Farsley Celtic picked up what could prove to be a valuable point on the road at the Horsfall Stadium as they played out a 1-1 draw with local rivals Bradford Park Avenue.

Russ Wilcox’s side put together some good passages of play in the first half and went into the break with a deserved lead, courtesy of Tom Allan’s opener on the stroke of half-time.

However, the Celts struggled to replicate their first-half performance in the second, where Bradford (Park Avenue) began to get on the front foot, and found the all-important leveller.

Both sides struggled to make any chances worthy of note early on, until Jimmy Spencer found Frank Mulhern in space. Mulhern received the ball on the half turn before driving at the Bradford defence, but he dragged his shot just wide of the post.

The hosts had a big opportunity to take the lead on the counterattack after 20 minutes, but Jacob Blyth couldn’t keep his effort down and fired over, after a good run and pinpoint cross from Jordan Preston to find his strike partner in space at the back post.

Carlton Ubaezuounu was the next to threaten the goal for the Celts as his left-footed strike had plenty of power, but he was unable to direct it either side of George Sykes-Kenworthy in goal.

Farsley’s momentum would result in a goal when Tom Allan broke the deadlock on the verge of halftime. Allan rose the highest to get on the end of Bobby Johnson’s corner and his looping header nestled into the top left corner.

After the break, Bradford started brightly as they looked to level the game, Max Dearnley called into action to parry a cross away before springing back up to his feet to deny Jordan Preston.

On the hour mark, the hosts would draw level, the ball falling to Sam Fielding at the back post from a Bradford corner, and he made no mistake, drilling his half-volley low into the bottom corner.

Bradford continued to push, and they thought they’d taken the lead on the hour mark, but former Farsley man Will Longbottom’s attempt came off the crossbar.

Mark Bower’s side thought they had a stoppage-time winner after some superb one-touch football was finished off neatly by Oli Johnson, but he was flagged offside, and both sides were forced to settle for a share of the spoils.

Bradford (Park Avenue): Sykes-Kenworthy, Odunston (Angell 76), Staunton (Johnson 46), Spencer, Havern ©, Fielding, Lancaster, Richman, Blyth, Preston (Dockerty 74), Longbottom. Unused subs: Hall (GK).

Farsley Celtic: Dearnley, Scales, Butroid, Johnson (Clayton 79), Butler ©, Teale, Allan, Ubaezuonu, Spencer, Mulhern, Parkin (Wallace 65). Unused subs: Osadebe, Assenso, Morgan (GK).

Attendance: 672