Evo Stik Division One North
Farsley Celtic 4-2 (AET) Ossett Town
WE ARE GOING UP! ⬆️⬆️⬆️ pic.twitter.com/C244dD0LGk
— FarsleyCeltic (@FarsleyCelticFC) April 29, 2017
Farsley Celtic are heading for the Premier Division after breaking the hearts of brave Ossett Town in the play-off final at a packed Throstle Nest.
Richard Marshall equalised in the second minute of injury-time to force extra-time and cancel out Ossett’s perennial hero Danny Frost’s late strike which had appeared to be sending the Ingfielders up.
Ryan Watson and unsurprisingly former Ossett striker James Walshaw were the heroes in the second half of extra-time.
Over 800 people turned out for the all West Yorkshire final. They saw a goal-less first half before the action really sprang into life in the second. Adam Clayton powered home Lewis Nightingale’s corner for the opener.
Ossett took advantage of Farsley sitting to equalise through Frost, who pounced on team-mate Nathan Curtis’ flick-on.
Ossett, whose bright young manager Grant Black has turned from a team destined for the NCEL and into a promotion challenging outfit in 14 months, then put themselves on the brink of the Premier Division with three minutes to go. The huge visiting support were jumping up and down as predictably Frost lobbed Farsley goalkeeper Graeme McKibbin.
Because referee Andrew Sykes had to go off injured, Farsley had a bit of injury-time to try and force an equaliser which they duly did with Marshall’s back-post finish.
The first half of extra-time had little to report on. The second though saw Watson have the net bulging with a stunning 25-yard strike.
Farsley’s elevation was soon assured as the league’s best player Walshaw skipped past several Ossett defenders before striking a wonderful shot into the top corner – his 50th of the season and also the promotion-crowning goal.
The Teams
Farsley Celtic: McKibbin, Hardy (captain), Chris Howarth, Peter Davidson (Daly 43), Clayton, Savory, Nightingale, Marshall, Walshaw, Deacey (Watson 80), Walker (Atkinson 96). Subs unused: Turner, Morgan.
Ossett Town: Overton, Hawksworth, Jackson, Yates, Gay, Assenso (Riley 91), Pembleton, Peterson (captain) (Lucas 63), Frost (Mackie 90), Curtis. Subs unused: Paylor, Wright.