-week-out and he’s a handful for centre-halves.
“Even when they got a goal back, I thought we looked comfortable in the sense of that we looked organised.
“I thought on the balance of play that we deserved to win.”
Lewis Nightingale, who unlocked the door for Farsley, in action during the 2-1 win
Farsley AFC players celebrate their opening goal
Farsley manager Neil Parsley and his assistant Mark Jackson discuss the first half
Farsley are flying high in Division One North after six games, while Frickley’s fortunes are not so good as the South Elmsall-based side are bottom of the table with just one win in eight league games
Even Frickley manager Karl Rose had Farsley down as favourites in comments made to a local newspaper on Friday.
Rose also claimed that Farsley had a “bigger budget” than his club – a remark that angered Parsley.
He added: “I didn’t feel we were the favourites and it is strange that other people know my budget.
“The budget is what the club can afford and I don’t know how people know the budget because that’s a private matter between me and the chairman (John Palmer).”
If Rose was wrong about the financial side, he was correct when he also said that Farsley have a quality team.
Early-on, Farsley looked too good for their visitors. Goalkeeper Ben Simpson had to be alert to deny predatory striker Aiden Savory from close range.
Frickley’s only hope seemed to be placed in their talisman Allott. He was the only player to properly test Farsley stopper Tom Taylor during the first half.
As the cup tie passed the half-hour, Farsley really started to up the ante and began take the game to Frickley.
Lewis Nightingale was the main thorn in the side of Frickley. His trickery on the right-wing unlocked Frickley’s defence and opened the doors to the next round.
His in-swinging free kick from the right wasn’t dealt with by Frickley and the ball hit South inside the six-yard box and Farsley were ahead.
There was one lapse in concentration at the back from Farsley from a corner, but they survived and went straight up the other end and scored again.
Nightingale, again proved to be the danger man with threaded pass that sent Adam Priestley away towards the penalty area.
Instead of shooting, the Gibraltar striker saw the run of influential skipper O’Brien and cut back on the inside and played the pass to the midfielder.
Confidence is running so high that O’Brien went for a delicate lob over the advancing Simpson, which fortunately found the bottom corner.
Gavin Allott was Frickley’s main threat
Farsley AFC striker Aiden Savory being tackled during the first half
Farsley celebrate Robbie O’Brien’s decisive strike on the stroke of half-time
Many watching must have expected an onslaught from Frickley in the second half as Rose’s men had to go for it to stay in the Cup.
However, it was not forthcoming as Frickley were restricted to long range attempts which enabled Farsley to ride the game relatively straightforwardly.
Farsley goalkeeper Taylor was untroubled for large periods and the home side looked more likely to score than Frickley.
Simpson kept the score at 2-0 with fine late saves from Savory and Jason St Juste and his stops helped Frickley earn an unlikely lifeline.
A rare opportunity in the first minute of added time saws substitute Joel Barnett cross for Allott to tap home from inside the six-yard box.
The ball was quickly retrieved as Frickley sensed a remarkable comeback and Farsley had to hold their nerve when Jack Wakefield launched a long throw into the box moments later.
Former Eccleshill United striker Marcus Edwards was able to clear the ball and that pre-empted the final whistle and confirmation of Farsley’s passage in the FA Cup.
Farsley AFC: Taylor, Hardy, Serrant, O’Brien (captain), Hewitt, Harris, Nightingale (Grant 87), Daly, Priestley (Edwards 76), Savory, St Juste. Subs unused: Lofthouse, Clamp, Brownlee, Hancock, Exton.
Frickley Athletic: Simpson, Harrison, MacAuley Parkinson, Wakefield, Cyrus, South, Hornsey, Young (captain), Williams, Allott, Jeffs (Barnett 58). Subs unused: Hood, Joseph, Riley, Stratford, Davies, Payne.
Referee: Andrew Cawtherley
Ref Rating: 8/10
Attendance: 178
Man of the match: Lewis Nightingale (Farsley AFC)