Parkin's late brace seals dominant Farsley Celtic victory

Farsley Celtic returned to winning ways and moved back into the play-off positions with a dominant 3-0 victory against Buxton in the Evo-Stik Premier Division.
Luke Parkin.Luke Parkin.
Luke Parkin.

Farsley, unlike in recent games, started the brighter of the two sides and fashioned the first opportunity of the game as the ball ran through to Nathan Turner, but his deflected effort was inches wide of the upright.

However, the Celts still got off to a great start when they scored their first goal inside the opening 15 minutes since November 18, as Nathan Cartman poked home after Danny Ellis’ flick on.

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Ryan Watson came close as his curling free-kick struck the base of the post, before on the stroke of half-time Danny Ellis missed a fantastic chance as he shot just over from Paul Walker’s terrific cross.

Farsley continued their dominance into the second half and Turner’s shot struck the outside of the post after excellent build-up play from Ellis and Cartman.

Buxton had their best chance to draw level with 20 minutes remaining, but Jack Broadhead failed to hit the target from the edge of the six-yard box.

The hosts then wrapped up the three points, courtesy of two goals in three minutes from substitute Luke Parkin.

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Farsley countered and Danny Ellis found Ben Atkinson whose cross was tapped home by Parkin, before two minutes later Parkin received the ball in space and superbly fired home.

In Evo-Stik South, Frickley Athletic made it six consecutive victories with a 3-2 win at home to Leek Town.

Jameel Ible and Jacob Hazel fired Frickley into a two-goal lead, before Jordan Johnston pulled one back for the visitors. Tom Dugdale sealed the win late on, before Timothy Grice added a consolation for Leek.

Brighouse Town are now three games unbeaten in Evo-Stik North, as goals from Waide Fairhurst and Iwan Heeley helped them a 2-0 win at Trafford.

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Ossett Town scored late to draw 2-2 at home to Clitheroe. Craig Nelthorpe had given Ossett the lead, before an Alex Newby brace turned the game on its head, only for Jason Yates to secure a point for Ossett late on.

Elsewhere, in National North, Harrogate Town dropped 11 points behind league leaders Salford City after a 2-1 defeat in Lancashire.

Mike Phenix made the breakthrough for the hosts just before the quarter-hour mark when he tapped in after Town goalkeeper James Belshaw had saved his initial effort.

On 26 minutes, Thomas Walker doubled Salford’s advantage after beating Belshaw from just inside the box.

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Dom Knowles replied just past the hour mark when he headed in a Joe Leesley free- kick, while Salford keeper Max Crocombe went on to deny the Harrogate marksman a second goal with a flying save.

Meanwhile, York City shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw with play-off rivals Spennymoor, who had also won their previous five contests.

The matches between Guiseley and Barrow and FC Halifax Town and Leyton Orient in the National League were postponed due to frozen pitches.

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Pontefract Collieries moved into fourth place in the Premier Division after a thumping 4-0 victory at Worksop.

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Eli Hey, Jack Greenhough and Vaughan Redford all netted in the first 14 minutes to effectively end the game as a contest before Hey scored his second goal from the penalty spot in the last minute.

The result leaves Pontefract 18 points behind leaders AFC Mansfield but they do have 
seven games in hand on their rivals.

Twelfth-placed Garforth Town hit back to claim a point in a 1-1 draw at sixth-placed Hemsworth Miners Welfare.

Richard Collier gave the hosts a 14th-minute lead but Mark Simpson equalised on 62 minutes.

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Third-from-bottom Harrogate Railway won the battle of the struggling sides as they crushed second-from-bottom Parkgate 6-2 in South Yorkshire.

Goals from Sheiden Rodgers (2), Nathan Merchant, Adam Carter (2) and Daniel O’Donnell sealed a crucial win for Railway.

In Division One, Selby Town pulled off the result of the day when they won 3-2 at second-placed Eccleshill United.

Joseph Dale gave Town the lead but they soon fell 2-1 behind, only for Liam Flanagan (59 minutes) and Gary Collier (89 minutes) to turn the tables with second-half goals.

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Leaders Knaresborough Town could only draw 0-0 against Campion but after Eccleshill’s result, Town now lead the division by two points.

A first-half hat-trick from Adam Shaw was the highlight of fourth-placed Yorkshire Amateur’s 5-1 victory over Armthorpe Welfare.

Also on the scoresheet for Amateur were T’nique Fishley and Ashley Flynn.

Alan Jackson netted a late consolation for Armthorpe.

A brace from Ryan Ferguson helped Glasshoughton Welfare defeat Shirebrook Town 4-1. The other goals came from Thomas Carr and Thomas Hullock.