Darren Stephenson was the hero of the afternoon as his 89th minute winner got Farsley Celtic off to a winning start, as they bagged a 3-2 win at Rushall Olympic.
Despite falling behind to Jaden Charles’ early free-kick, an accomplished first half performance from the Celt Army saw them deservedly lead 2-1 at the break after a penalty from Ben Atkinson, followed by Rudy Misambo’s header later in the half.
Rushall came out fighting after the interval and levelled through Sam McLintock, but late on in the game, substitute Stephenson kept his nerve, to slot the ball home to guarantee Farsley all three points.
It was a bright start for the Celt Army with two great chances within the opening 11 minutes. First debutant Aiden Walker fired just wide from a corner, then the right-back turned provider as he swung in a dangerous deep cross towards Manasse Mampala but the forward couldn’t quite stretch enough to turn the ball goalwards.
However the hosts netted the opener against the run of play, with their first shot on target 14 minutes into the contest. Charles fired in a brilliant free kick from around 25 yards which left goalkeeper Tom Wooster, signed on loan from Manchester United yesterday, rooted to the spot.
But Farsley were awarded a chance to respond to the setback almost immediately as Clayton Donaldson was clattered by Pics goalkeeper Paul White four minutes later. There was a couple of minutes delay while the Celts’ player/manager received treatment and was ultimately withdrawn from the game but 12-yard specialist Ben Atkinson kept his cool to slam the penalty down the middle to level the scores.
Farsley continued to be the dominant side as sub Dylan Youmbi saw his shot blocked but only as far as Sam Fielding on the edge of the box, but his powerful strike was palmed wide by White. Then on 34 minutes, the lively Fielding saw another shot from distance blocked behind for a corner.
The visitors’ pressure paid off as Misambo gave Farsley a 2-1 lead ten minutes before the break, as he headed home from a couple of yards from a corner kick.
Rushall came out roused following the half-time break and drew level on 54 minutes as McLintock fired home from the edge of the area for 2-2.
Farsley had the chance to respond on the hour mark when an inviting cross was sent in from a free-kick but Tom Allan couldn’t quite read the flight of the ball as he diverted it into the side-netting.
McLintock was proving to be Rushall’s most dangerous player in the second half as they went in search of the win. On the 68th minute, only a vital goal-line header from Ben Atkinson denied the midfielder a second goal, and then on 82 minutes, he saw another shot blocked behind for a corner.
Stephenson almost seized the lead back for Farsley on 88 minutes but his snap-shot from the edge of the box was pulled just wide of the target.
However the front-man made amends a minute later as he received the ball on the edge of the box and, just as he did in the opening game of the season here last year, slotted home coolly to secure a 3-2 win.
Farsley Celtic: Wooster, Walker (Campton-Sturridge 90+6), Misambo, Allan, Turner, Mampala (Stephenson 84), B Atkinson, Fielding, Greenfield (Leverett 75), Watson (Sloane 73), Donaldson (Youmbi 22).
