Farsley Celtic’s unbeaten start to the season was maintained by Ben Atkinson’s coolly executed 92nd-minute penalty in an entertaining 1-1 draw with newly promoted South Shields.Atkinson’s late goal, his second of the year, leveled the score after Clayton Donaldson was fouled in the penalty area. Lirak Hasani’s goal in the 60th minute against a spirited South Shields team was cancelled out by it.
Both teams missed multiple scoring opportunities during the game, but a draw was arguably a fair outcome.
The new-look Farsley side should have been on the scoresheet in the first three minutes. Celts’ striker Donaldson somehow put his shot wide from four yards out when it looked easier to score, following a good run down the right by Darren Stephenson.
And after three minutes Shields’ keeper Miles Boney denied Isaac Robinson with a diving fingertip save fas Farsley continued their strong start.
South Shield’s Paul Blackett’s flicked effort for the visitors’ response just managed to hit the side netting. On minute 23, the Tynesiders were only prevented from scoring from a corner by a superb double save from Jan-Luk Leban in the Farsley goal.
Aaron Martin’s shot was palmed over the bar by Everton loanee Laban around the halfway point of the game, continuing his stellar start to the year.
Both teams continued to have opportunities in the second half, but it was the visitors who seized the lead on the hour mark when Lirak Hasani calmly finished after the ball was crossed over into the box.
Shields had two opportunities to extend their lead, but Farsley made two attempts to tie the score. After Shields broke open a three on one, Jordy Mongoy struck the bar, but it wouldn’t have mattered because he was offside. Leban again rescued The Celts when Paul Blackett was completely out of the game.
Farsley was pleading for an equalizer and hammering on the door. When through, striker Stephenson fired straight at Boney, but the forward missed the target with his subsequent shot. Then, with time running out, Jack Leckie, a Farsley rookie, just missed from a corner.
Ben Atkinson calmly converted the penalty down the centre to give The Celts a share of the spoils and retain their unbeaten start to the season when Donaldson was tripped at the edge of the box as the game reached seven minutes of stoppage time.
The Celts are a team in transition, so the new management group must have been thrilled to see their side generate so many opportunities as they continue to integrate a new playing style and so many new players.
As Donaldson and Stephenson find the appropriate positions but are unable to locate their shooting boots, they still appear a touch light up front. When the Celts travel a long distance to recently promoted Bishop Stortford on Saturday, they will be hoping to improve their clinical play.
