Farsley Celtic returned to winning ways in style with a superb 3-1 victory over promotion-chasing Darlington.

A first-half Theo Williams brace set the Celts on their way, and whilst Alex Purver gave the visitors hope, it was brief as Chris Atkinson sealed all three points for his side.

It was the first half that Farsley would have dreamed of, and the opening quarter of an hour was all Farsley, as they put play-off hunting Darlington on the back foot straight away.

The first big chance of the game came from a Lewis Butroid corner as Adam Clayton rose highest, but his header was nodded off the line.

However, it did not take long until Farsley’s early pressure paid off. Kian Scales pounced upon a loose pass in the midfield and played a perfectly weighted ball in behind for Theo Williams, who made no mistake in tucking it into the bottom left corner.

Darlington knew they had to react, and the pressure began to mount on the Farsley defence.

The visitors nearly found an equalizer on two occasions courtesy of Farsley, as Tom Allan very nearly picked out the bottom corner with a misplaced clearance, and Andy Butler directed a header from a wicked ball in just past the far post.

The biggest scare came when former Farsley man Jacob Hazel broke through onto his left foot, and unleashed a low, driven effort that had Max Dearnley beaten, only to strike the inside of the upright and bounce to safety.

The Celts managed to weather that period, and then struck again just before the interval.

Carlton Ubeazuonu drove through the heart of the Darlington defence and into the penalty area where his effort was saved by Tommy Taylor, but only into the path of Theo Williams who lashed it home from two yards out.

After the break, Darlington came out in search of a way back into the game but Farsley, with the pace of Williams in particular, were always a threat on the counter.

The away side would pull one back with 20 minutes remaining as Jarrett Rivers got to the by-line down the right and cut the ball back for Alex Purver to run onto and placed it low into the bottom right corner.

However, any hope of a comeback was shortlived, as Farsley soon restored their two-goal advantage.

Theo Williams held the ball up well and found Chris Atkinson, who drove forward and played a one-two with Frank Mulhern on the edge of the 18-yard box before tucking it neatly into the bottom left corner.

That goal the visitors’ momentum as they looked to stage a fightback, and Farsley would see out the closing minutes relatively comfortably to secure an important three points at home.

Farsley Celtic: Dearnley, Scales, Butroid, Johnson (Devine 21), Butler (c), Clayton, Allan, Atkinson, Ubaezuonu (Turner 81), Mulhern, Williams. Subs not used: Syers, Parkin, Muggleton.

Attendance: 570