Farsley Celtic made it three matches unbeaten for the first time since August on Tuesday evening as the Celts played out a 1-1 draw away at Southport.

The Celts got off to the dream start on Merseyside when Connor O’Brien’s corner found Ben Atkinson at the near post, who managed to divert the ball into the back of the net via the far post, putting Farsley in the driving seat.

Southport responded in style however, when just nine minutes later they were level through Brad Holmes who cut inside on the right before smashing a shot low past Harry Allen into the bottom left corner to make it 1-1.

The two sides then traded half chances for the remainder of the half with Watson and Morgan having efforts for Southport whilst Dylan Youmbi proved to be a handful down the right for Clayton Donaldson’s side.

Jim Bentley’s side looked a threat on set pieces throughout the first half, and they almost took the lead with their first corner of the second, when defender Harry Flowers rose highest to power a header onto the crossbar.

Southport then hit the upright once again with twenty minutes left to play when Richie Bennett’s acrobatic effort looped onto the bar before Farsley’s counter-attack resulted in nothing as Donaldson shot low into the arms of Renshaw.

Both sides continued to push for a winner, with Ben Atkinson coming close to bagging his second brace in as many games in stoppage time when his powerful strike stung the palms of Renshaw in the Southport goal.

The match ended on a sour note for Farsley however, as player/manager Donaldson was forced off with what looked like a painful injury to his ankle, adding to an earlier injury in the match sustained by Darren Stephenson.

Despite the late injury forcing Farsley to finish with ten men, the two sides shared the spoils as the Celts made it a week to remember, gaining seven points from what looked like a very tough week on paper.

Donaldson and his side will turn their attention away from the National League North this weekend, as Northern Premier League side Radcliffe FC make the trip to The Citadel in the second round of the FA Trophy on Saturday.

Southport: Renshaw, Quansah, Flowers, Evans, Doyle, Morgan, Hmami, Bainbridge (O’Neil 74), Watson, Holmes, Bennett.

Farsley Celtic: Allen, O’Brien, C Atkinson, Misambo, Smith, Watson, Leverett, B Atkinson, Youmbi (Robinson 70), Stephenson (Donaldson 50), Chapman (Silva 88).