Report: Farsley hit four as Reds suffer another set back

Farsley Celtic came from a goal down to seal a 4-2 win at the Impact Arena as the Reds stumbled to a second straight home league defeat as our recent sporadic form continued.

We took the lead after just 37 seconds when Bobby Johnson slid in Nyle Blake who finished past Trenerry in the box. But three unanswered goals from the visitors from former Red Tom Allan and two from James Spencer saw the Celts into the break 3-1 up.

Conor Branson would hit a beauty in the second half on 52 to reduce the arrears, before Syers reacted to a Charlie Andrew mistake on 66 to complete the scoring and hand Billy Heath's side another disappointing defeat.

The game started in the best possible way for us when Nyle Blake and Bobby Johnson combined with Bobby putting Nyle through, he finished across Trenerry into the bottom corner after just 37 seconds.

It was the perfect start and we continued to press however we nearly got caught on the counter when Charlie Andrew did well to palm out a cross from the left, the ball found Clayton who could only fire wide with his back to goal from a few yards.

Danny East could have made it 2-0 on 9, but his header from Blake's long throw went over the bar. Ryan Qualter then couldn't get a clean connection on his shot from Josh Clackstone's long throw on the opposite side.

Bobby would then fire over the bar from distance before Farsley began to up the pressure, Qualter cut out a cross and a corner before the visitors levelled on 17 when former Red Tom Allan nodded the ball into the far corner at the far post with his celebration a muted one.

Hayhurst then hit a free kick way over before they did make it 2-1 on 21, another set-piece was the Reds downfall as a corner once again found Allan whose header was helped in by Spencer from a yard.

Crosses and free kicks were causing us all sorts of problems as we barely won a header in the box from the Celts attacks. We had a penalty shout just after the half hour mark when Bobby went down with a challenge from behind and within 30 seconds the Celts went up the other end to make it 3-1.

Spencer grabbed his second with a header in the box which nestled into the bottom corner. Trenerry denied Blake with a strong save to his left as the first half came to a frenetic end.

The second period once again started in a positive way for the Reds as we pulled a goal back with 52 minutes on the clock. Conor Branson hit a stunner which found the top corner from 20 yards or so with the goalie rooted.

Hayhurst fired wide of the far post in the box with Charlie stretching before East glanced a Josh Thacker cross wide of the far corner in the box.

But with 66 gone and the game finely balanced, a rare mistake from Andrew saw him spill a left wing cross straight to Syers who tapped home from a yard out. It was a crucial moment for us with the Reds on top at the time in the game and the fourth goal proved a killer one in the contest.

Alfreton huffed and puffed in the closing portion of the game, Blake couldn't connect with a Clackstone cross at the far post, Bobby hit a low free kick from 20 yards into the wall with Branson blazing the rebound over.

Blake headed straight at Trenerry when well placed in the area before Charlie had to deny Hayhurst again with his low shot taking a deflection and then Francis at the near post in the box.

And that proved that at the Impact as the Reds suffered a second straight home league defeat. We were excellent in periods but the manner of the four goals conceded will frustrate Billy Heath in what proved to be a frustrating affair yet again with Alfreton taking an early lead, conceding three, grabbing one back and having the momentum again only to concede a killer fourth.

Next, we travel to Hereford next Saturday with kick off 3pm as we look to wrestle back league form.

ATFCXI: Andrew, Clackstone, East, Bennett (Bacon 67), Smith, Qualter (c), Thacker, Branson, Clarke, Blake, Johnson.

Subs Not Used: Tomlinson, Atkinson, Grice, Hinchley.

Referee: Kristian Silcock
Attendance: 483