Farsley’s unbeaten pre-season campaign continued on Tuesday evening, with a goalless draw in a first ever meeting with FC United of Manchester.
Recent signing Robbie Fox had Farsley’s best chances, but a couple of crucial second half saves from the Celts’ Trialist goalkeeper proved crucial as the two sides couldn’t be separated.
In an opening half which was fairly light of goal-mouth action, the hosts had the only meaningful chance on the half-hour mark. Charlie Oliver struck a hopeful shot from distance but found the Trialist goalkeeper equal to the attempt.
Seven minutes after the break, Farsley forward Fox came just a couple of inches from breaking the deadlock, but his curling attempt was just wide of the upright.
On 66 minutes, Farsley’s goalkeeper had to be alert again as this time he denied FC United of Manchester substitute Dontai Gabbidon.
As the game entered the final 15 minutes, both sides created a few more chances and it was Fox again who looked most dangerous for the visitors, but this time he could only fire into the side netting from a narrow angle.
A couple of minutes later, sub Alex Kiwomya picked the ball up on the edge of the box after a clearance had been charged down, but the attacker’s effort flew straight into the arms of the opposition goalkeeper.
Farsley’s Trialist goalkeeper pulled off his best save of the night nine minutes from time as he showed great reflexes to brilliantly tip substitute Jay Fitzmartin’s shot past the post.
The Celt Army had a couple of late chances to clinch the win, firstly as Dylan Youmbi saw his header from Lewis Turner’s cross palmed wide by FCUM’s goalkeeper. A goal-mouth scramble ensued from the resulting corner but the hosts scrambled the ball away to see out the stalemate.
Farsley Celtic: Trialist, Walker (Youmbi 70), Sloane (Allan 67), Branson, Assenso (Misambo 70), Watson (Turner 45), Fox, B Atkinson (Greenfield 70), Campton-Sturridge (Fielding 70), Mampala, Stephenson (Kiwomya 70).