It was a game of two halves at The Citadel on Sunday as Farsley Celtic Women continued their push towards the top of Division 1 with a 6-1 victory over Republica Internationale on a very damp afternoon.
There was a debut for new signing Imogen Nichols in the centre of midfield as Head Coach Matt Jackson sent out a strong team to try and avoid a repeat of the dropped points from the reverse fixture in September.
It was the Celts who started brighter as Vicky Robinson curled us into an early lead after 5 minutes with a strike that seemed to roll into the corner in slow motion, but it was no less than we deserved.
Shirley Murphy doubled our lead with a speculative effort from distance that flew past the goalkeeper in what will soon become a trademark finish for Murphy.
We were three to the good not long after with Neve Makin picking up where she had left off last week with a nice finish that was put past the goalkeeper with a faint touch.
3-0 up at half-time and cruising, it was to be a more difficult display in the second half as conditions worsened.
The first twenty minutes of the second half were a slog in midfield with neither team able to really control possession and Leigh Bamford having to make a couple of good saves, but any nerves were calmed after a blistering counterattack that went through 5 players before Shirley Murphy rounded the keeper to make it 4-0.
Republica to their credit never gave up and scored a lovely consolation goal after a through ball split our defence and the first-time finish was unstoppable.
This was the kick that Farsley needed to finish the game off strongly and Vicky Robinson added her second of the game after another counter attacking moving before Neve Makin sealed the victory with a stunner from range that flew over the keeper’s head and into the back of the net and handed us all 3 points and a 6-1 victory.
Next week we are back on the road with a trip to fellow league challenges Ilkley Town with kick off in Ilkley at 2pm on the 26th of November.
